Transcript Planting the Seed of Nationhood 1815-1855

Planting the Seed of Nationhood
1815-1855
Why were some events in Canada’s history key in allowing us to
become a nation?
Group 2
Who occupied each colony in Upper
and Lower Canada
Lower Canada
 Population increased from: 250 000 in 1806 to 717 000 in 1841
 Very high Birthrates among French speaking population
 In addition British and American immigrants settled the eastern townships that
had been set aside for English speaking farmers
Upper Canada
 Before 1812 loyalists settled upper Canada
 After 1812 a wave of settlers from great Brittan took their place
 Population Increased from: 71 000 in 1806 to 432 000 in 1841
 1815 the population was 80% American born
 1841 almost 50% British immigrants
Upper and Lower Canada
Life in Lower Canada
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Male ruling society
3 major groups- French Speaking Habitants, French Speaking Professional Men,
and English Speaking Merchants
The French scared of Adapting to the English way of life
Merchants were newcomers of lower Canada
Wanted roads, and harbours-paid from government taxes
Professional Men well educated, wanted to lead the colonies
Saw British as cultural threat formed a party called “ parti canadiens”
3 main groups
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French Speaking Habitants (Tenant Farmers) – Main Concern: Scarcity of Land,
Poverty, Fear of English Speaking new comers
English Speaking Merchants (Rich, Powerful) – Main Concern: Infrastructure
French Speaking Professional Men (Newest “Group”) – Separate French/ Canadian
nation
Life in Upper Canada
Daily Life in Upper Canada
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More fields were cleared in Upper Canada
Villages began to grow in places that were not convenient for farmers
Kingston
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Developed as a British military for lake Ontario
Was the largest and most important town in Upper Canada for many years
York
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Queen’s rangers began clearing land to build a fort in 1793
In 1834, it was renamed Toronto
Services in the Towns
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By the 1840’s cities were installing sewer systems
In the 1820’s and 1830’s started to establish volunteer fire departments
Transportation
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Walking was often the safest and fastest way to get around
Unpaved streets in towns were unpaved streets turned to mud
Louis-Joseph Papineau
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Strong supporter of the old French order in Lower Canada
Served as a officer in the military defending British North America during the war of
1812
Elected to be in the legislative assembly of Lower Canada in 1809
Leader of Parti Candien
Government of Upper and Lower Canada
Government of Lower Canada
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Established by Constitutional act in 1791
Power limited by governors and councils
Members of legislative councils were voted in for life
English concerns were usually different from French concerns
The group which the most power was Chateau Clique
Believed that power should be in hands of a few capable people
Wanted the Roman Catholic church to stay power
Government of Upper Canada
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In 1830 government remained the same as the constitutional act in 1791
Two political groups the Torries and the Reformers
Appointed Legislative council to Executive council
Elected the Legislative Assembly
The Unrest in Lower Canada
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French and English speaking merchants wanted different things for lower Canada
Merchants wanted to improve roads, canals and harbours
Immigration caused problems
Chateau Clique was encouraging immigration from great Britain
In 1832 and immigrant ship brought a deadly disease, cholera
The disease 5500 victims
The armed Rebellion in Upper and
Lower Canada
Lower Canada
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An armed conflict between lower Canada and the British Colonial, power of that
province
The political leader was Joseph Papinea
The Canadians were ready to fight on November 1837
British troops charged and the Rebellions lost
The largest battle was held at St. Eustach on December 14, 1837
The Rebel leader, Dr. J.Q. Chenier along with rebels died
The British robbed and burned their village
Upper Canada
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Rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838
After the war of 1812 family compact owned most land “Crown Reserves” and
“Protestant Clergy”
The lower Canada broke out in autumn 1837 Bond Head sent all British troops to
help suppress it
Short Fight (less than 30 minutes) the battle finished and the rebel forces retreated
1860’s former rebels compensated by the Canadian government
Family Compact
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Upper Canada has an elite called Family Compact
Was a small group of powerful people in the colony of upper Canada
Along with friends and supporters were know as Tories
Did not want Americans to be part of the government in Upper Canada
Defended tradition (The things that had always been done) and opposed change
Believed power should be in the hands of a few capable people (themselves)
Believed the church of England should be powerful in the colony
Were loyal to great Brittan and the British government
They had power to stop any laws passed by the legislative assembly
Most Family Compact members were British immigrants who arrived before the
1800’s
The Reformers
What did they oppose?
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Opposed the power of the Family Compact
Wanted changes in government and society of Upper Canada
Divided into moderate and radical groups
Included some radicals who later became rebels
Robert Gurley (1778-1863) arrived in Upper Canada in 1817
His plan was to bring poor people to farm in New Britain
He sent a questionnaire famers to see hoe their progress was
He also asked them to name thing that prevented in their towns
He criticized Family Compact
Aftermath of the Rebellion
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Upper Canada was very short and disorganized
London government was concerned about Rebellion
Bond Head was recalled in 1837 he was replaced with Sir George Arthur
Lord Durham assigned to report grievances among the colonists and find a way to
appease them
Lord Durham’s report led to the union of Upper and Lower Canada into the
province of Canada in 1840
Lord Durham’s Report
Two Major recommendations in his report are:
1. The two colonies should become one called the United Province of Canada
2. The United Colony should have a responsible government
 The British imperial poers(?) should be sent out in writing. All other legal poer(?)
 Would be handled by the colonies Executive council and would be advised
 The governor stayed neutral but signed things by the executive council
 The executive council was not picked from the government but was chosen by
leaders of other groups (legislative assembly) this is called “Responsible
government”
 Members of the executive council would stay in the council if half of the legislative
assembly supports them
Personal Information
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1792-1840
Arrived in Quebec city as a governor general of British north America in 1838
Interested in education the poor
The Act of Union (1841)
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Since the Rebellion wanted a better and responsible government British passed a
law called the Act of Union
British government acted on one of Lord Durham’s recommendations
The act of union joined in Upper and Lower Canada as the united province
The two aims of the British were to control the two colonies of Canada into one
and give the English people control of the newly named colony and to have a new
colony with a responsible government
They also established English as the official language of government
References
ec.europa.eu/education/img/flags/canada.gif
www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/h2/f1/nlc006838-v6.jpg
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Canada_upper_lower_map.PNG/800pxCanada_upper_lower_map.
PNGcanadawiki.org/images/d/d5/Simcoeuppercanada.jpg
www.cmhg.gc.ca/.../med/v2_c4_s17_ss04_01.jpg
www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/director/gleason.jpg
www.westminster.gov.uk/.../celebrating21.jpg
homepages.ius.edu/raastron/Pics/farmers.jpg
www.lbpsb.qc.ca/~history/m4u3l1.htm
www.freewebs.com/.../whatwaslowercanada.htm
www.joyceimages.com/images/Bank%20Royal%20Visit.JPG