Demand and Struggles in the British Colony

Demand and Struggles in the British Colony2nd Textbook p.8 -p. 43Constitutional Act of 1791Requested by petition from Canadiens and British colonistsDivided Prov. of Quebec into: Lower Canada and Upper CanadaImplemented new parliamentary system elected Canadiens and British colonists to be representatives in Legislative AssemblyUltimate legislative power held by appointed Legislative Council & GovernorLoyalist and Constitution of 1791How far are you willing to fight for democracy?

The Canadiens sent a petition to Britain asking for the creation of a legislative assembly made up of both British colonist and Canadiens.

In 1791, Britain agreed and passed the Constitutional Act.

Mercantilism An economic system in which a country attempts to amass wealth through trade with other countries, exporting more than it imports and increasing storage of gold and precious metals

Mercantilist Policies:High tariffs;Monopolizing markets;Exclusive trade with colonies;Forbidding trade to be carried in foreign ships;Export subsidies;Banning all export of gold and silver;Limiting wages;Exploiting colony resources.

LiberalismLiberalismis the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Generally support the following:Constitutionalism (fundamental laws), liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights, capitalism, and freedom of religion.

Why would this become the new theory/ideal?

LiberalismLiberalism (social/political/economic): Democracy; free and fair elections; Capitalism;Freedom of religion;Freedom of expression;Equality;Right to vote (for some).Upper vs. Lower CanadaLower CanadaUpper CanadaFrench CanadiansBritish Colonists/AnglophoneCatholicProtestantFrench Civil code, British criminal codeBritish Civil/Criminal CodeSeigneurial system of land distributionTownshipsLegislative Assembly: CanadiensLegislative Assembly primarily British originHomework/ClassworkQuestions (approximately 10 minutes).Page 10, # 1, 2 Page 12, #1-3Page 14 #1-4

Page 10 Answer the two questions under Source #7, include an embedded quote for each ------ TO BE MARKED

Page 13 List three facts and three inferences about what is happening in source #10 -------- TO BE MARKED

What does it mean to be apart of a nation?

Strange Canadian lawshttp://www.readersdigest.ca/travel/canada/13-strange-canadian-laws-you-never-knew-existed

Ex. It Was Illegal for Non-dark Soft Drinks To Contain Caffeine

Sprite, Mountain Dew and other non-dark soft drinks couldnt contain caffeine, but that all changed in March 2010 with the advent of energy drinks like Redbull. Now you can have caffeine in soft drinks like orange and grape soda, however there is a limit, and its still lower than colas.

Who makes these laws? Why is this important?Legislative Assemblies : persons who create or amend or repeal laws.

Amend = change / alterRepeal = take away / take back

Legislative AssemblyHow does it works?

Currently in Ontario:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzflLqk0ksM

Parliament: Battle and the PressBattles:Choosing the speaker of the house (voted in by Leg. Assembly so the French won). Speaker's duty is to interpret rules impartially, to maintain order, and to defend the rights and privileges of Members, including the right to freedom of speech.Language: Canadiens wanted bilingualism in Lower Canadas Legislature the law passed but London overruled it and so laws were only to be translated.Parliament: Battle and the PressIn 1805, disagreement about financing prisons this led to the creation of two parties Parti canadien, and the British Party. Newspapers became very important during this time period members of the assembly used them to spread their ideas and political demands. The Quebec Mercury BritishLe Canadien - FrenchLower Canada: Economy and SocietyThe Fur Trade:Fierce competition sent companies further for pelts increased transportation costs.Hudson Bay bought North West Company, Montreal was no longer part of the route the pelts took to Europe. Importance of agriculture remained, especially wheat. Crop failures = crisis in 1830 = social tensionsFur to TimberBye bye fur trade, hello timber trade.Blockade by France caused an increased interest in raw materials in Lower Canada.Timber was needed for warships by 1820 it had replaced the fur trade as Lower Canadas main industry.Also, a diminished interest in fur made the transition easier. ClassworkTake notes on p. 14, answer the question under source #11Read page 16, question 1-3p. 17- answer the questions under source #16Society of Lower CanadaBritish business class:Expanded new economic sectors;Dominated economic sector;Acquired wealth and influence;Some moved into politics.Canadien liberal bourgeoisie:Professionals incl. doctors, notaries, lawyers;Little to do with business;Took office to protect the rights of Canadiens;e.g. John MolsonSociety of Lower CanadaFleeing famines and difficult living conditions, people fled the British Isles.Most settled in cities. Canadiens still outnumbered British 340,000 to 80,000 in Lower Canada. This number grew, Canadiens felt threatened.Canadien NationhoodAccountability:The growth of liberalism created a demand for more power in the govt. In 1807 there was a demand for responsible govt. (definition p. 20)In 1830s there was a demand for an elected Legislative Council (approved bills submitted by Legislative Assembly).Britain balked at both since it would reduce their power over the colony.Toward Rebellion: Les Canals The Canadiens agreed with the construction of canals, but only in Lower Canada, not Upper Canada.They also felt that more resources should be given toward agriculture (an area they dominated) the British did not agree. Toward Rebellion: DutiesA good source of government revenue custom duties = a tax collected at ports.Good for Lower C. not for Upper C. (they had no ports).Agreement reached that 1/5th of custom duties go to Upper C., but deal not renewed in 1819 = frustrating those in Upper C. it was a major revenue source.ClassworkPage 19: # 2, 3 Page 22: #1-3As a member of Parliament, how would you suggest to help remedy the problems now arising between Upper and Lower Canada?Parti PatrioteTensions continues to grow between the Canadiens and the British, especially when it came to economic development.

1826 - The Parti Canadien became the Parti Patriote, demanded more democracy from political institutions.

The party divided into a moderate and radical wing.Parti PatrioteModerate WingRadical WingDemands

Maintain political ties with Britain, but change the institutions.Wanted change.When change failed -demanded independence between 1836-1837.How to Achieve Demands

Legal means with Parliament.

Negotiations.Illegal armed combat.

Confrontation with British government.Raising Awareness

Newspapers.

Organize meetings.Newspapers.

Organize meetings (likely more private).

Canadien DiscontentPoor harvest in 1830 put further strain on relations. They were also displeased with British not granting seigneuries.British use of violence to deal with demonstrations.In 1834, the Patriotes drew up a list of political grievances, called the 92 Resolutions, and sent it to the government in London.

92 ResolutionsLiberal demands for more democracy, more efficient legal system, complained of collusion between Brit. landowners and the govt.This became a key election issue.The Party Patriote won.

(collusion = back-door deals)

http://www.canadiana.org/view/9_03428/0299

The Russell Resolutions Response to 92 ResolutionsGovernor Gosford read and made recommendations for the British government. 92 Resolutions rejected, 10 resolutions put forward in response one of which was to take $ from the Leg. AssemblyViolent action was decided by some Canadiens members. ClassworkPage 26-27.Documents 28 & 29, study them and answer the questions associated with each (red dot qs)The Rebellions!

The Patriotes 1838 The taking up of armsLower Rebellion ReviewCausesBy late 1837, a number of factors pushed Lower Canada into armed insurrection:Crop failures in parts of Lower Canada in 1837, which left many farmers near starvation.An increase in Brit. immigration Unfair representation in government- the Reformers wanted more ministerial accountability (more responsible government) = Liberalism instituted

The Final Straw

March 1837: Russell Resolutions rejected all major demands of the Patriotes as it would decrease the control of the Executive and Legislative Councils (controlled by a small number of rich British families).

November 16, 1837, govt attempted to arrest leaders Parti Patriote

Armed Rebellion in Lower C.May 1837: Parti Patriote Meeting denounce the Russell Resolutions, call for boycott of British items/goodsJuly: Governor Gosford bans meetingsAugust: Patriote refuses to vote for the passing of the budget Gov. Gosford dissolves the Legislative AssemblySept Oct: Societies created for armed rebellion, 26 Patriotes ordered to be arrestedNov: Armed rebellion- Pariotes win this one but lose all the rest

Patriote vs Brisith Soldier

Fighting Continued1838 Second rebellion, published the Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada (p.31 in textbook)- Rebellion was crushed, hundreds were arrested, many sentenced to death, 20 hanged, 58 deported to Australia (prison colony at the time)

The Hanging of the Patriotes in MontrealChateau Clique

Chateau CliqueSmall group of English merchants and upper class French Canadians (seigneurs) who had a lot of money and influence and who supported the British more than the Canadien (because their main interest was business) The Durham ReportIn order to avoid another rebellion, the British went about understanding the causes.

Durham Report: unify the two Canadas, establishing responsible government.

The Durham Report: ReactionsCanadiens:Uniformly opposed to the Durham Report.Felt they were being assimilated would lose culture, religion and language.The Anglophones in Lower Canada were in favour as it would give them more of a voice in an area dominated by the Canadiens.

British colonists:Divided: Merchants and businessmen wanted status quo (stay same) helped business.Reformers liked the proposition of responsible government.Union of the Canadas

Union of the CanadasDurham Report:Proposed a legislative union (combining territories under one government).Lower=Canada East, Upper=Canada West.Act of the Union 1841 brought many changes to territory and politics.Union of the CanadasCanada West/East were given equal representation, though the Canadiens outnumbered the British meant as a way for British to control the Leg. Assembly.Responsible government was rejected governor and Legislative Council still had power to block bills.London still essentially had ultimate control.Union of the CanadasDebts were also amalgamated (joined) Canadiens absorbed much English debts.English was the official language.Political Organization: Compare document 52 (p39) & document 6 (p9).Union of the CanadasPolitical Alliances:Reformers and French Canadians formed an alliance. Why?Baldwin-Lafontaine Alliance: Majority Govt.English CanadianFrench CanadianOriginsReformers from Canadian WestFormer Patriotes ReformersLeadersRobert BaldwinLouis Hippolyte LafontaineAimsResponsible government / Economic concernsResponsible government / French Canadian rightsUnion of the CanadasThe Demise of Protectionism:Britain rethinks how it protects colonies, as protectionist policies often hurt British merchants.1846 protectionist policies gone.Abolished Corn Laws and Navigation Act.Canadian goods had to compete with the global markets.These changes greatly concerned and angered Canadian merchants.Union of the CanadasResponsible Government:With protectionism gone, Britain was forced to give some, but not complete, control to Canadians, especially pertaining to the economy. 1848 Baldwin/Lafontaine victory, formed an Executive Council.United Canada could control internal affairs, external affairs still controlled by Britain. Canada still colony, GG still had power to veto legislation, though rarely did. Union of the CanadasFrench Canadian Interests:Although English was the official language, the Baldwin-Lafontaine alliance helped in having French accepted in Legislative Assembly documents. Also, Amnesty was given to certain Patriotes. The alliance lasted until 1851 political, ideological and cultural divisions disrupted the alliance and created a time of instability. Union of the CanadasSummary Question:How did the Canadiens try to affirm their nationhood within the British Empire?