Canada: Durham Report
Political Structure of U/L Canada
The Revolts
Durham Report (1839)
Upper Canada:
Lower Canada:
Lieutenant Gov appointed by British Gov
Executive council - appointed by Lieu Gov (made up of Family Compact)
Legislative council - appointed by Lieu Gov (made up of Family Compact)
Legislative Assembly (elected by voters but laws must be approved by legislative/executive council)
Govenor -> Executive council -> Legislative Council -> Legislative Assembly
Voters: Male landowners who were of European descent
Upper (1837):
Lower:
William Lyon Mackenzie
Causes:tight control from Family Compact and Anglican Church
Emergence of a more radical voice in the Reform Party
Concerns of original settlers about impoverished new arrivals from Britain
Results of the 1836 election:
Robert Baldwin had been campaigning for his idea of a responsible gov
William Lyon Mackenzie's newspaper had been attacked by some of the sons of the family compact which made him a valid reformer
They looked to America for inspiration
The Irish began emigrating in 1830, Canadians thought they were feckless, criminally inclined and carried disease
The Ops Township Scheme provided temporary shelter/supplies to immigrants
Reformers opposed the Ops Township Scheme because of the costs
The Family Compact disliked immigration because they were unlikely to support the FC
Financial Crisis in America in 1837 - effected economic stability in Upper Canada
Cholera epidemics in 1832 & 34
Actions of Lieutenant Govs:
Colborne was better than Head - he improved infrastructure BUT bypassed the legislative assembly by using tax revenues to
Economy is based on agriculture
Siegneural System - feudal system (landlord dominant)
Blamed for a lot of the issues in Lower Canada
Dual System
Problems:
3 Day event, shut down, very uneventful
Introduced martial law
Head had no previous experience - prompted 1836 elections which removed reformers from the legislative assembly, reformers now felt they had no representation so they were even more inclined to revolt.
Durham: Disliked by Lord Melbourne, Durham was labelled a 'radical', wanted him removed from Westminster
He is pro-representation in government, supports the government Reform Act 1832 (in the industrial revolution the factory owners etc were not represented
Durham gets a liberal purpose and is able to pursue his political interests
Wakefield and Buller: W thought it, B wrote it, D signed it
What did it say?: Unification of Upper and Lower Canada (unite the land tenure system), recommends responsible self-gov, Quebec Act, but they remain a British colony
Why is Canada different:It is a majority white settler colony, wouldn't give this to India - despite several government of India acts which never fulfil any kind of self-government
When does it start?:Unification happens in 1841 (fairly quick, had to unify to allow any social changes), 10 year period (delay, reluctance from gov, change in prime minister), sets the tone for attitudes towards white settler colonies
Big impact on Australia
French Canadians don't accept unification