ATTAINING RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT

SOCIAL STUDIES 10

POST-REBELLION REVIEW• THE REBELLIONS OF 1837-38 IN BOTH UPPER CANADA AND LOWER CANADA SPARKED BY

CALLS FOR REFORM TO THE POLITICAL SYSTEM.• THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM FROM 1791-1840 FEATURED AN OLIGARCHY WHERE

THE COLONY WAS RULED BY A SMALL GROUP OF ELITE ENGLISH-SPEAKING MEN• IN LORD DURHAM’S REPORT, HE RECOMMENDED THE UNIFICATION OF THE CANADAS AND

RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT• 1840 ACT OF UNION LED TO UPPER CANADA LOWER CANADA BEING MERGED INTO UNITED

CANADA IN 1841. UPPER CANADA = CANADA WEST, LOWER CANADA = CANADA EAST

FEARS OF RESPONSIBLE GOV’T

• WEAKEN BRITISH EMPIRE AND STRENGTHEH ENEMIES OF THE BRITISH (USA)• CREATE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

BRITISH ECONOMIC POLICY SHIFT• BRITISH EMPIRE FOLLOWED THE POLICY OF MERCANTLISM• MERCANTLISM: HOME COUNTRY TAKES RAW PRODUCT FROM COLONIES TO

MAKE GOODS FOR PROFIT• 1846 THE BRITISH MOVE TOWARDS FREE TRADE WHEN THEY REPEALED THE

CORN LAWS WHICH PERMITTED CANADIAN GRAIN PRODUCTS TO ENTER BRITAIN WITH A LOW DUTY (TAX)• BRITISH VIEW COLONIES (CANADA) AS AN ECONOMIC PARTNER, NO LONGER

A RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE HIGH EXPENSE TO GOVERN, DEFEND AND FINANCE THE COLONIES

LORD ELGIN AND RESPONSIBLE GOV’T ACHIEVED• 1847, JAMES BRUCE, THE SON IN LAW OF LORD DURHAM WAS APPOINTED

GOVERNOR GENERAL OF UNITED CANADA AND WAS GIVEN THE TASK OF BRINGING IN RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT• 1848 ELECTIONS IN CANADA EAST RESULTED IN REFORMER LOUIS

HIPPOLYTE-LAFONTAINE MAJORITY AND IN CANADA WEST REFORMER ROBERT BALDWIN MAJORITY• ELGIN CALLED ON LAFONTAINE AND BALDWIN TO FORM A GOVERNMENT

GOVERNMENT PRIOR TO 1849

GOVERNOR*Appointed by government in England*Represented the monarch*Always English*Took orders from the British Government

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL*Appointed by the governor, but chosen from the party holding majority in the Legislative Assembly*held office for the term of the government*each member (minister) given charge of a department of gov’t LEGISLATIVE

ASSEMBLY*elected by the voters for up to 4 years*made and passed laws*also called the Lower House

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

*members appointed by the governor for life*made and passed laws*also called the Upper House

HOW RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURED

RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT TESTED• IN 1849 THE REFORM GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED THE REBELLION LOSSES

BILL WHICH GAVE FINANCIAL COMPENSATION TO ANYONE WHO LOST PROPERTY IN THE REBELLION, INCLUDING THE REBELS.• THIS BILL WAS SUPPORTED BY THE REFORMERS, BUT OPPOSED BY THE

TORIES AND EVEN LORD ELGIN• HOWEVER, UNDER THE PRINCIPLE OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, THE

GOVERNOR COULD NOT VETO ANY LAWS, THUS ELGIN SIGNED IT.

REACTIONS TO REBELLION LOSSES BILL• IN RESPONSE TO THE SIGNING OF THE REBELLION LOSSES BILL, RIOTING

TOOK PLACE FOR TWO DAYS. THIS INCLUDED THE BURNING OF THE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS IN MONTREAL.• ANTI-REBELS, WHICH INCLUDED MERCHANTS AND CITIZENS PUBLISHED THE

ANNEXATION MANIFESTO WHICH WAS A PLAN FROM THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE OVER.• THE MOVE TO BEING A COUNTRY BY ITSELF BEGINS