Chapter 7 Study Notes

• Study notes for chapter 7

Key Terms Related to Migration

• Push Factors involve conditions that drive people to leave their homelands, for example, war or famine.
• Pull Factors are conditions that attract people to a new place, such as economic opportunities or religious freedom.
• Immigrant: A person who moves to a new country to settle permanently.
• Emigrant: A person who leaves their own country to settle in another.
• Refugee: A person forced to leave their home due to war, persecution, or natural disaster.

Key Terms Related to Government and Democracy

• Colonial Government is controlled by a ruling country, where decisions are made by appointed officials rather than elected representatives.
• Democracy: A system of government where the people have power, usually through elected representatives.
• Republic: A government where leaders are elected rather than ruled by a monarch.
• Reformers: People wanted to change the government and make it more democratic and fair.
• Tyranny of the Majority: When the majority makes decisions that harm or ignore the rights of the minority.
• Responsible Government: A type of government where elected officials have real power and answer to the people.

Key Terms Related to Public Health

• Cholera: A bacterial disease that causes diarrhea and dehydration, often spread through contaminated water.
• Epidemic: A widespread outbreak of a disease within a specific population or area.
• Quarantine: Isolation of individuals or groups in order to prevent the spread of disease.

Key Terms Related to the Act of Union

• Royal Commission: A team of experts appointed by the government to study a problem and suggest solutions.
• Assimilate: Process that involves adopting the culture and customs of another group, often by force or policy, effectively erasing the original culture.
• Coalition: The temporary alliance of political groups working together for a common goal.
• Amnesty: A government decision intended to forgive people for past offenses, often after a political dispute,

Influential Groups

• Family Compact: A small, elite group in Upper Canada that controlled the government and resisted democratic reforms.
• Château Clique: A similar group of English-speaking elites in Lower Canada who held power and made decisions that often ignored the needs of French Canadians.

The Great Migration (1815-1850)

• The Great Migration was a large immigration wave from Britain and Ireland to British North America between 1815 and 1850.
• Push Factors: People were driven to leave Britain because of poverty, unemployment after the Napoleonic Wars, overcrowding in cities, famine (especially in Ireland), political unrest, and lack of opportunities.
• Pull Factors: They were attracted to the British North American colonies by free/cheap land for farming, job opportunities, a chance to freely start a new life, and the British government encouraged settlement to strengthen its control.
• Challenges: Competition for land and jobs, cultural and language tensions, strain on resources, plus infrastructure for those already in British North America.
• Challenges: French Canadians in Lower Canada feared being outnumbered by English-speaking newcomers.
• Challenges: Cities struggled to provide housing, jobs, and sanitation for the growing population.
• Similarities to Loyalist Migration: Both groups moved to British North America in large numbers, changed the population, faced hardships.
• Grosse lle: A quarantine station near Quebec City, and was used to screen and isolate sick immigrants, especially during the cholera epidemics of the 1830s and 1840s.
• Conditions during travel: Many traveled in overcrowded and unsanitary ships known as "coffin ships" where disease spread easily, there were many deaths, and food and water was often scarce.
• The journey was long and difficult, especially for poor families.
• Impact on colonies' identity: The population became more diverse, strengthened British control, and created tensions between French and English speakers.

The Push for Democracy

• Define Democracy: Democracy is government by the people through elected representatives.
• People wanted more democracy because colonial governments were controlled by small, unelected elites and Reformers wanted responsible government.
• Colonial Government contrasted with Democratic Government: Power held by appointed officials versus elected representatives, with government being accountable to the people.
• Thomas Jefferson advocated for individual rights and a government that serves the people.
• John Stuart Mill thought democracy was important but warned that the majority should not take away the rights of minorities.
• Alexis de Tocqueville supported democracy but believed it needed a strong education system and responsible leaders.
• Tyranny of the majority: It happens when the majority makes decisions that harm or ignore the rights of minorities.
• Groups with Concerns: French Canadians feared English-speaking settlers would take away their rights.
• Groups with Concerns: Indigenous Peoples were worried their lands and cultures would be erased.
• Groups with Concerns: Religious minorities were concerned their beliefs would not be respected in a majority-led government.

The Rebellions of 1837 and 1838

• A Relationship Established: The demands for more democratic government were challenged in regards to living together peacefully in British North America.
• Lack of democracy made many colonists frustrated, as power was held by small, unelected elites.
• Reformers wanted elected representatives would have real power instead of appointed officials loyal to Britain.
• Tensions between English and French settlers coupled with land issues made coexistence difficult.
• The British government resisted major democratic changes, leading to armed uprisings.
• Lower Canada, where the French-speaking majority felt marginalized: They resented the English-speaking elite's economic and political dominance.
• Led by Louis-Joseph Papineau and the Parti Patriote: Reformers demanded responsible government and greater rights for French Canadians.
• Economic hardships, high taxes, and crop failures increased frustrations, and in 1837, tensions ended with an armed rebellion, but was suppressed by British troops.
• Upper Canada was controlled by the Family Compact, who were wealthy British elites, had power and resisted democratic reforms.
• Farmers and middle-class citizens were led by William Lyon Mackenzie: Wanted responsible government and greater representation.
• Economic struggles and land policies created dissatisfaction and in 1837, Mackenzie led an armed rebellion which was poorly organized and defeated in Toronto.
• Key Reformers: Louis-Joseph Papineau led the Parti Patriote in Lower Canada.
• Key Reformers: William Lyon Mackenzie was a radical reformer and newspaper publisher in Upper Canada.
• Key Reformers: Joseph Howe was pushing for responsible government in Nova Scotia, and was unlike Papineau and Mackenzie.

Britain's Response to the Rebellions

• Lord Durham was sent to British North America in 1838 to investigate the causes of the rebellions and suggest solutions, in order to prevent further uprisings.
• His report became a key document in shaping Canada's political future.
• Lord Durham's Recommendations: To unite Upper and Lower Canada as it was believed it would improve governance.
• Lord Durham's Recommendations: Responsible Government where elected representatives have true power.
• Lord Durham's Recommendations: Assimilation of the French Canadiens to adopt the English's culture and language.
• Act of Union (1841): It united Upper and Lower Canada into one Province of Canada with regions: Canada West and Canada East.
• The regions had government with an equal representatives from each despite population sizes.
• The Act of Union made English the official language of the government.
• The goal behind making it the official language was weaken French cutlure so Canadiens would adopt the British's customs, language and governance.
• Rebellion Losses Bill: A bill compensated people in Canada East whose property was damaged during the rebellions.
• The Rebellion Losses Bill was controversial because some believed former rebels would receive money.
• Lord Elgin signed the Rebellion Losses Bill indicating how responsible the government was.
• Rioters damaged the the Parliament building after the Rebellion Losses Bill.
• Lafontaine and Baldwin were both reformers who together established government and formed a political alliance between English and French-speaking reformers.
• Elgin allowed the right for elected representatives to control government marking government in Canada.