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Sep 1, 1500
First Occupants
The natives had no official government however they did have a way of living. The Iroquois lived in a society that was a Matriarchy (leadership was the responsibility of women). Algonquians lived in a society that was a Patriarchy (leadership was the responsibility of men). -
French Regime Part I
The French made a strategic military alliance with the Hurons in order to further their economic interests in the fur trade. The coureurs des bois are formed once the Iroquois wipe out the Huron allies. They are French settlers who lived with the natives much of the year, and traded with the Natives. Eventually the Great Peace of Montreal was signed by 40 first nations and the French. As usual, the church was everywhere. Priests were working as missionaries and nuns working in hospitals. -
French Regime Part II
The Clergy still had a huge role in decision making due to their role in the Sovereign Council. The king's power was still based on the Divine Right of Kings (which was that the king could literally do whatever he wanted). Unfortunately, under the previous system, companies (100 associates) that had a monopoly were destroying New France. To fix it, the king and the Minister of Marine implemented the Royal Government -
Royal Government in New France
In 1663, the royal government was implemented. The King and Minister of Marine stayed in France as the Sovereign Council ran New France. The council had the following members: Governor, Intendant, Bishop and a Captain of Militia (not on the council). Governor was the highest rank,was the commander of the army, defense. The intendant was the most influential,controlled budget, collected taxes. The bishop administered schools, hospitals, etc. The Captain of Militia dealt with issues on seigneuries -
Beginning of the British Rule
The French eventually surrendered New France to the English and then came the Articles of Capitulation. The articles had policies that were immediately taken into action. The French Militia could return their homes, the French military would have to lay down their weapons and leave, the people could still practice the R.C. religion but the Bishop would have to leave, and the people who stayed would become British Subjects. While the French were now British subjects, only the elite left. -
Royal Proclamation
What follows are the policies of the Royal Proclamation. Colony now known as the Province of Quebec. Decreased the borders to just around the St-Lawrence river valley. Now a civilian Government to run the new Colony,King appointed a Governor who then appointed members of an Executive Council to advise him. English Criminal and Civil laws were applied. Unused land would be divided by the Township System. No new Bishop would be allowed. No roman Catholics could hold public office. -
Goals of the Royal Proclamation
The Royal Proclamations main goal was to control and assimilate the French in Quebec, It did this by taking many of their rights away basically to force them to become more English. Note that no new French speaking people were coming to NF but many English were. With the leaving of the French elites the British who came would be rich merchants who would fill the place elites would had left.
The first and new governor, James Murray knew his job of assimilating the French would not be easy. -
Difficulties of the first Governors Part I
James Murray found the Royal Proclamation unworkable, because only 1% of the population was English. To cater the rest of the French Roman Catholics, he changed some of the rules. Murray allowed a new Bishop, allowed French laws in the lower courts, and did not call an elected assembly because it would favor the English Merchants. Obviously the English Merchants were strongly against the Governor’s changes and demanded a new Governor from the King. The king replaced Murray with Guy Carleton. -
Difficulties of the First Governors Part II
Guy Carleton would keep the same tolerant polices that James Murray did. But, Carleton had a special reason to be tolerant towards the French in Quebec. He needed to have their loyalty as the Americans were beginning to demand their Independence and he wouldn't want the French to become allied with the Americans (as that would spark more feud). In that case you might as well make them happy, and gain their loyalty. -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act basically gave back French religious freedom and restored the French form of civil law. It guarantees French Canadian loyalty, enlarges the area of Quebec, denies an elected assembly, Appointed council, instated French civil laws, and church tax and seigniorial system are back. Also, the Test Act Oath, which was swearing to the King of England and you could hold office. -
Effects of the Loyalists
The loyalists couldn't stay in the 13 colonies if they wanted to be loyal to Great Britain. They went north because it was still a British colony. 36,000 came to Canada (Maritimes) and 6,000 came to Quebec (west of Montreal). The English population increased from 1-10% in Quebec. They settled according to the township system. They wanted elected assemblies so they wrote petitions to London and they eventually got their wish. -
The Constitutional Act
The Province of Quebec was split into two. The sections were called Upper and Lower Canada. Lower Canada was almost all French, and Upper was all English. In Lower Canada, the French kept their civil laws and Catholicism. In Upper Canada, they were protestant and used the township system. The populations of Upper and Lower Canada were 20000 and 160000 respectively. -
Representative Government Part II
The Legislative council was also appointed by the governor, they approve or reject laws from the assembly, they are the upper class English merchants. The legislative assembly were people elected by the population every 4 years, they had the power to approve or disapproves taxes and they created laws, they were lower class peasants/farmers (English in upper and French in lower). Finally the ordinary people who had a say in the government for the first time(male landowners over 21). -
Representative Government Part I
Each Canada had a Lieutenant Governor, executive council, legislative council and a legislative assembly. The Governor was appointed by the parliament, in charge of the army and administration, had veto power and called assemblies into session. The lieutenant governor acted as deputy governor, governor passed on orders to him. The executive council decided the budget of the colony, they were appointed by the governor and advised him. They were mainly the wealthy English. -
Faults of Representative Government
The legislative assembly were creating laws that benefit the landowners but the people approving the laws were the legislative council (businessmen) so they reject the laws. The Businessmen want to build canals, and railways for an increased market. The farmers didn't care about that because they don’t them. This basically caused nothing to get done. Also, this was a fake form of government. The members held no real power because the veto power was regularly used. -
The Rebellions
The people of Upper and Lower Canada felt that even though they could be elected, they had no power. In Upper Canada though their were rebellions, none of them went into gun battles. In Lower Canada, however, people became known as Patriotes. The leader of them was Louis Joseph Papineau, and he wrote 92 Resolutions, the main demand was for a Responsible Government. Britain responded with 10 demands that ignored the 92. This response was insulting and violent battles broke out in Lower Canada. -
Lord Durham’s Recommendations
Lord Durham was sent to the Canada’s to give his opinion on what to do. He came up with three things that should be done. 1:Britain should increase immigration in order to assimilate the French. 2:The two Canada’s should be united (English population now form majority). 3: Responsible Government should be granted and to eliminate veto power. -
The Confrences
The Charlottetown Conference: Leaders of Canada East/West met with the leaders of the three Maritime Provinces. They agreed on a merger.
The Quebec Conference: Same members and Newfoundland agree on 72 resolutions that would make the merger happen. 24 seats given to each colony. Also, build a railway between colonies.
The London Conference: The leaders of the 4 colonies met to make the Dominion of Canada. The capital was going to be Ottawa. This was created under the British North America Act.
