Changes in

Colonial Govt
1838 - 1841
Union and Beyond
Rebellions raised alarms
Rebellions of 1837 & 1838, despite failing,
alarmed the British govt
Reminder of how they lost the 13 colonies
to the south
Only 2 British colonies remained in eastern
North America:
Upper Canada, Lower Canada, New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward
Island and Newfoundland
Who was Lord Durham?
John Radical Jack Lambton = 1
st
Earl of
Durham
Powerful advocate of political reforms in
Britain during 1832; urging a secret ballot and
allowing for all male taxpayers to vote
Criticized British government for neglecting is
North American colonies
Argued British govt had neither provided
good leadership nor allowed sufficient
democracy, enabling groups like Family
Contact/Chateau Clique to become petty
tyrants
Durham in the colonies
Appointed as Governor General for both Upper
and Lower Canada
Invited leaders from both Canadas and the Atlantic
colonies to meet to discuss solutions to the
problems of colonial government
His solution: joining all the colonies into a single
legislative union
Each Colony feared involvement in problems of the
others
Durham turned to union of Lower and Upper Canada
without the Maritimes as a proposed solution
William & Robert Baldwin
Leading reformers in Upper Canada suggested
responsible govt
Colonial governor, appointed by Britain would remain
as chief representative of authority
Colonial governor would choose his Executive
Council from the elected members of the Legislative
Assembly
Executive Council would then give advice to the
governor general who would have to accept such
advice in all domestic matters those concerned
with life in the colony itself (ie. Taxation to build roads)
Govt said to be responsible to the elected Assembly,
who in turn represent the people of the colony
Baldwin ideas appeal to Durham
Called for form of govt similar to Britains
Would provide responsible govt for local issues
Would silence complaints that these issues were
under control of a govt outside of the colony
Would still allow Britain to retain power in all other
matters including foreign trade and defense
Proposal was acceptable to important political
leaders in all 6 of the colonies
Durham prepared to recommend to British
Parliament responsible govt to extend to all
colonies but Lower Canada (fear that French
majority would use its power to block wishes of
British minority)
Lord Durhams Report Causes of
Conflict in Lower Canada
Differences of outlook between Canadien majority
& British minority
Struggle not of principles, but of races a deadly
animosity
Believed British commercial & industrial economy,
as represented by minority, superior to older
agricultural economy of Canadiens
Felt British way of life had to take control in Lower
Canada if economic progress was to be achieved
assimilation
To establish an English population, with English laws
and language & to trust none but a decidedly English
legislature
Lord Durhams Report Sources of
Conflict in Upper Canada
Issue of Clergy Reserves chief item of conflict
Many members of the Tory/Conservative Party
were connected with the Anglican Church, or
Church of England and had come to control
much of the provinces public lands
Lord Durhams Report Union of the
Canadas
Believed union would help to solve the political,
economic & cultural problems of both colonies
Means to assimilate the Canadiens into the dominant
British culture:
400,000 English speaking in Upper Canada
150,000 English speaking in Lower Canada
450,000 French speaking in Lower Canada
Clear English majority, one that would be increased
yearly by influence of English emigration
Hope that minority would abandon their vain hopes
of nationality
Lord Durhams Report: on
Responsible Government
Observed that many colonist envied the
economic prosperity & democratic system of
govt in the US
Noted that some colonial leaders wanted
colonies to annex to US
Argued, that annexation by the US would be a
strong possibility if responsible government not
granted to the colonies
Reactions to Durhams Report
Frustrated groups:
Tories in Britain & counterparts in colonies saw
report as an attack on their privileges & power
French Canadiens infuriated by Durhams view of
their culture and his desire to assimilate them
Content Group:
In general, reformers on both sides of the Atlantic
applauded recommendations
Recommendation of responsible govt was
favorably received in all the colonies
A Solution Tried
British colonial secretary, Lord Russell, believed
strongly in the principle that a colony was
different from a nation
Results:
Union of the Canadas into a single province
accepted
Upper Canada would become Canada West
Lower Canada would become Canada East
Debts of two would be amalgamated
One elected Legislative Assembly in each of the
Canadas with equal representation
Sydenham Arrives
Baron Sydenham arrives from Britain as their
new Governor General
Charged with gaining approval for the
proposed union from both Upper and Lower
Canada
In Lower Canada proposed union
enthusiastically received by British minority
Believed they would put the rebellious
Canadiens in their place
Encourage English commerce & industry at
expense of French Canadien farming & fur
trade
Anti-French Bigotry
Faced with such anti-French bigotry,
Canadien moderates who had supported
Durhams call for responsible govt
actively opposed Act of Union
Catholic Church joined in this opposition
Sydenham ignored concerns & travelled
to Upper Canada seeking endorsement
of the Union
Upper Canada
Family Compact strongly objected
Tory-dominated Assembly; however, gave
overwhelming approval
Persuaded by Sydenhams promise of a British loan to
cover the combined debts of the two colonies
Reformers in Assembly also supported the
proposal
Foresaw possibility of an alliance with reform-
minded Canadien legislators to bring about
responsible govt
Insisted on 2 changes:
Capital of United Province move to Kingston
English was to be only official language in the
colony
Act of Union July 1840
Approved by British Parliament in July
followed by Royal Proclamation in Feb. 1841
Apart from creating a single colony, the Act
brought little change to govt in the
Canadas
Structure of govt established by Constitutional
Act of 1791 maintained
Reformers in Canada East and Canada West
set out to find ways of working together
toward achievement of responsible
government