Canadian Studies 30 - Important Terms

Thirteen Colonies

- revolted against Great Britain (became the US)
- thought the Quebec Act was "intolerable"
- twelve colonies agreed to boycott British trade
- Declaration of Independence = no longer part of the British Empire

British North America

- Treaty of Paris (1763)
- Quebec Act ( 1774)
- American Revolution (1776-83)
- Constitution Act (1791)
- War of 1812 (1812-1814)
- Rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada (1837-38)
- Act of Union (1841)

Treaty of Paris

- 1763
- end of 7 year war
- New France formally ceded to Great Britain

Quebec Act

- 1774
- garuanteed French Language rights
- allowed Roman Catholic to have a role in government
reinstated French property + civil laws

American Revolution

- 13 colonies declared independence from Great Britain
- 100,000 LOYALISTS move to B.N.A. (became English dominated)

Confederation

- July 1, 1867
- Canada's Birthday

Battle of Quebec

- September 13, 1759 (Thursday)
- lasted 15 minutes
- took place at Plains of Abraham (farmer's field)
- Wolfe and Montcalm both died
- 5,000 French troops
- 4,500 British soldiers
- British Army was 1 mile wide across

Constitution Act

- 1791
- divide BNA into Upper (Ontario) and Lower (Quebec) Canada

War of 1812

- 1812-14
- USA invades Upper Canada
- Treaty of Ghent signed in 1814
- no territorial gains on either side

Rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada

-1837-38
- Rebellions break out over the issue of Responsible Government
- Lord Durham sent to Canada to investigate and find solutions
- demands for reform weren't enough, took action
- rebels in Upper Canada marched towards Toronto with pitchforks and repelled Canadian militia

Act of Union

- 1841
- United Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada
- Canada West and Canada East are given equal representation in the legislative assembly which leads to political deadlock

Upper Canada

- Ontario
- English Canadians
- Canada West

Lower Canada

- Quebec
- French Canadians
- Canada East

Plains of Abraham

- a farmer's field
- Wolfe positioned his army

Anse au Foulon (Goat Path)

- Wolfe found this narrow path

August 24, 1814

Canadians went to Washington and burned the White House

British North America (BNA) Act

- July 1, 1867
- unification and independence grew from negotiation, not violence
- federalism: each province had its own government with full power over areas of responsibility with a national government - federal government- with power over other areas
- four provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec

Parliamentary System

- Canada's form of government
- featuring two chambers: the House of Commons and the Senate

Royal Proclamation (1763)

- France formally ceded Nouvelle-France to Britain (Treaty of Paris)
- King George III claimed all former French lands for Britain
- British pacified the First Nations
- ownership for land reserves of First Nations would only fo to British Crown
- land settlements

The Durham Report

- sent to find solutions for the problem that caused rebellions
- in Upper Canada, called for a government that could respond to the wishes of the majority
- in Lower Canada, division between French and English
- recommended a union of Upper and Lower Canada
- goal: assimilate Lower Canadien residents
- believed British Culture and Institutions to be superior

Causes of Confederation

- Economics (expensive exports = trade and manufacturing within BNA)
- Political Deadlock (each side blocked the other from advancing any agenda: Canada East voted as a group)
- British Support for Confederation (less financial and military support could improved relationship with U.S.)
- End of Reciprocity (BNA saw benefits of closer economic political cooperation)
- Manifest Destiny (escape the annexation by U.S., together they could fend against America)
- American Civil War (inspired a need for a strong central government, Britain's increasing reluctance to protect them engendered the need to fight together)
- Fenian Raids (united defense to retaliate against the raids)
- Railways (open up new settlement opportunities and establish stronger British presence in West, profit from investing together as one unit)

Federal Powers

- power of the entire nation of Canada
- criminal laws
- address the needs of all the country

Provincial Powers

- power over a certain province
- responsibilities for certain areas
- drinking age
- education
- look after regional concerns

The Charlottetown Conference

- Sept 1864
- discuss union between Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland
- John A. Macdonald spoke for Canada
- George-Etienne Cartier represented Canada East
- wider union would benefit all areas

The Quebec Conference

- October 1864
- discuss details of Confederation and to create a constitution for Canada

The London Conference

- November 1866
- met in London, England to present their constitution BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT to British Parliament
- Queen Victoria signed the constitution on March 29, 1867
- new country called "Dominion of Canada"
- Canada consisted of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec

BNA Act

- The Great Britain was to be kept
- union is federation (more than one level of government)
- central government would be made up of A House of Commons and Senate
- signed March 29, 1867
- effective on July 1, 1867

Dominion Day

- new country "Dominion of Canada"