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Canada and the Durham Report - Coggle Diagram
Canada and the Durham Report
Upper Canada
Short term grievances
Emergence of a more radical voice in the Reform party
Influx of immigrants
Poor Irish immigrants who were often treated with suspicion
The ops township scheme which provided temp shelter and cheap supplies
Cost was objected to by the reformers and lack of consultation
Family compact took issue as the immigrants were unlikely to support them
Results of the election in 1836 where the pro government won a large majority - the reforms believed there was no hope
Actions of the Lieutenant governors
Colborne
Bypassed the legislative assembly to:
Used tax to pay the salaries of the officials
Public fund to set up a classic english prep school rather than a necessary uni
Tried to establish the Anglican Church more strongly in Canada
Head
Lacked experience which the Canadians viewed as their issues not being taken seriously
invited moderates onto the executive council but then dismissed them when they complained about not being consulted.
Removed reformers from the legislative assembly
Believed that they were there to govern and executive council was there to advise only
Long term grievances
Government structure
Lack of representation
Lieutenant governor answered to London not the legislative assemly
only the legislative assembly were elected but the laws they passed had t be approved by the legislative council which was appointed
Executive council advised the governor and was controlled by the family compact who often execerised pwer for themselves
1791 Constitiuon that creates the structure
Land Ownership
Clergy reserves
The Anglican church owned 1/7th of the land
Not the majority religion so upset the people
Economic issues
Lack of infrastructure and investment into Canada
Government was cash strapped because the small population menat there was low taxes and fragmented settlements
Money that had been raised from the selling of land was used to pay the salaries of the officials
Events of the Revolts
December 1837, Mackenzie begins a revolt. 1000 men gather (mostly farmers) at the Younge street in Toronto.
Unclear objectives but aim to attack property of the Family compact
5th December several hundred men from Toronto march south and exchange fire with loyalists and the bulk flee
Mackneize flees to an island to set up a prvisinal state but then abandons it and flees and is captured
Impact of the revolt
Lower Canada
Events of the Revolt
1837 -38, September
Around 500 men form a paramilitary organisation.
Street fighting between the British settlers and the Socielty de fils de la liberty
10th nov the British cavalry fire shots at the militia
Arrest warrant issued for the members of the Patriotes.
Patriots win at St Denis abut are defeated at St Charles
Martial Law is declared in 5th Dec
Between Dec -Jan Gosford has control in Lower Canada. Patriots are either prisoners or set to America
Impact of the revolt
Britain recognise that LC revolt is a bigger problem than in UC
In Feb 1838 the Act that suspends the 1791 constitution
Gosford is given the authority to rule with the special council and he revokes the martial law
Durham is chosen and persuaded by Melbourne to sort out the problem
Short term Grievances
Land Distribution
Similar to the feudal system
Land given to the seigneur who granted land to tenants to subsistence farm in exchange for rents
75-80% of the population were part of this system
French farmers were disadvantaged by this system
Economic
Poor harvests and economic recessions in the 1830s
Heavy Taxation
Political
The dominance of the Chateau Clique
English elites who controlled the political assemblies
Much of the governor's advisors were from the Chateau clique so French Canadians often had no voice
Lack of representation
Legislative assembly had very little power
No responsible government
Dalhousie (the Dunce)
Dalhousie increased tensions by refusing to accept the patriote as the leader of the assembly
Influx of immigrants
the influx of immigrants from the english speaking areas further increased the tensions
Gosford Mission
A commision of inquiry arrived in 1835 led by Lord Gosford
Some reports were introduced but they failed to introduce the reforms that the patriotes wanted.
Parliament took a hard stance, passed the ten Russell resolutions and refused constitutional reform
Also allowed the governor to use funds without the assembly and demanded that LC owed money to Britain
Led to anger and Gosford began to crack down, banning protest and increasing military present
Assembly refused to accept the resolutions
Papineau and the Patriote
Motivation
Believed in French Canadian culture rather than equality or revolution
Old seigneurial family and so didn't want much change to the system
The general radical modd and the economic problems were a likely problem
Was opposed to the British and took a hard line stance against them
Led the oppostion against the British
1834 published the 92 Resolutions that called for constitutional changes
92 Resolutions
Demanded constitutional change
Elective council
Protection of the French Canadian Identity
Long term issues
Culture clashes
French Canadians were excluded from power
Official legislative language was English not French despite the majority of people speaking French
French Canadians made up a significant portion of the legislative assembly and were very attached to the identity
Economic
French Canadians were increasingly marginalised in the economy that was dominated by the people
English people were favoured by the system
Key Questions
What were the long term and short term grievance of upper and Lower Canada?
What was Britain's relationship and attitude prior to the revolt?
Who were the key individuals?
Events of the revolt?
Impact of the revolt?
Who was Lord Durham and what were the terms of the Durham report?
How did the events in Canada Change Britain's attitude and policies towards the empire?.
British Attitudes
Initially
Viewed with little economic value
Canada use for strategic reasons as a buffer against US expansionism
Absence towards cause for reform for lack of representation.
Ignore Baldwin's calls for reform., initially unwilling to make any concessions
Lower Canada viewed as backwards and French Canadians.
Post
Allowed the Canadians and later other white settler colonies much more autonomy
Still viewed the French Canadians as backwards
Durham
The Durham report (Report on the affairs of British North America) 1839
Recommendations
Unification of Canada
Responsible government, Westminster model of parliament. Given legislative authority over the domestic matters but cannot legislate on Foreign policy and Canada's relationship with other colonies .
Argued for the absorption of the French Canadian into Canada as it was holding back progress
Published in 1839
Enforced in 1841
Key findings of the report
Causes
The dominance of the Chateau clique and the family compact with the lack of real authority for the elected assemblies
Economic
Poverty and land disputes in lower canada
Land distribution in upper canada with clergy reserves
French Canadians
said that the culture clash between the french canadians and the english speakers in lower canada were a major issue
Viewed their culture as being backward
Impact
Canada
Act of Union 1841
French Canadians became a minority
Upper and Lower Canada unified with a single legislative assembly
Growth of nationalism
French Canadians viewed the report as attack against their culture
Fueled nationalism
Empire
Colonial relations
The rport gained importance and increasingly defined the relationship between the colonies and Britain
Arguably helped prevent the collapse of the Empire at least for the white settler colonies.
Responsible government
Given to all of the canadian colonies and later Australia and New Zealand in 1850s
A changing empire
Marked the change from the period of direct rule to one where the settlers colonies gained more autonomy
Problems with the Durham Report
Marginalised the French Canadians and their culture
Lacked any mention of the indigenous people
The unification of Canada created further friction between the french and english speakers
Influences of Wakefield and Buller
Supposedly quipped that 'Wakefield thought it, Buller wrote it, Durham signed it'
Both brought Distinct skills
Wakefield
Influence
No direct influence on the report except for the section about colonisation
Created the theory of imperial settlement that said that land needed to be sold at a reasonable price to attract worthy settlers not given away
Only part that was directly attributed was the suggested tax on the wild lands and proceeds went to public services
Helped in the collection of research materials
Strong advocate for the unification of the provinces so mostly likely influenced Durham
Other recommendations not acted on.
Buller
Influence
Nominal head of the commission into the crown lands
Remained in Canada to continue work on the committees until 1838
Published responsible government for the colonies 1840 and continued to advocate for the principle of self government in Canada
Headed a number of commissions that helped to administer Canada
Resigns over criticism of the deportation of the rebels to Bermuda
Lord Durham
Background of Durham
Radical Jack
Supporter of the Great Reform Act
Disliked by Lord Melbourne so appointment was a possible way to get rid of him
Brought 8 advisors with him, many were questionable
Appointment
Durham was sent to try:
investigate the causes of the revolts
recommend reforms to prevent future problems
Actions as the High commissioner
Consulted with widely the reformers and different people in the colonies.
Action in Lower Canada
Removed the executive council and replaced with his own staff
Dealing with the political prisoners
Had their depositions submitted to him.
Allowed them exercise in prison (seen as lenient by both LC and Britain)
Pardoned the majority and sent the rest to Bermuda
Actions were very popular with the people of Canada but not the British who criticised and was a cause in his resignation
Issued proclamation that he was willing to work with peaceful reformers and those who cooperated
Formed Canada's first police force
Impact
Unification of Canada
Improves relations between Britain and Canada
Becomes an Empire wide policy.
Indigenous population are ignored
French Canadians are now reduced to a minority that was a lot weaker.
Loong terens implications until1848 and 1855 when self government was given to all parts of Canada