1867: To what extent can 1837 be seen as a starting point on the road to Confederation?
In 1837, political tensions in the British North American colonies boiled over into armed conflict. Frustrated by the rejection of their demands, reformers in Lower Canada gathered in assemblies at which they denounced the tyranny of Great Britain and challenged the authority of its representatives. The more radical leaders, including Louis-Joseph Papineau, urged people to take up arms. The conflict began in Montréal in November, before spreading to the countryside. Rebels in Upper Canada, led by William Mackenzie, soon followed suit. The rebels in both Upper and Lower Canada were deeply committed to their cause, but were disorganized and poorly armed. Following two years of intermittent conflict, the rebels were defeated for good.
In the exhibition 1867 – Rebellion and Confederation leading historians Éric Bédard, Charlotte Gray and Christopher Moore share their perspectives on some pivotal moments on the road to Confederation.
In this video, not found in the exhibition, they answer a key question about the birth of Canada:
To what extent can 1837 be seen as a starting point on the road to Confederation?
What are your thoughts on the question?