Transcript Setting the Stage

Setting the Stage
British North America
in the years leading to Confederation
Setting the Stage
 Until the American Revolution, British North America was
dominated by:
 French immigrants (some Acadians)
 Métis
 First Nations
 Traditional systems of French law and land ownership
predominated
 The Catholic Church was the primary religious institution
The American Revolution (1775-1783)
 After the revolution, approximately 70,000 American
loyalists immigrated to Eastern Canada; around half settling
in Nova Scotia
 Results:
 A large Anglophone population gets intermingled with French
Canadians
 Tensions among these American immigrants with French civil
law and French society
 Arrival of many English-speaking British merchants
 Who do you believe is the most threatened by these changes?
The Constitution Act of 1791
The Constitution Act of 1791
 Divided the province of Quebec into Upper and Lower
Canada
 Upper Canada = followed British laws and was largely English
 Lower Canada = followed French laws and was largely French
 Could there be tensions in this system?
The Constitution Act of 1791
Upper Canada
Lower Canada
 Concerned that French
 Concerned that French
Canadians had too much
political power
 Appreciated their
allowance to follow British
laws and customs
 Benefited from trade with
Britain
would be overshadowed by
Anglophone power and
rights for protestants
 This act is the foundation
of French-Canadian
nationalism
 They are given a
‘homeland’ – Lower
Canada
The Constitution Act of 1791
 The act, however, did create a political impasse:
 A governor appointed by Britain was in charge of the colony of
Canada; however there was an elected assembly in Canada
 The elected assembly could block the motions of the
government; but the government could do exactly the same
 With both sides blocking each other’s motions – things ground
to a halt
The War of 1812
“The war both Canada and the USA won…”
 British warships had been seizing American ships and pressing
sailors into service, among other grievances
 Ultimately the United States declared war on Britain (and
British North America by extent)
 Due to the rapid expansion of American settlers, many
Native Americans had been displaced; thus their leader,
Tecumseh, joined the British
The War of 1812
“I believe that in four
weeks from the time a
declaration of war is
heard on our frontier,
the whole of Upper
Canada and a part of
Lower Canada will be in
our power” – John
Calhoun, 1812
The War of 1812
 Ultimately, the British and “Canadian” forces prevailed
 The Americans were extremely afraid of Tecumseh and his
aboriginal forces
 British volunteer hit-and-run tactics frustrated the Americans
 The British volunteers wisely planted themselves in superior
geographic locations and strategic points
 The celebration of the war of 1812 is a significant form of
Canadian nationalism
The War
of 1812
Results
•Unified Canada –
English and French
Canadians fought side-byside
•Loyalism – Canada
retained its conservative
ideology and ties with the
British
•Immigration from the
USA drops – immigrants
now come from Europe
Rebellions of 1837
 Let’s return to the Constitution Act of 1791. Traditional
British methods of ruling failed in Canada
 The Political Impasse
 Several reformers attempted to enact change, notably William Lyon
Mackenzie
 He was a radical though
 A new election was held and the reformers were voted out
 The Anglican Church
 Traditionally, the church was one of the largest land owners
 Land rent was used as a way to support the church
 But in Canada, land was cheap
 Also, many immigrant farmers were not Anglican
 THUS most farmers DID NOT want to rent from the church
Rebellions of 1837:
Mackenzie’s Plot
 In 1837, Mackenzie plotted to march on
Toronto
 Note: this happens in Upper Canada
 His forces were surrounded at a tavern
and his soldiers fled
 Mackenzie left Canada and tried to
organize an uprising in the USA, but it
amounted to nothing
 This rebellion ended quickly and with
minimal bloodshed
Rebellions of 1837:
Lower Canada
 The Lower Canada Rebellion on the other hand was drawn
out, and bloody
 It was fueled by ethnic, cultural, and language disagreements
(which are near and dear to many people’s hearts)
 Focused on:
 Economic disenfranchisement of the French majority
 Unfairness of colonial governing – most leaders in Lower
Canada were English speaking businessmen
Union of Canadas: Durham Report
 In response to the rebellions, the Ear
of Durham was sent to investigate
the colonial grievances
 He was only in Canada briefly, but
gave these recommendations
 Unite the two Canadas
 Promote Responsible Government
in the United Canada
 Britain agreed to unite the Canadas,
but not to the governmental reforms
Union of Canadas: Durham Report
“There can hardly be considered a nationality more destitute…they are
a people with no history and literature.” – Lord Durham talking
about French Canadians
 Although Durham had some good ideas, especially
responsible government, he held several intolerant views of
French Canadians
 In fact, it has been argued that he wanted to unite Canada to
ensure a French-Canadian minority
1841: Act of
Union
With the Act of Union,
Upper and Lower Canada
are combined into one
territory: Canada
•An election must be held
to determine the
governing group
•And, Canadian
reformers are hard at
work, striving for
Responsible
Government
The Reformers: Responsible
Government
Robert Baldwin
 From a wealthy family, and a
member of the Anglican
church
 Resisted the religious and
political oligarchy in Canada
 He and his father
recommended responsible
government to Lord Durham
 Wanted to see unity in
Canada
The Reformers: Responsible
Government
Louis La Fontaine
 Was a French-Canadian
jurist and a statesman
 After the rebellions of
1837, he advocated
political reforms under the
Act of Union
Act of Union: An Unlikely Alliance
https://www.historica-dominion.ca/content/heritageminutes/baldwin-lafontaine
 In the election of 1841, La Fontaine’s
supporters were prevented from votin
 Baldwin offered La Fontaine a seat in York
(Toronto)
 La Fontaine ran and was elected!
 Several years later, he returned the favour
and Baldwin was elected in French
Canada
Act of Union: An Unlikely Alliance
 Why are these men significant?
 Showed a close respect for unity between
the two major ethnicities in Canada
 Were the leaders of the first elected
government in the united Canada
 The Baldwin-La Fontaine government
fought for:
 Restoration of the official status of French
as a language
 Responsible Government
 Double-Majority vote
Act of Union: Key Terms
 Responsible Government
 A system of government based on accountability; but in Canada
the focus was on the idea of self-government
 There would be two houses:
 Lower House – elected, more numerous
 Upper House – representative of the aristocracy
 Note: this mimics the British system
 Double Majority
 Votes must be passed with at least a 2/3 majority
Act of Union: Final Thoughts
 The 1841 Act of Union laid the groundwork for Canadian
nationalism
 Foundations of Responsible Government
 Joint English/French government with Baldwin and La Fontaine
 However, the Act of Union was not appreciated by Lower
Canadians, due to the diminishment of their culture and
language