Colonial Government

Colonial GovernmentA Need for ReformList of GrievancesThe Situation in Lower CanadaRebellion and Reform

Representative Government

• A government made up of people who are elected by voters to make laws on their behalf

• We vote in who we want to represent our needs in government*

• Example Vancouver Island Elizabeth May

Responsible Government • Governments that can be

voted out if elected representatives fail to please a majority of the people who elected them

• Governments are responsible for fulfilling our needs , so if they fail we vote them out!

• Vote of Non- Confidence

Why are they Important?•They form the cornerstones of Democracy

•Democracy on paper!

•Who was really in control?

Early Colonial Government•Colonial governments were indirectly run

form Britain- Britain appointed a Governor but he ruled

according to what the Oligarchy demanded•This policy put power in the hands of the

Oligarchy who ran the government in Upper and Lower Canada

• No Representative or Responsible Government

What is an Oligarchy?•A small group of ruling elite•Family Compact or Chateau Clique- A small group of wealthy and influential men- Upper class officials in Upper/Lower Canada who

made up the Executive Council- Controlled the government, government jobs,

and spending of tax money

Oligarchies Exist Today!• They are just not talked

about as much• The illusion of

democracy• Control politics and

economics

• 1% of the population controls 99% of the wealth and power

Upper Canada 1791•1791 The Constitution Act established the

government of Upper Canada- Divided Upper and Lower Canada- Gave an elected law- making Legislative

Assembly, a governor, and 2 councils (oligarchy) made up the government

Elected Legislative Assembly gave the illusion of democracy

• Every property owning male could vote BUT

- Governor and 2 councils (executive) he appointed had all the power

- Any law the Elected Legislative Assembly tried to pass could be vetoed by the other branches of government (Governor or Executive 2 councils)

William Lyon Mackenzie“The most extraordinary collection of

sturdy beggars, parsons, priest, pensioners, army people, navy people, place-men, bank directors, and stock and land jobbers ever established to operate as a paltry screen to a rotten government”

List of Grievances in Upper Canada•Land- overpriced, good land gone, Family

Compact dominated land ownership, crown and clergy reserve land blocked road construction

•Roads- wanted more roads and better quality roads

•Government- upset with policies and structure (oligarchy)

Robert Gourley(1778-1863) • Land Agent who

attempted to bring about reforms in the system of land ownership in early-19th-century Upper Canada

- surveyed farmers about their life in Upper Canada

- Discovered many extremely upset with the government

Robert Gourley continued• He drew up the list of

grievances and petitioned the government to change

- The result- he was arrested and sent out of the colony

• Important because - it shows you the

government power over people and policies

- Shows that the government does not care what people want

The Colonial Advocate• William Lyon

Mackenzie’s newspaper

- Published articles that criticized the government and the Family Compact

• Family Compact retaliation

- Burned office and printing press

Mackenzie Fights Back•Sued!•He wanted radical

change •1812 Elected to

the Legislative Assembly

•Led the reform movement in Upper Canada

Problems in Lower Canada• Ruling class was

English BUT- The majority of people

were French

• French population feared the loss of their

- Language- Religion- culture

American Revolution’s Impact on Lower Canada• Exposed Lower

Canadians to the democratic ideas of the French and American Revolution

• French Canadians identify with Americans

- Despise British Rule

Power In Lower Canada• English Speaking

Minority held all the power

- Those who control the money control the power

- ¼ of the population

• Think like the Godfather

“First you get the money, then you get the women, then you get the power”

The Threat of a Union•In 1822 an attempt

to unify Upper and Lower Canada under English rule and language threatened French speaking colonists

Land, Farming and Debt in Lower Canada•Increased immigration and settlement of

farmers overworked the soil- Soil became less fertile- Wheat crops failed

•Failed crops led to an economic deficit - More spending than income- Farmers went broke- Many took jobs in the forest industry- Many upset!

Nationalism•A devotion to your

culture and country

- The Olympics!

•What about colonists?

Reform Movement in Lower Canada•Main Focus- To protect French Culture and heritage from

English assimilation

•Why?- Britain encourages English settlement to phase out

“French Problem”- Conspiracy theory Cholera Epidemic 1832- French thought this was planned to wipe out French

population

Reform Movement In Lower Canada

•Main Grievances- Discrimination against French Schools- Lack of Representation in Government- Taxes (No taxation without

representation)- Schools in Lower Canada

•These 4 points all connect to a need to protect French Culture

Louis Joseph Papineau• Leader of Radical

Reformers in Lower Canada

- Also a Lawyer

• Initially optimistic about British rule

- Disagreed about British controlling all power

• Became the leader of the Parti Canadien

- Lobbied for Reform

Ninety-Two Resolutions• What forced Papineau

to Submit this to the Governor?

- Fear of an unfair union 1822

- British soldiers shot protestors on Montreal

• After 30 years of legal attempts to reform, Papineau and his patriots rebelled against the government