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British colonial authorities and conservative groups in Canada
underestimated the level of discontent in both Upper and Lower Canada.
The violence that ensued forced them to act, and although conservatives
in the Canadas did not realize it, spelled the beginning of the
end of the old order.
Topics in this section:
The 1837 and 1838 Rebellions
Lord Durham is Sent to Canada
Other Interesting or Important Documents
The 1837 and 1838 Rebellions
Efforts to produce change continued into the 1830s until 1837. At
this time, ethnic tensions in Lower Canada between the French Canadian
majority and the British minority (which was increasing rapidly
through immigration) pushed opinions among French Canadians to greater
extremes.
In Upper Canada, the situation was brought to a head when the governor,
Sir Francis Bond
Head, became actively involved in an election and helped the
Tories (and by extension the Family Compact) to win.
Rebellions broke out in both Upper and Lower Canada
in 1837, and again in Lower Canada in 1838. These rebellions were
quickly suppressed, and the panic they created at first gave a great
deal of power to the conservative groups in both provinces.
Copyright/Source
Lord Durham Sent to Canada
The British government, however, was alarmed and dispatched Lord
Durham as governor general and high commissioner. His mandate
included the requirement to investigate and report on the 1837 rebellions.
He landed on May 29, 1838, but stayed only a few months.
On September 29, 1838, he resigned and soon returned to England.
The report which he produced early the next year and which advocated
the assimilation of French Canadians made him a figure who was hated
in French Canada, but helped to establish responsible
government and the shape of Canadian Confederation 28 years
later.
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To learn more about the rebellions of 1837 and
1838:
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Other Important or Interesting
Documents
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