Canada

• Causes of the revolt in Upper Canada

  • The emergence of a more radical voice within the reform party
  • The concerns of the established settlers about the impoverished new emigrants from Britain arriving in the province in the 1830s
  • The actions of two successive lieutenant governors, Colborne and Head
  • The results of the 1836 election
• Influence of Wakefield and Buller

  • 'Wakefield thought it, Buller wrote and Durham signed it' - Lord Brougham
  • Both were involved in interviewing a wide spectrum of Canadian society, so they served as a conduit for ideas, some of which found their way into the final report
  • Wakefield concluded that the system of free land grants in Canada was the worst possible system
• The importance of Lord Durham's role as High Commissioner

  • His actions in his time in the provinces stabilised the political situation temporarily
  • Was the focus of considerable popularity within the provinces
  • Effective high commissioner in the way that the previous incumbent, Gosford, not endowed with the same sweeping powers, was unable to be
• Results of the revolt in Lower Canada

  • 500 patriots in the Montreal Sails
  • The British passed an Act on February 10th 1838, suspending the 1791 Constitution of Lower Canada
  • Governor Gosford was empowered to run the province with a special council of appointed members
  • Lower Canada was reorganised to no longer allow the French-Canadians gain an assembly majority
• Results of the revolt in Upper Canada

  • 100s or 1000s of rebels and sympathisers left the province for America
  • Those who stayed were arrested and 2 were hung
  • Talk in Upper Canada was solely of loyalty to Britain and how to keep the province British
  • Lord Durham tasked with fixing the province and family compact way of ruling
• The events of the revolt in Upper Canada

  • Dec 1837 - following news of patriate leaders arrests, 1000 farmers planned to attack family compact property
  • Dec 5th - poorly organised rebels marched and shot at a smaller group of loyalists
  • Dec 8th - remaining rebels dispersed with arrival of loyalist reinforcements
  • Mackenzie and rebels fled to Navy Island, declaring provisional state
  • Pop at 600, some responding to M's promise of 300 acres of land
  • 13th Jan - M fled to Island after militia bombardment
  • He was captured by the US military and sentenced to 18 months for violating neutrality laws
• Causes of the revolt in Lower Canada

  • The leadership of the patriots by Papineau
  • Economic and social issues in the province
  • The Gosford Commission of Inquiry and the British decision about the colony which resulted from ill findings
• Long term implications of Durham Report

  • Self government to all Canadian colonies from 1848-55
  • Defined responsible government which was a concept implemented in many in many white settler colonies like Australia
  • Intellectual basis for Britain and its white settler colonies for next 20 years
  • However - was not widespread
• Short term implications of Durham Report

  • Union of provinces
  • Provinces could be united as lower Canada assembly had been suspended since 1838 and principle French Canada rebels fled to America
  • However - was not widespread
• Criticisms of the Durham Report

  • Did not mention indigenous population when land distribution was a hot topic
  • Only applied to white settler colonies and not Jamaica or India
  • Treatment of French Canadians and absorption of Lower Canada into one province with the intention of getting rid of their institutions and way of life
• Durham resigning

  • Westminster and Melbourne didn’t want to lose power so the ‘Bill of Indemnity’ was proposed against Durham for pardoning the rebels
  • Durham felt betrayed and defended himself and his mission, he departed from instructions and brought the government under criticism
• Durham report was also done by Wakefield and Buller

  • They interviewed a wide spectrum of Canadians, including Baldwin, who was the inspiration for the report
  • They worked on surveying and selling the crown lands together
  • Buller worked on the final draft in London with Durham
  • Wakefield was the unpaid advisor and secretary to Durham and Buller
• Buller's influence

  • Stayed behind in Canada to finish work of committees and draft report
  • Worked on final draft in London with Durham
  • Official commissioner over crown lands
  • However - most of that work was done by Wakefield
• Wakefield's influence

  • unofficially supported Buller as commissioner of crown lands
  • Concluded that system of free land grants was a core issue in Canada and developed the theory of systematic colonisation, but had immediate change to policy
  • Unpaid adviser and secretary to Durham and Buller
  • Strong advocate for union of the provinces