British North American Colonies: 1837 Rebellions

British North American Colonies

• Colonies wanted more freedom from Britain
• Rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada in 1837
• Lord Durham investigated rebellions
• Recommendations for merged colony with English majority, assimilation of French culture, and responsible government

Politics in the Province of Canada

• 1800s saw great change for British North America
• Colonies desired more freedom from Britain
• Concerns weren't addressed quickly enough leading to Upper and Lower Canada rebellions in 1837.
• Parliament sent Lord Durham to investigate rebellions
• Durham's report detailed three recommendations:
  • Merging colonies under English majority
  • Assimilation of French culture and language
  • Introduction of responsible government

Capital Selection

• Selecting a capital for the new Province of Canada was challenging
• Kingston was initially selected but met with complaints.
• Leaders couldn't decide on a satisfactory capital.
• Queen Victoria ultimately decided on Bytown (Ottawa) due to its strategic location.

Confederation

• Upper and Lower Canada united into one colony (Province of Canada).
• Each section received equal seats in parliament, necessitating collaboration for legislation.
• This collaboration became increasingly difficult due to differences in interests, languages, and religions.
• Political deadlock hampered progress, with neither side securing majority votes.

Coalition Government

• George Brown, leader of the Clear Grits, proposed a coalition government as a solution to political deadlock.
• Coalition involved different political parties working together for a common goal, typically during crises/deadlocks.

Charlottetown Conference

• Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI initially planned a Maritime Union
• Leaders of Canada East and West joined the conference, interested in a larger union.
• Main ideas discussed:
  • Reasons for a British North American Union, presented by George-Étienne Cartier and John A. Macdonald
  • Financial arrangements, shared by Alexander Galt.
  • George Brown's vision for a united government.
• Delegates agreed to meet again in Quebec City

Quebec Conference

• Delegates met to formalise the Charlottetown discussions
• Main ideas: a bicameral system of government (Upper and Lower Houses) using representation by population and appointed body for regional interests
• Ties with British monarchy retained through a Governor General
• Responsibilities divided among government levels (taxes, education, Indigenous peoples)

Post-Conference Discussions

• Issues related to Indigenous peoples, Black Canadians, and women weren't addressed during the conferences.
• All delegates were European men, seeking to model the new country on European examples.
• French politician A.A. Dorion disagreed with resolutions because he thought French culture would be diminished by English majority.
• Nova Scotia politician Joseph Howe opposed the union due to the potential imbalance of power.
• John A. Macdonald continued his efforts to unite the country.

London Conference

• Politicians from Canada East, West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia travelled to London
• Details of Confederation were finalized
• A critical agreement in the guidelines involved Canada solely controlling internal affairs with Britain retaining control over external affairs.
• The Dominion of Canada formed on July 1, 1867, comprising Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

This quiz explores the historical context of the British North American colonies, focusing on the demands for freedom and the significant rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada in 1837. It highlights Lord Durham's investigations and his recommendations for governance, including aspects of cultural assimilation and the challenges in selecting a capital for the new Province of Canada.