Socials 9 Unit 4 Study Guide

British North America experienced rapid population growth between 1815 and 1837. What did not change during this period and why did this create tension?

• Political power did not change while the population grew

• Created tension because the immigrants had different views on the ways of living

Give one reason why colonists became frustrated with the government

• Government would override their opinions and wouldn’t be taken into consideration

Why did reformers believe the political system was unfair, even though elections existed?

• Elected representatives were being ignored

• Many reformers believed that political participation without accountability was meaningless

Identify the elite groups that controlled political power:

• Upper Canada: Family Compact

• Lower Canada: Chateau Clique

Give one economic issue that contributed to unrest

• To get land you either have the follow the Anglican Church or have a high status

• This affected farmers because land had to be bought through the rich

Name one leader from each rebellion:

• Upper Canada: William Lyon Mackenzie

• Lower Canada: Louis-Joseph Papineau

Identify and explain three different types of cases of the rebellions

• Political cause: Representatives were ignored, William argued for responsible government

• Economic cause: Land was divided unfairly because it was based off of your social status and the Anglican Church

• Social cause: Immigrants with different views were ignored and mistreated

The rebellions failed militarily but led to change. What change did they help bring about, and why was this significant?

• Failed rebellion influenced Britain into recognizing that governance needed adjustment

• Reform through policy later followed

Why did Britain decide to investigate the colonies after the rebellions of 1837-38?

• Rebellions showed that colonists were unhappy with how the colonies were governed

• The prevent future conflicts the British government sent Lord Durham to Canada

Who was Lord Durham, and what was his task in British North America?

• Lord Durham was a Governor General High Commissioner for the British

• His job was to invest the causes of the rebellion in Upper and Lower Canada

Durham identified two major causes of unrest. What were they?

• Colonial governments were undemocratic

• Tensions between French Canadians and English settlers were rising

Why did Durham believe the colonial governments were ineffective or unstable?

• Colonial governments were unstable because of the division of powers between the Family Compact and Chateau Clique.

• They controlled the political and economic powers

• However, this made the governments seem out of touch with ordinary people

Durham believed that conflict between French and English communities was a major issue. Why might French Canadians have disagreed with his perspective?

• Lord Durham believed cultural differences caused the conflict

• But many French-Canadians thought the real problem was unfair treatment by the British government.

• French-Canadians felt Durham’s idea of assimilation would take away their language, religion, and identity instead of protecting their rights

Identify and briefly explain two major recommendations made in the Durham Report

• Responsible government

• Uniting Upper and Lower Canada

Durham’s recommendation: How would responsible government improve the political system?

• Leaders gained more political power and the voices of the citizens would be heard better

Durham’s recommendations: How would uniting the Canadas address conflict?

• Uniting the colonies, making them stronger as one

• They would work together to accomplish things instead of on their own

Give two examples of how life in British North America changed during the Victorian period

• Economic growth

• Changing social values

What was the Province of Canada, and what problem continued to exist within it?

• Province of Canada was a combination of Upper and Lower Canada

• Tension between two regions, over language, culture, and political representation still existed

Where did many immigrants come from, and how did this growth create pressure on the colonies?

• Immigrants came from Britain and Ireland

• Created pressure because land and resources were limited so settlers had to move onto Indigenous land

Describe two key values or beliefs that shaped Victorian society

• Hard work, moral behaviour

• Respectability, duty

Give one example of new technology or infrastructure and explain how it helped connect the colonies

• Steam locomotives and steamships made travel faster which allowed goods to travel efficiently

• By 1865, railines connected Windsor, Ontario to Halifax, and Nova Scotia which linked important markets and ports

Explain how social and economic changes created pressure for political change:

• Social or political change: Population increase from immigrants coming from Britain and Ireland

• Economic or techological change: Railways, steam locomotives, and steam ships as new sources of transportation

By the 1850s and 1860s, the colonies faced increasing challenges. What made governing separate colonies difficult during this period?

• Political disagreements made it difficult to pass laws

• Economic changes created new financial challenges

• Growing power of the United States raised concerns about security

What happened when Britain repealed the Corn Laws, and how did this affect the colonies?

• Resolutions outlined the structure of a new country explaining how the federal and provincial government would share power

• Proposed a federal system, becoming the blueprint for a future country

Why was the Reciprocity Treaty beneficial to the colonies, and why was it risky?

• Allowed natural resources like agricultural products and timber to be traded without tariffs

• Helped colonial colonies grow by increasing trade with the United States

• However, it made them economically dependant as American markets

Why did the end of the Reciprocity Treaty in 1866 create problems for the colonies?

• Colonial industries became dependant on American trade

• Became helpless and not self reliant when the treaty ended

What is political deadlock, and why was it a problem in the Province of Canada?

• Extremely difficult for the government to pass laws or made decisions

• This was a problem because Canada east and west had different views on important issues which slowed the process to fix this issue

What was the disagreement over representation by population, and why did it create tension?

• Disagreement was that Canada west was growing and believed that they deserved more seats in government

• Created tension because Canada east feared losing political influence if this change occurred

Explain how the United States created pressure for union

• Political or ideological factor: Manifest Destiny-expand across the continent

• Military or conflict-related factor: American Civil War-U.S. military was very powerful

Why did many leaders begin to believe that confederation might be necessary?

• Might solve several major problems

• A united country could strengthen the economy, improve transportation, create a more stable political system, and provide better defence against external threats

By the early 1860s, why was the system of separate colonies becoming difficult to maintain?

• Started facing economic powers, political deadlock in the Province of Canada, and growing concerns about American expansion which created uncertainty about the future

Why was the formation of the Great Coalition significant?

• Brought together major political leaders from the East and West who had previously been in conflict

• This cooperation helped break political deadlock in the province of Canada

• Made it possible to move forward with plans for Confederation

What was the original purpose of the Charlottetown Conference, and how did it change?

• Original purpose: Discuss a possible union of the Maritime Colonies: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and P.E.I

• The idea changed due to the representatives wanting to unite all British North American colonies

Why did the delegates disagree about how power should be divided in a new country?

• The delegates had different views

• Some wanted a central government where it was one government ruling over all

• Others wanted a provincial government where each region had a government to protect regional authority

What was the purpose of the 72 Resolutions, and why were they important?

• 72 Resolutions was to purpose a federal system where the authority would be divided between national and regional governments

• This was significant because it ensured everyone got what they wanted

Structure of Government: Give one responsibility of each

Federal Government: Manage Issuses

Provincial Government: Control local matters

Give one reason why some people supported Confederation:

• As one military/defence was strong (safer envrioment)

Give one reason why some people opposed Confederation

• Some politicians feared their colonies would lose independence or political influence

What problems did Confederation attempt to solve, and why was it an important turning point?

• A larger country allowed goods to move easily between colonies, organize stronger military defence

• Ensure economic growth and long term stability

Why was British Columbia’s path to Confederation different from that of Eastern Canada?

• Geographical isolation, economic instability, and deeply shaped by global trade and immigration

How did geography both isolate and connect British Columbia?

• Massive mountain ranges like the Rocky Mountains created a barrier between BC and the rest of Canada

• The Pacific Ocean played a key role in trade and transportation

• Connection to the Pacific Ocean helped BC develop its own identity

Why is it important to understand Indigenous societies before studying European settlement?

• BC was orginally home to First Nations, Haida and Coast Salish groups

• Important to understand that BC’s land was already deeply inhabitated and an organized region developed by the Indigenous

What role did the fur trade and the Hudson’s Bay Company play in shaping early British Columbia?

• The HBC established many trading posts which helped start the fur trade

• Fur trade allowed the Indigenous and Europeans to build economic connections and relationships

• Trade began process of dependence, culture, change, and power imbalance

How did the gold rush change British Columbia’s population and stability?

• Population increased dramatically as miners were coming to BC

• Stability became weak because Britain was losing control of the region

• To prevent this, they established the colony of British Columbia

How was Cariboo Gold Rush different from the earlier Fraser River Gold Rush?

• Gold Fields were located in more remote and mountainous terrain which increased the need for reliable transportation routes

• Cariboo Gold Rush extended BC’s economy but also deepened its dependence on resource extraction and increased the financial burden on the colonial government

Why did British Columbia face economic problems after the gold rushes?

• Gold became harder to find so miners left, leaving BC in a massive debt

• Government struggled to maintain services and stability with a declining economy due to infrastructure projects such as the Cariboo Wagon Road

By the late 1860s, BC had three possible futures: Name three options

• Should BC remain a British Colony

• Join the United States

• Become part of Canada

By the late 1860s, BC had three possible futures: Give one reason why someone might support each option:

• Some supported staying in the British Empire because it offered stability and protection

• Others preferred joining the United States

• Others preferred joining Canada for better economic opportunities and growth

What did Canada offer British Columbia, and why was this so important?

• Canada offered the construction of a transcontinental railway

• Toke on BC’s debt

• This was significant because it relieved the colony’s financial burden and overcame British Columbia’s geographic isolation

Why did British Columbia ultimately join Confederation in 1871, and to what extent was this a choice versus a result of pressure?

• BC joined Confederation because of the railway and financial support

• 50/50 partly a choice but also a result of pressure because while some groups gained economic opportunity, others faced marginalization and displacement