jan 1, 1830 - The Reformers
Description:
By the 1830s, many people within the government, not just Mackenzie, were
critical of the government system. These critics were called Reformers.
Many felt that Executive members made decisions that benefited mainly
themselves and their friends and family. The appointed Executive often
ignored the wishes of elected Legislative Assembly members. Members of
the Legislative Assembly felt that they had no real power since Britain could
overrule any law, at any time.
Reformers like Mackenzie were tired of appointed officials making
most of the decisions. They grew more frustrated that their requests for
government reform were rejected repeatedly by the governor general and
the Executive. As tensions grew, politicians were divided into two camps.
The Reformers were on one side and the Conservatives who supported
the existing system were on the other. The Conservatives were often called
“The Tories.”Reformers in Lower Canada organized into the Parti Patriote. The Patriotes
believed that French-speaking people, not the British, should be in control
of Lower Canada. The Patriotes were led by Louis-Joseph Papineau,All of the Reformers wanted responsible government. With responsible
government, the main decision makers in both Upper and Lower Canada
would be the elected Legislative Assembly, rather than the appointed
members of the Executive. The Legislative Assembly would then control the
government, not the governor general. However, the Reformers disagreed on
how to achieve responsible government.
Egerton Ryerson and Robert Baldwin, politicians in Upper Canada,
were Reformers. They were willing, however, to work on a compromise
with the Executive. Papineau and Mackenzie did not want to compromise.
Mackenzie and his supporters decided that they wanted an American-style
political system in Upper Canada and would use violence to achieve it.
Added to timeline:
chapters 7/8
Date:
