ATTAINING RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT
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Transcript of ATTAINING RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT
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MAKE GOODS FOR PROFIT• 1846 THE BRITISH MOVE TOWARDS FREE TRADE WHEN THEY REPEALED THE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