Conflict in the 1830s
A Time of Conflict
​
1837 was a restless time in Canada’s history. People in both Upper Canada and Lower Canada fought against the government controlled by the British Crown. The government at the time in Upper Canada was nicknamed the Family Compact by William Lyon Mackenzie and was made up of a small group of men. The Family Compact held all political power in Upper Canada. In Lower Canada, this group was called the Chateau Clique.
Average settlers had strict requirements on improvements. They had to make them within the first two years of settlement, or risk forfeiting their free land allotment. Things were not as strict for favoured settlers. This led to unfairness and abuse of power. People in influential positions who benefitted by being gifted large tracts of land didn’t clear their land, making life more difficult for farmers next door to keep their land clear.
​
William Lyon Mackenzie led the Upper Canada Rebels. Mackenzie was the mayor of Toronto and a newspaper publisher. He and other rebels wanted to fight for democracy and to put an end to upper class privileges.
​
Mackenzie's second newspaper "The Constitution" began publishing on July 4, 1836. The fourth of July commemorates American Independence from British rule. This date was deliberate and a symbolic choice.
Above: William Lyon Mackenzie
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Printing Press
​
Following the rebellion, Mackenzie’s print shop was raided, and his equipment were taken by merchants who claimed Mackenzie owed them money.
​
The printing press at Mackenzie House dates from 1845. It is a Washington rolling flatbed press, a very popular model. The leverage system of the press makes it easy for anyone to use. Earlier presses required a lot of upper body strength to make a good print. The Mackenzie House printing press was likely never used by Mackenzie himself, although he owned a similar model.
Courtesy: Mackenzie House
Toronto History Museums
Lower Canada was a British Colony. The people didn't like how a minority of British people could hold power over all of the French Canadian population. They began to rise up against these unjust practices. Louis-Joseph Papineau led the rebellion in Lower Canada. He led a group called the Patriotes, who were French Canadian nationalists. These protests were more violent than the ones in Upper Canada.
​
In 1838, John George Lambton, also known as Lord Durham, was asked to visit Upper and Lower Canada by the British Empire in order to find out what caused the Rebellions. A year later, Lord Durham created a report called the “Durham Report” which led to many changes within the British colonies. The report led to the “Act of Union” in 1840 that united Upper and Lower Canada into a single government. This report eventually gave people in Canada the power to control their own government.
Black Militia during the rebellion
​
Around one thousand Black Canadians volunteered. As a very real fear of “rebels” taking over the “new Canaan” frightened Black settlers.
​
Black Loyalists joined the militia to fight Mackenzie and his reformers. Their large numbers created the “Coloured Corps”. They formed units in Chatman, Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor and along the Niagara region border. These Black militiamen made up 12% of the fighting force. Their incentive to fight in the Rebellion was to prevent slavery from re-entering Upper Canada. They were afraid that Mackenzie’s reformists would cause the return of slavery once again.
The Black Militia participated in the important battles during the rebellion. Without the Black Militia’s support, the rebellion may have succeeded.
Courtesy: Canadian War Museum/1.E.2.4-CGR2
The Durham Report AND Act of Union
​
John George Lambton (Lord Durham) was the Governor General of British North America from 1838-1839. In May of 1838, he was sent to Canada to investigate the root causes of the rebellion. His report made two recommendations:
​
-
Unifying Upper and Lower Canada and;
-
Creating a responsible government.
Lord Durham found the French areas in Lower Canada were rebelling against the English. Unifying Upper and Lower Canada would create an English majority. As for Upper Canada, the cause for unrest was the ruling of a small elite group of people, or the Family Compact. A responsible government is held accountable to the people. Not a small group of elite.
Above: Lord Durham
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
The British government put into effect the first recommendation but not the second. In 1840, the Act of Union was passed by the British Parliament. The act brought in a single parliament with equal number of seats in each region. Lower Canada became Canada East and Upper Canada became Canada West. Together they formed the Province of Canada. The Family Compact did not like the idea of the union. They had fewer seats in government making them less powerful.
The British government believed colonies needed a tight control to maintain loyalty. Creating a responsible government would allow for the people in Canada to be responsible for themselves. Although in 1847 the British government would grant local self-government to the colonies. Responsible government would become a key part in Canada's Confederation. It is how we achieved Independence without a revolution.
Pickering Connections
​
Pickering Township sent the greatest number of rebels to the uprising in Toronto.
​
Local resident Peter Matthews became a pivotal member of Mackenzie’s rebellion. Matthews wanted reform because his life was difficult. On December 6, 1837, Matthews led a contingent of Pickering men to Montgomery’s Tavern in the quest for responsible government. We do know his orders were to "create a diversion that would prevent the troops from returning to Toronto". In the end, a rebel in Peter's group, who wasn't even a Pickering man, lit a nearby house on fire, and tried to light the bridge as well. Then the men scattered into the woods because militia were summoned. Their mission failed, and the rebels were held in the Toronto Gaol and Matthews was hanged for treason.
​
Not everyone in Pickering Township supported the Rebellion. Many had come to Canada to avoid conflict after the American Revolution. Others were pacifists whose religious beliefs did not allow them to fight. Others still supported the Tory government and turned in their neighbours who supported rebellion.
This wooden ‘Rebellion Box’ was carved by James Bell. It was made for his wife, while he was imprisoned in the Toronto Gaol for his part in the Rebellion of 1837. They are also called “Prisoner Boxes”. James Bell’s son inherited the boxes. The box was then passed through the Wright family. The box has the words ‘Liberty’ and ‘Love’ printed on the sides.
Rebellion Boxes
​
In the aftermath of the Rebellion, any rebel captured was imprisoned on the charge of high treason. Many prisoners had nothing to do in their cells while they waited for their trial. They started carving firewood. Penknives were used to create inscribed boxes for family and loved ones at home. Through these inscriptions, we can understand some of the thoughts and feelings of the rebels while they were imprisoned.
​
Pickering Museum Village artifact