Province of Canada: Difference between revisions

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== History ==
== History ==
Before 1841, the territory roughly corresponding to [[Southern Ontario]] in Canada belonged to the British colony of the Province of [[Upper Canada]], while the southern portion of [[Quebec]] and the Labrador region of [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] belonged to the colony of the Province of [[Lower Canada]]. One of the cultural differences between Upper and Lower Canada was that the first was primarily anglophone, whereas the latter was francophone. The ''[[Act of Union (1840)]]'', passed [[July 23]], [[1840]] by the British parliament and proclaimed by the Crown on [[February 10]], [[1841]], merged the two colonies by abolishing the legislatures of Upper and Lower Canada and replacing them with a single [[Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada|legislative assembly]].
Before 1841, the territory roughly corresponding to [[Southern Ontario]] in Canada belonged to the British colony of the '''Province of''' [[Upper Canada]], while the southern portion of [[Quebec]] and the Labrador region of [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] belonged to the colony of the '''Province of''' [[Lower Canada]]. One of the cultural differences between Upper and Lower Canada was that the first was primarily anglophone, whereas the latter was francophone. The ''[[Act of Union (1840)]]'', passed [[July 23]], [[1840]] by the British parliament and proclaimed by the Crown on [[February 10]], [[1841]], merged the two colonies by abolishing the legislatures of Upper and Lower Canada and replacing them with a single [[Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada|legislative assembly]].


While this new legislature maintained equal representation for both of the former colonies, the democratic nature of Lower Canada's elections were fundamentally flawed. Despite the francophone majority in Lower Canada, most of the power was concentrated on the anglophone minority, who exploited the lack of a secret ballot to intimidate the electorate.
While this new legislature maintained equal representation for both of the former colonies, the democratic nature of Lower Canada's elections were fundamentally flawed. Despite the francophone majority in Lower Canada, most of the power was concentrated on the anglophone minority, who exploited the lack of a secret ballot to intimidate the electorate.


The area that had previously comprised the Province of Upper Canada was unofficially designated the District of [[Canada West]], while the area that had comprised the Province of Lower Canada was unofficially designated the District of [[Canada East]]. After the British North America Act was passed by British Parliament, the province of Canada ceased to exist. Subsequently, the Upper and Lower Canada were renamed the Province of Ontario and the Province of Quebec, respectively.
The area that had previously comprised the [[Province of Upper Canada]] was designated the '''District of''' [[Canada West]], while the area that had comprised the [[Province of Lower Canada]] was designated the '''District of''' [[Canada East]]. After the British North America Act was passed by British Parliament, the province of Canada ceased to exist. Subsequently, the Upper and Lower Canada were renamed the [[Province of Ontario]] and the [[Quebec|Province of Quebec]], respectively.


== Capitals ==
== Capitals ==

Revision as of 06:30, 8 January 2008

Template:Otheruses6

United Province of Canada
1841–1867
Flag of Canada
Map of the United Canada showing the two constituent parts. Canada West in orange and Canada East in green
Map of the United Canada showing the two constituent parts. Canada West in orange and Canada East in green
StatusBritish colony
CapitalKingston 1841 - 1843
Montreal 1843 - 1849
Toronto 1849 - 1852
Quebec 1852 - 1856
Toronto 1856 - 1858
Quebec 1859 - 1866
Ottawa 1866 - 1867
Common languagesEnglish, French
GovernmentConstitutional monarchy
Queen 
Governor General 
Premier 
LegislatureParliament of Canada
• Upper house
Legislative Council
• Lower house
Legislative Assembly
Historical eraBritish Era
February 10 1841
• Democratization
11 March, 1848
• BNA Act
July 1 1867
Population
• 1860-61
2,507,657
CurrencyCanadian dollar (fixed to US dollar)
ISO 3166 codeCA
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Upper Canada
Lower Canada
Post-Confederation Canada (1867-1914)

The Province of Canada or the United Province of Canada was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham after the Rebellions of 1837, the united province was designed to prevent future unrest. [citation needed]

History

Before 1841, the territory roughly corresponding to Southern Ontario in Canada belonged to the British colony of the Province of Upper Canada, while the southern portion of Quebec and the Labrador region of Newfoundland and Labrador belonged to the colony of the Province of Lower Canada. One of the cultural differences between Upper and Lower Canada was that the first was primarily anglophone, whereas the latter was francophone. The Act of Union (1840), passed July 23, 1840 by the British parliament and proclaimed by the Crown on February 10, 1841, merged the two colonies by abolishing the legislatures of Upper and Lower Canada and replacing them with a single legislative assembly.

While this new legislature maintained equal representation for both of the former colonies, the democratic nature of Lower Canada's elections were fundamentally flawed. Despite the francophone majority in Lower Canada, most of the power was concentrated on the anglophone minority, who exploited the lack of a secret ballot to intimidate the electorate.

The area that had previously comprised the Province of Upper Canada was designated the District of Canada West, while the area that had comprised the Province of Lower Canada was designated the District of Canada East. After the British North America Act was passed by British Parliament, the province of Canada ceased to exist. Subsequently, the Upper and Lower Canada were renamed the Province of Ontario and the Province of Quebec, respectively.

Capitals

The location of the capital city of the Province of Canada changed six times in its 26-year history. Notably, the capital moved from Montreal to Toronto in 1849 when rioters protesting the Rebellion Losses Bill burned down Montreal's parliament buildings. In 1857, Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the permanent capital of the Province of Canada, initiating construction of Canada's current parliament buildings. The first stage of this construction was completed in 1865, just in time to host the final session of the last parliament of the Province of Canada before Confederation.

Chronology

Further reading

  • Knight, David B. Choosing Canada's capital : conflict resolution in a parliamentary system. 2nd ed. (Ottawa : Carleton University Press, 1991). xix, 398 p. ISBN 0886291488.

Responsible Government

The Act of Union (1840) made no provision for responsible government (i.e. government responsible to the elected legislature instead of the colonial office); in fact, it explicitly gave the governor general of the province the authority to reject any bill passed by the elected assembly. Early governors general of the province were closely involved in political affairs, maintaining a right to make Executive Council and other appointments without the input of the legislative assembly, and even manipulating election results using intimidating mobs at polling stations. At this time, secret ballot had not been introduced, so the democratic nature of this colony was fundamentally flawed.

However, in 1848 Governor General James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, appointed a cabinet nominated by the majority party of the Legislative Assembly, the Baldwin-Lafontaine coalition that had won elections in January. Lord Elgin upheld the principles of responsible government by not repealing the Rebellion Losses Bill, which was highly unpopular with some English-speaking Tories who favoured imperial over majority rule.

Legislative deadlock

As Canada East and Canada West each held 42 seats in the Legislative Assembly, there was legislative deadlock between English, mainly from Canada West, and French, mainly from Canada East. Initially, the majority of the province was French, and demanded "rep-by-pop" (representation by population), which the anglophones opposed.

Once the English population, rapidly growing due to immigration, exceeded the French, the English demanded rep-by-pop. In the end, the legislative deadlock between English and French led to a movement for a federal union which resulted in the broader Canadian Confederation in 1867.

Accomplishments

Amongst its accomplishments, the United Province of Canada negotiated the Reciprocity Treaty of 1854 with the United States, built the Grand Trunk Railway, improved the educational system in the District of Canada West under Egerton Ryerson, reinstated French as an official language of the legislature and the courts, codified the Civil Code of Lower Canada in 1866, and abolished the seigneurial system in the District of Canada East.

Longstanding municipal reform was another important achievement. Originally, local government in the District of Canada West operated mainly at the District level, until 1849, when a system based on Counties was introduced. In 1841, elected district councils were introduced; prior to that time, District Officials were appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor.

Population

Year Population (Lower) Canada East Population (Upper) Canada West
1841 n/a 455,688
1844 697,084 n/a
1848 765,797-786,693 estimates 725,879
1851-52 890,261 952,004
1860-61 1,111,566 1,396,091
  • Source: Statistics Canada website Censuses of Canada 1665 to 1871.

See also

Political history

Political struture


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