The Rebellions of Lower Canada

The Rebellions of Lower Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydLgwAacp4g

The Rebellions of Lower Canada

1. Although the British defeated the French and took over the French Canadian colony of Lower Canada or Quebec,  French Canadians sided with the British in the Canadas during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, because the British did not change the seigneur or farming system, the Roman Catholic faith, and family laws. 

2. Criminal law was British.

3. By 1837, French Canadians grew tiresome of British rule and demanded the protection of their culture and more democracy.

4. Like Upper Canada, the British quickly crushed any rebellious activities since they had already lost the Thirteen American colonies to American independence.

5. Lower Canada, the lower part of the St. Lawrence River or Quebec, was largely French Canadian.

6. The habitants were largely the descendant of les filles du roi and other colonists of New France who farmed the land.

7.  English merchants or business people and Loyalists began to dominate the economy and the lieutenant governor appointed his friends and family members to the executive council to control politics.  This is known as nepotism and cronyism. 

8.  French Canadian academics, lawyers and doctors began to protest against colonial control or a lack of democracy and control among the legislative assembly.

9. The English elites, Lieutenant Governor Gosford and his Chateau Clique or hand-picked friends, controlled  politics in Canada.

Here was the chain of command:

The British Crown à Lieutenant Governor-à Executive Council (Family Compact in Upper Canada/Chateau Clique in Lower Canada-àLegislative Assembly (men who owned land)à those who were allowed to vote

The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada had little power.

10. The laws passed approved the British or English elites, and the bills (suggested laws) that helped the French Canadians were largely vetoed or rejected.

11.  The Parti Patroite or the Patriot Party was formed under Papineau to create a voice for the French Canadian people.

12.  Papineau came up with 92 ideas or resolutions for change.

13.  French Canadians formed rebel groups  to overthrow the British troops and government.

14. The first battle occurred in St. Denis and the French Canadian rebels defeated British troops.

15. Nelson led the Patriotes forces against the British.

16.  The British defeated the Patriotes or rebels next at the Battle of St. Charles.

17.  The British retook St. Denis and burned it to the ground.

18.  Like Mackenzie in Upper Canada, Papineau escapes to the United States and lives in exile.

19.  At the Battle of Eustache, the British send more troops.  Rebels hide in a church.  The British set the church on fire to burn the rebels alive.

20. Skirmishes continue for two more years, Papineau and Nelson eventually are allowed to return and they fight for responsible government or greater democracy.  Their followers were largely arrested, executed, or exiled to the Caribbean.  French Canadian nationalism and the fight to preserve French Canadian culture still continued on during Confederation and to this day.

21. Rebellions did not occur in the Maritime colonies, but the journalist and politician Joseph Howe fought for responsible government or greater democratic reform.   British elites too controlled political power in the Maritime colonies of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island,  New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton.