The Push for Democracy

1. The Push for Democracy

2. OUTCOMES • 7.1.6 – How was the Great Migration of 1815-1850 in Upper Canada and Lower Canada an attempt to confirm British identity in the Province of Canada? • 7.1.7 – How was the Act of Union of 1840 an attempt to resolve the issues raised by the 1837 and 1838 rebellions in Lower Canada and Upper Canada.

3. KEY WORDS • Reformer: someone who seeks to change – to reform – established rules and arrangements in society • Democracy: a system of government in which citizens elect those who rule • Republic: a system of government that does not have a monarch (usually a democracy) • Tyranny of the majority: in a tyranny one person or group holds power in a society and uses power for their own interests • Boycott: to refuse something as a way to create pressure for change • Arms: weapons

4. KEY WORDS CONTINUED • Amnesty: general pardon • Insurrection: an attempt to overthrow an established government • Royal commission: an official investigation established by the government (the Crown) • Coalition: an alliance among different groups • Self-government: government that does not answer to an imperial power • Oppression: unjust or unfair use of power • Conquest: the British takeover of New France in 1763, under which New France became the British colony of Quebec

5. What did the Reformers want? • Sought to change the government of British North America • Wanted Britain to treat them like adults • They wanted complete authority to make decisions that affected their own lives Question! • Who makes the decisions that affect YOUR life?

6. Who had the power in British North America? • In British North America there was a Colonial government • This meant that Britain appointed the people who had the power to make decisions • This included a governor • Members of governing council • Each colony also had an assembly elected by people living in the colonies • The assembly had less power than the governor and the councils • The assembly could not make decisions only ADVISE the governor and council

7. Who has the power in a democracy? • In a democracy, voters elect the people that they want to have decision making power. • This is turn meant that voters had a lot of power because the people they elect reflect their values and beliefs. • The reformers in British North America wanted: • The assemblies to control the membership of the councils NOT the governor • They wanted councils to have full control of local affairs NOT the governor • There are varied perspectives on democracy

8. The Situation in Lower Canada • Struggle for power between the governor-appointed council and the elected assembly • Anglophone – Protestant people controlled the coucil • English wealthy merchants known as the “Chateau Clique” • Francophone – Catholic Canadiens made up most of the assembly • In the 1820’s parties began to form such as the PartiCanadien and then PartiPatriote • Fighting broke out between English voters and Canadien voters

9. The Situation in Lower Canada continued! • In 1832, Lower Canada experienced a cholera epidemic brought by British and Irish immigrants • This epidemic killed nearly five thousand people • This angered the Canadiens because they believed that the British should of stopped emigration until the epidemic was over • Another hardship endured in Lower Canada was crop failures which happened four years in a row leading to many farmers starving to death, • Most of the farmers in Lower Canada were Canadiens

10. The Situation in Upper Canada • A power struggle between the council and assembly developed in Upper Canada as well • A group of wealth English Canadian families; “the family compact” held power in the councils • A party formed seeking democratic government called the Reform Party – and won majority of the seats in the assembly in 1834. • Supporters were commonly from the United States • In 1836 governor made sure the party favored – not the Reform party – won the majority of the seats • In 1837, crops failures also affected Upper Canada

11. Activity! • Placemat time! • Please form into 3 groups • You will be assigned one of the Reformers and you and your group are required to find out his political opinion and background information • Afterwards we will rotate to make sure you have all three Reformers information

12. 1837-38 Lower Canada • March 1837 Britain rejects reforms by the Parti Patriote • Papineau starts to organize rallies against government • October 1837Britain moves troops into Lower Canada (Upper Canada has no troops…) • November 16, 1837British try to arrest Patriote leaders (they escape and decide to fight) • November 23, 1837Patriotes win battle at Saint-Denis

13. 1837-38 Lower Canada continued • November 25, 1837The British beat the Patriotes at Saint-Charles and then go and take over Saint-Denis (burn it to the ground) • December 14, 1837British capture many Patriote fighters and Saint-Eustache • Papineau and Patriote leaders flee to USA • British troops loot/burn many Canadien settlements • 1838Patriotes organize a second rebellion in the USA but are defeated as soon as they attack • More Canadien settlements are attacked

14. 1837-38 Upper Canada • December 2, 1837Mackenzie organizes a rebellion in Upper Canada after hearing of rebellion in Lower Canada • December 5, 1837Mackenzie leads disorganized attack on York (Toronto) • Didn’t go well • December 7, 1837Government arms defeat Mackenzie and followers • Mackenzie flees to the USA • 1838 Mackenzie organizes raids from the USA

15. Papineau and Mackenzie • Britain offered rewards for their capture • Both remained in exile • Were granted amnesty (a general pardon) from Britain • Both returned to Canada but they had lost their political influence

17. Britain’s Response to the Rebellions The Durham Report • Wanted to find a solution for Canada because they did not want to lose them • Like the 13 Colonies… • Set up a royal commission (investigation by the Crown) to study problems • Lord Durham did the investigation and made the following recommendations:

18. Recommendation #1 • I believe that the tranquility can only be restored by subjecting the Province [of Lower Canada] to the vigorous rule of an English majority; and that the only [effective] government would be that formed by a legislative union [of Upper Canada and Lower Canada].

19. Recommendation #2 • Such a union would … enable all the Provinces [Upper Canada and Lower Canada] to cooperate for all common purposes; and, above all, it would form a great and powerful people, possessing the means of securing good and responsible government for itself.

20. Recommendation #3 • The language, the laws, the character of the North American Continent are English; and every race [other than] the English . . . Is in a condition of inferiority. It is to elevate them from that inferiority that I desire to give to the French Canadians our English character. . . . [It] would appear, that the great mass of the French Canadians are doomed… to occupy an inferior position, and to be dependent on the English for employment.

21. The Act of Union

22. Act of Union • Passed in 1841 based off of Durham’s report • Wanted to force the Canadiens to assimilate (become part of their cultural group) • Combined Upper/Lower Canada into one • Created a governor appointed legislative council • Created an assembly with equal representation from Canada East/West • Even though East had more population • Made English the official language of government

23. Government in the Provinceof Canada Under the Act of Union Britain Governor Legislative Council • Appointed by governor Elected Assembly (42 members East and 42 members West) Voters (mostly male property owners)

24. What pressures did the First Nations face during the 1840’s? • First Nations people were not recognized in the Act of Union • Mississaga people (Anishnabe) were forced to leave their land that they settled and farmed • Mi’kmaq received no recognition • Started to take control of their land/resources

25. A Letter (pg. 227 of your text book) Madame: I am the leader of my People, the Mi’kmaq in your Province of Nova Scotia. I cannot cross the ocean to talk to you, for my canoe is too small and I am old and weak. I cannot look upon you, for my eyes cannot see so far. You cannot hear my voice across the ocean. I therefore send this Wampum and letter – this paper talk – to tell you I am in trouble. My people are in trouble. When I was young I had plenty: now I am old, poor and sickly too. My people are poor. No Hunting Grounds – No Beaver – No Otter – nothing. All these woods were once ours. Our fathers possessed them all. Now we cannot cut a tree to warm our wigwam in winter unless the white man please. The white man has taken all that was ours. Let us not perish. My head and my heart shall go to One above for you. PasamayjijPimina’uwit

26. LaFontaine-Baldwin Alliance • Baldwin (English Canadian) & LaFontaine (French Canadian) joined forces to improve democracy in Canada (created a coalition) • They took steps to establish universities in Toronto & Laval (Quebec City) • Secured amnesty for rebels of 1837-1838 so that they were no longer considered traitors to the English Crown

27. LaFontaine Baldwin

28. References • Information taken from: • Our Canada, Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada, 2006. pg. 199-206.