Constitutional Act of 1791. Review British government did not know how to deal with 7000 Loyalists that came to Quebec after the American Revolution The.

Constitutional Act of 1791

Review

• British government did not know how to deal with 7000 Loyalists that came to Quebec after the American Revolution

• The Loyalists were placed in refugee camps and were not allowed to “mix” with the Canadiens

• Did not want the ideas of “liberty,” “democracy,” or “representative government”

• Content with the Quebec Act

Review II

• Eventually, Loyalists granted land in western Quebec

• Long-term decision: two cultures in one area and an official policy was needed

• Answer: The Constitutional Act of 1791

The Constitutional Act 1791

• Major Aim: Keep Quebec bicultural; divided Quebec into two colonies: – Upper Canada (“Up”

the St. Lawrence River; English-speaking)

– Lower Canada (“Down”; French-speaking)

The Constitutional Act 1791

• Give representative govt. by creating an elected Legislative Assembly in both colonies

• Limited power to prevent another “revolution”

• Key Terms:– Language = Upper Canada was English-speaking;

Lower Canada was French-speaking– Religion = UC Protestant; LC Roman Catholic– Law = UC British Criminal/Civil Law; LC British

Criminal Law and French Civil law

The Constitutional Act 1791

Government (Legislative – laws)• UC : Lieutenant-Governor; LC: Governor

General (control affairs)• Each had an Executive Council (appointed) to

advise governor; Legislative Council (appointed) to propose and pass laws

• Each colony had representative gov’t, with (elected) Legislative Assembly – power to impose taxes, make laws, serve locals

• Only male landowners allowed to vote• Councils and Governor can block laws (veto)

of the Assembly

The Americans declared war on Britain and invaded BNA

Vocabulary:Blockade Sovereign Nation

Causes of the War1. Blockades

(closed off; usually harbors or ports to prevent supplies coming in)

– England and France were at war shipping ports in Europe were blockaded (closed) Americans could not trade in Europe Americans lost money Americans got angry the Americans decided to attack BNA

Causes of the War

2. The Search for Deserters– Many British deserters (people who had run away from

the British army) found jobs on American ships the British searched American ships to take them back some Americans were taken by the British by mistake The USA was angry that Br. was doing this the Americans decided to attack BNA.

Causes of the War

3. Farmland– There was not enough good farmland in the USA due to

its large population A group of Americans who wanted to go to war (called the War Hawks) wanted to attack BNA to get more land the Americans decided to attack BNA.

Causes of the War

4. Natives– The Americans were moving west into the Ohio Valley

this caused conflict between the American settlers and FN Peoples there the Americans thought that the Natives were getting help from the BNA government the Americans decided to attack BNA so it would be easier to move west.

Causes of the War

5. National Honour– The British did not respect the Americans as a sovereign

(independent) nation the Americans decided to attack BNA to get respect.

Laura Secord & Tecumseh Pg. 122Read the following boxes with a partner and answer:

1.Who was Laura Secord and why is she famous?

2.Who was Tecumseh and why is he famous?

Review of Last Lesson/HW

• Results of the War:– American immigrants not allowed to come to British

North America (more to Europe)– Border at the 49th parallel (more peace)– Demilitarized (no military) the Great Lakes– Britain respected USA as a nation; USA looks to expand

southward and westward– Sense of unity in the between English and French Canada– Maritimes (Atlantic Colonies) made money from the war

The Northwest of Canada in 1800s

Vocabulary:HBC NWC Hivernants

Voyageurs

HBC vs. NWC

Fur Trade

Fur Trade

Hudson Bay Company• Founded in 1670• Radisson and Groseillier’s

explored region beyond New France

• Returned with furs – pitched to King Charles II to back up their business

• Claimed the area around Hudson Bay – named Rupert’s Land

Hudson Bay Company• “Stay by the Bay”

– Did not want to risk sending traders inland– Encouraged Aboriginal traders/trappers to come

• Standard of Trade was strict/little room for bargaining• Hierarchy

– Bosses in London, England– Shipped furs directly to and from England

• Carried out swiftly because Hudson Bay is ice-free only from July to mid-September

• Main trading fort : York Factory

The Fight is On!!!

• Challenge to the HBC domination of the fur trade in Canada.

• Enter the North West Company

Northwest Company• Founded in 1783 – rivals of HBC• “Montrealers” – Group of English merchants from Montreal– Seized French fur trade– Expanded trading networks and merged to create NWC

• Geographic reasons– Built posts inland -Montreal too

far for Natives to travel– Established major trade depot at

Fort William• Similar to HBC – had to trade

swiftly short ice-free season

Northwest Company

• Less rigid and bossy than the HBC• Hivernants (wintering partners)– Did the actual fur trading

• Voyageurs (show video)– Muscle power to paddle canoes and carry cargo– Mapped new areas and established new trading

posts

• More relaxed in trading standards – willing to bargain and even sold alcohol (HBC refused)

Map of NWC Trading Area