Rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada Textbook Answers p. 159-161 Ms. Reid Canadian History 11.
Early Canada to Rebellions of 1837
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Transcript of Early Canada to Rebellions of 1837
Early Canada to Rebellions of 1837
New France - Lower Canada
League of the Iroquois
Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayugas, Seneca
Eventually joined by Tuscaroas Six Nations “people of the longhouse”
Missionaries arrival in Huronia
Huronia (Ontario region) Iroquois & Huron at war in early 1600s Hurons became economic partners with
French fur-traders by 1620, along with the Algonquians
Jesuits arrived in 1615 – part of deal Spread disease from village to village Efforts to convert to Christianity
Smallpox Outbreak
1639 – raged throughout Huronia Killed ½ population Killed young and old first – lost folklore and
future Fear of Jesuits increased Economic partnership with French mandated
Jesuit presence
Iroquois vs Huron
Weakened by disease, Hurons in trouble Iroquois given guns by English and Dutch
settlers in modern American colonies March 1649 – Defeat of Huron by Iroquois Jesuits were tortured by Iroquois
French and Iroquois
Truce Ended by 1680 War between France/Algonquians and
Iroquois/English Iroquois originally victorious, but later
defeated by French Army Iroquois converted to Christianity English-French peace in 1701
1744 – English-French war…..again
Lasted 4 years English captured French fort Louisbourg, but
eventually gave it back French maintained alliance with Mi’kmaq and
Maliseet October 2, 1749 – English governor
Cornwallis ordered destruction of Mi’kmaq peoples – willing to pay for scalps Measure never went into effect – London
advised milder policy
Britain’s growing anxiety about Acadians Mi’kmaq raids increased Cornwallis doubtful of Acadian’s loyalty 1749 – demanded unconditional oath of loyalty to
Britain Acadians officially neutral Some left – most stayed New governor – 1753 1754 – war broke out between France and Britain 1755 – ordered expulsion of Acadians – 13,000
Continued until 1762
Peace & Friendship treaties
With aboriginal peoples – Mi’kmaq and Maliseet
Attempt to maintain loyalty/neutrality of aboriginal people
Currently being interpreted by SCOC
Treaty of Paris
New France becomes a British colony in 1763 Ends British military rule of area (1759-1763)
Royal Proclamation of 1763
Creates Province of Quebec (Lower Canada) Recognizes land rights of aboriginal peoples
around Great Lakes British goal – assimilation of French settlers
Quebec Act of 1774
Guarantees continuation of French civil law and Roman Catholicism
Extends boundaries of Quebec to include the Great Lakes all the way to the Ohio Valley (between Ohio and Mississippi rivers)
Angered English settlers to the south
Urban Life In Lower Canada
Population rose from 160,000 in 1790 to 650,000 in 1850
Smallpox & Cholera Immigration Rural life of subsistence farmers Crop failures Economic decline
Seigneural System
1627 – 1854 Inspired by the feudal system Seigneurs (land owners) and Habitants
(tennant farmers) Hated by most Supported by Church
Seigneural System
Church versus State
Ongoing rivalry between professional elite and the Roman Catholic Church in Lower Canada
Colonial government’s power dwindled All tried to influence the Habitant population Professional elite turned to politics as nationalists
Framed arguments in support of French-Canadian nation
Aspired to replace the Seigneurs and compete with the Church as the leaders of French Canada
Seigneurs often collaborated with British in exchange for lucrative appointments and pensions
Professional Elite
Formed backbone of the Parti-canadien (later called Parti-partiote) and had increasingly hostile relationships with British merchants
Supported some aspects of seigneural system as rampart against English-speaking farmers who wanted to acquire land
Deny women the right to vote
Constitutional Act of 1791
Elected legislative assembly Taxes Strong executive authority Legislative council Executive council
Rebellion of 1837
Failure of Constitution Act of 1791 as a system of government in Lower Canada
French and Parti-canadien dominated assembly wanted to strengthen their hand and decrease “foreign” influence of the Executive branch
English speaking minority dominated the executive council and elected assembly was dominated by French-speaking canadiens
Rebellion of 1837
Struggle between haves and have-nots – change and the status quo
Some English-speaking Quebecers supported patriotes Irish immigrants
A question on $$$$$
Assembly wanted control of colony’s finances Assembly could initiate money bills –
Executive could refuse them Prisons – French wanted to pay for it with
higher import duties, British wanted to tax land
Legitimacy of elections
When Governor Sir James Craig annoyance with Assembly grew, he dissolved it and called new elections Nearly identical body elected and again
dissolved French papers criticized him – jailed for
treason Craig recommended increasing immigration of
British people to assimilate French and abolition of elections.
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Leader of Parti-patriote Speak of the assembly in 1815 Became increasingly republican
Increasing Radicalization
British attempted compromise – Assembly could control all expenditures IF they agreed to pay the civil service and administration each year
Patriotes were not willing to compromise 92 Resolutions – demands of the Assembly
Governor views it as a declaration of independence
Increasing Radicalization
London interested in compromise, but they took too long Commission appointed to study problem
March 1837 – 10 Resolutions by Lord John Russell Refused all 92 Assembly resolutions
No elected Executive Council Executive Council continues to pay administrative
costs without approval of Assembly Executive Council would be responsible to the
Governor alone – NOT Assembly Governor would continue to report to London – NOT
the elected Assembly
Patriote response
Legal agitation, then revolt if needed Organized boycotts of imported goods and
British merchants Public meetings – one in Richelieu Valley
called for revolt – adopted resolution included a declaration of independence Developed plans to take Montreal and Quebec
by force Warrants were issued for the arrest of Patriote
leaders – including L-J Papineau who fled to the countryside
Violent rebellion
November 1837 – violent battles between Patriotes and British troops. Close to 150 Patriotes were killed, British lost 3 Patriote “Army” was poorly armed and trained
civilians Prisoners were rounded up and sent to jail in
Montreal British torched 20 houses and barns (terror)
Violence continues…
British turn attention to the other Patriotes living in other parts of Quebec
British kill or burn 70 more – 250 total British continue to burn – entire town of St-
Eustache and St-Benoit A year later (1838) Patriotes try to take
Mohawk community of Kahnawake – raid failed Mohawks capture 60 Patriotes and turn them
over to the British - Jailed
Violence continues…
British troops crush Patriote rebels
Ambitions abound
Patriotes – French-speaking merchants and professionals who wanted political power in the colony
Church – Speak for French Quebecois Seigneures – Keep what they already had English-speaking merchants – wanted to keep control
of colony’s economy British administrators & Parliament – Colony could be
useful to mother country Habitants – who wanted to improve their situation
and supported the Patriotes
Consequences of the Rebellion in Lower Canada1. In response to the rebellion, Britain
established a Special Council in 1838 made up of some English-speaking Quebecers and some strongly loyalist French Quebecers
2. Colony lost its own government altogether3. Establishment of police force in Montreal
and countryside to pacify habitants4. Got rid of seigneural system on island of
Montreal
Long term…
Lord Durham’s visit – Royal Commission English merchants wanted union with Upper
Canada to save them from French factions Durham hoped that with union the British
would outnumber the French and they would give up nationalistic dreams and assimilation would begin
Monday
Rebellion in Upper Canada