![]() Not surprisingly, Britain opposed anything that might weaken its North American empire. The new provinces easier to annex into the United States. There was also the chance that dissolving the union would make But this would leave vulnerable minorities in each territory: English-speakers in Canada East and Irish Catholics in Canada West. Their own affairs, as could French Canadians in Canada East. English Canadians in Canada West could control But this ran headlong into French Canadian determination to protect their collective rights.Īnother solution appealed to many Radicals (also called Clear Grits) in Canada West. The Reformers in Canada West insisted on individual rights. This could have potentially disastrous consequences for their religion, language and culture. Many believed rep by pop would reduce them to a minority in an expanding English-speaking, Protestant province. Such an arrangement, however, was completely unacceptable to many French Canadians. Governments would reflect the wishes of the majority Where they lived or what language they spoke would not matter. Under a “rep by pop” system, all voters would be treated equally. He was the powerful Reform Party leader in Canada West and editor of the prominent Globe newspaper. ![]() One possible solution was to replace the balancing of legislative seats between Canada East and West with representation by population. It lurched from one cobbled-together government to another, in an atmosphere of As a result, the province became increasingly unstable. In the early 1860s, there was a Liberal-Reform majority in Canada West, and a Conservative majority in Canada East. Many were hostile towards and suspicious of Roman Catholicism. However, for a growing number of people in Canada West, this amounted to “French domination.” As this view spread, Liberals, Reformers, and Radicals (also called Clear Grits)īecame more popular in Canada West. They had succeeded in turning a political system that was designed to assimilate them to their advantage. This gave them considerable control over the levers of power. In the 1850s, French Canadian leaders made an alliance with Conservatives in Canada West. They were closely connected to the Catholic Church. In Canada East, French Canadian Conservatives were a powerful political force. It was responsible to the elected members of the legislature rather than This was a more democratic system of government. They made alliances with those in Canada West who supported the (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/e000611676) Alliances and Tensionsįrench Canadian politicians were determined to protect their language, culture and religion from English- Protestant influences. A growing number of English Canadians regarded this as unfair. ![]() The French Canadians who were over-represented in the legislature. By 1861, Canada West's population exceeded that of Canada East by more than 250,000 people. Immigration from Britain and Ireland in the 1840s and 1850s created huge population growth, mostly in Canada West. The goal was to assimilate French Canadians to English Canadian culture and norms. Protect the English-speaking minority in the united colony from French Canadian dominance. This meant English-speaking Canadians were over-represented in the legislature. But Canada West had fewer people than Canada East. The political system was coming close to paralysis.Ĭanada West and Canada East were given the same number of seats in the colonial legislature. But the union had failed to contain the growing ethnic and religious tensions in the two colonies. ![]() Ontario) and the mostly French-speaking Canada East (formerly (See also: Act of Union.) The provinceĬonsisted of the mostly English-speaking Canada West (formerly Upper Canada, now Upper and Lower Canada had been united into the Province of Canada in 1841. In the early 1860s, Canadian politics were in a state of crisis. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |