The Rebellions Of 1837-38

In Lower Canada:

Some Of The Issues That Needed To Be Resolved:

- The Government in Lower Canada favored the business interests of the English over the farming interests of the French population.

- The French in Lower Canada were also concerned about losing their French culture and language, and the privileges given to the Anglican church when most of the population were Catholic.

- The Château Clique: The Château Clique was a group of wealthy Englishmen and leading English merchants in Lower Canada. They were the British landed gentry and they believed that the British should control everything.

- The Parti Canadien often quarreled with the Governor because they did not support taxes for building canals and roads. Louis Joseph Papineau was the leader. His goal was to seek a responsible Government.

Watch video clip of Lower Canada Rebellion:


In Upper Canada
Why Were There Rebellions In Upper Canada In 1837-38?

The news of chaos in Lower Canada reached the people of Upper Canada in October of 1837. Many people in Upper Canada agreed with the Lower Canadian rebels about the need for change in the government.

The Upper Canadian rebels were in favor for the American Revolution and felt a similar revolution was needed in Upper Canada.

William Lyon Mackenzie was the leader of the rebellions in Upper Canada. He shared many of the same ideas of the Patriotes in Lower Canada. He used his newspaper The Colonial Advocate, to demand change against the British Government and Family Compact. He was a supporter of the American Revolution and the republic it created, so he went out to accomplish the same thing in Upper Canada.