The Rebellion Of 1837 In Canada And The Constrcution Of Responsible Government

Canada, which was the colony of England just like America, but the difference between the two countries was that there was not fierce campaign in Canadian history. Canada is not the outcome of warfare. The Fathers of Canada did not advocate freedom and democracy intensively. It went on a peaceful road and make progress step by step. In the heart of world people, It is a paradise far away from the warfare. But it was not to say that it did not undergo warfare, just the warfare was comparatively short. The rebellion of 1837 in Canada was the outbreak of the antinomy and the strive. The rebellion of 1837 and the establishment of the responsible government were two significant affairs in Canadian history. So It is of significance to research into them, which can help us understand the history of Canada deeply.The dissertation includes 4 parts:Part one is on the rebellion of 1837.It mainly analyzed the inevitability of the rebellion. Before the rebellion the 1791 Constitutional Act had divided the Province of Quebec into two colonies named Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Representative government was stipulated in the Act but it had not been implemented. The governor, from Britain and appointed by the British government, had no real power. There was a Governor, an Executive council and Legislative council. Legislative council, appointed by Britain government, corresponds to House of Commons in Britain. Executive council, appointed by the governor, usually performed the functions of the government. The ruling oligarchy of Canada who were in possession of a lot of lands was composed of the two council members. Economically, the 1930's Globle Crisis was the background of the rebellion. Radically, The divergence of British Canada and French Canada had been a significant reason of the rebellion. And besides the course and the failure reason are also analyzed.Part Two is on the result of the rebellion, that is, the Durham Report. British government appointed Lord Durham to Canada as governor after rebellion. After he investigated the position of Canada he published the famous Durham Report. It contained the construction of the Unoin of the Upper and Lower Canada,the implementation of the Responsible Government and the distinction of the Empire services and Local services. After It was published ,It subjected to the discussion in England. Statesmen in England agrued that the Unity could not be kept if the Responsible Government was built. So they hated the Report. But in fact the intention of Duham was just to consolidate the Empire through compromise and reform to a certain extend.Part Three is on the constitutional reform and the establishment of Responsible Government. Union Act was implemented in 1840. After Durham Report was put forward, it underwent the period of governor Poulett Thomoson,Sir Charles Bagot,Sir Charles Metcalfe,and Lord Elgin. This part mainly includes the final establishment of responsible government in Elgin's rule and the implementation in several provinces.Part Four is on the reason and the significance of establishment of Responsible Government. Firstly, The conflict of the people in the Conoly contributes to the change of colonial policy in England. Secondly, The change of ecnomy and politics in England was another reason. Otherwise, It was because Statesman in England drew the lesson from American Revolution. The practice of Responsible Government paved the way for the autonamous and unitive country. It promoted the economical development and witnissed the vision of Daham. After that British Empire became lasting and prosporous British Federation.