Course Profile   Canadian and World Politics (CPW4U), Grade 12, University Preparation, Catholic

 

Unit 2:  The Founding People Create a Dominion: 1763–1867

Time:  22 hours

 

Activity 2.1 | Activity 2.2 | Activity 2.3 | Activity 2.4

 

Unit Description

This unit examines the transformation of the British North American colonies into the confederated nation of Canada. Continuing conflict and compromise between the French and English elements in Canada are analysed through the study of both the Royal Proclamation Act (1763) and the Quebec Act (1774). The impact of the United States on the Canadian psyche is studied by examining the following issues: the effects that the incoming United Empire Loyalists (UELs) and African Americans had on the BNA colonies, American influences on the British decision to create the Constitution Act of 1791, and the effect the War of 1812 had on the promotion of autonomy for Canada. The pioneer experiences of prominent women such as Catherine Parr Traill and Susanna Moodie are studied, as are the educational and social contributions of Marguerite Bourgeoys. Students study the impact upon Aboriginal peoples of the Proclamation of 1763 and the War of 1812. The roles of key figures such as William Lyon Mackenzie and Louis Joseph Papineau in the Rebellions of 1837 are analysed as these men battled the hold that the Family Compact and Chateau Clique held over Upper and Lower Canada respectively. The implications of passing the Act of Union (1840) are explored and students participate in a debate that scrutinizes the legal reasons for the existence of the Catholic school system in Ontario. Students study immigration and government structures in the British North America colonies of Vancouver Island, Red River, and Nova Scotia. The political, military and economic reasons for Confederation are uncovered and evaluated.

In this unit, students become further aware of the role of the Catholic Church in the culture of French Canada. They also study the importance of the arrival of large numbers of Irish Catholics in Canada West in the 1840s and the impact of the Irish immigrants on the growth of Catholic schools in Upper Canada. Catholic school graduates examine such issues as the rights of refugees, immigrants, and Aboriginal peoples, as well as the right of armed rebellion, in the light of gospel values and the social teachings of the Catholic Church.

In the unit culminating activity, each student researches and role-plays a delegate to the Quebec Conference of 1864 and then creates a comparison organizer dealing with the Quebec Resolutions
of 1864 and the Charlottetown Accord of 1992.

Unit Synopsis Chart

Activity

Time

Learning Expectations

Assessment Categories

Student Tasks

2.1
The Preservation of the French Culture in Canada and the Impact of the American Revolution

6 hours

COV.02, CCV.01, CHV.02, HIV.02, SE2.03, SE4.03, CO1.03, CO2.02, CO3.02, CH2.03, CC1.03, CC5.01, HI2.02
CGE1d, 4a, 7g

Knowledge/ Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication Application

Reactions of various groups to the Proclamation of 1763 is gauged by students in group discussions and in writing assignments. Analysis of historians’ interpretations of the Conquest and UELs

2.2

The War of 1812 and the British North America Colonies

5 hours

COV.02, COV.03, CCV.01, SEV.04, HIV.03, CO2.02, CO3.02, CO4.01, CC1.01, CC1.03, CH2.03, CH2.04, SE4.03, HI3.01
CGE 2c, 2d, 3d, 5e

Knowledge/ Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication Application

Journal entries of UELs; research and role-playing of selected personalities in early19th century Canada; discussion regarding the Catholic position on armed resistance against oppression

2.3
Rebellion, Responsible Government, and Catholic Schools

5 hours

COV.03, SEV.04, SEV.05, CO2.02, CO2.03, CO3.02, CC5.01, CH2.03, CH2.04, SE1.02, SE4.03, HI3.01
CGE 2a, 4f, 5a, 7e

Knowledge/ Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication Application

Research and note-making; discussion regarding rights of refugees and components of the Canadian identity; debate about existence of Catholic schools in Ontario; unit test

2.4
Causes of Canadian Confederation and the Implications of the British North America Act

6 hours

CCV.02, CHV.02, SEV.03, SEV.04, HIV.01, HIV.02, HIV.03, HIV.04, CO2.02, CC1.03, CC2.02, CH2.03, SE4.02, SE4.03, HI1.03, HI2.04, HI3.01, HI3.02, HI3.03, HI4.01, HI4.03
CGE 1d, 2b, 3b, 3c, 4b, 7g

Knowledge/ Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication Application

Research and note making, In the unit culminating activity, each student researches and role-plays a delegate to the Quebec Conference of 1864 and creates a comparison organizer dealing with the Quebec Resolutions of 1864 and the Charlottetown Accord of 1992. Students work on their research and documentation skills.

 

Activity 2.1:  The Preservation of the French Culture in Canada (1763–1774)
                        and the Impact of the American Revolution on British North America
                        (1774–1791)

Time:  6 hours

Description

By examining primary documents and historical interpretations, students become aware of the implications of the British Conquest of New France and the legal origins of the dual French/English nature of Canadian society. Students examine such concepts as “assimilation” and “occupation” in both a historical and contemporary context. They study the importance of the Proclamation of 1763, the Quebec Act of 1774 and the Constitutional Act of 1791. The impact of the American Revolution on the Canadian psyche is examined. Eighteenth century British government policies with respect to Aboriginal peoples, African Americans, and refugees are assessed in the light of gospel values.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations

CGE1d - develops attitudes and values founded on Catholic social teaching and acts to promote social responsibility, human solidarity, and the common good;

CGE4a - demonstrates a confident and positive sense of self and respect for the dignity and welfare of others;

CGE7g - respects and understands the history, cultural heritage, and pluralism of today’s contemporary society.

Strand(s):  Communities: Local, National, and Global; Change and Continuity;
                        Citizenship and Heritage; Methods of Historical Inquiry

Overall Expectations

COV.02 - analyse the principal characteristics of the French and English colonial experiences in Canada;

CCV.01 - analyse how Canada’s changing relationships with France, Britain, and the United States have influenced the formation and transformation of Canada’s identity;

CHV.02 - demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of the French presence in Canada and its contributions to Canadian identity;

HIV.02 - critically analyse interpretations related to Canadian history, culture, and identity.

Specific Expectations

SE4.03 - describe the role of selected significant events and legislation in the development of the current Canadian political system;

CO1.03 - analyse the impact of European contact on the lives of the Aboriginal peoples and evaluate the responses of the Aboriginal peoples;

CO2.02 - demonstrate an understanding of colonial history as it contributed to the concept of Canada as the product of “two founding nations”;

CO3.02 - describe significant waves of immigration;

CH2.03 - analyse how and why the people of Quebec have acted to preserve their political identity;

SE2.03 - analyse the contributions of women to the Canadian identity;

CC1.03 - analyse how conflicts and compromises between Canada and the United States have helped to shape Canadian identity;

CC5.01 - assess whether British colonial policies were directed toward the creation of a homogeneous society in Canada;

HI2.02 - compare key interpretations of Canadian history.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Awareness of the geographical dimensions of this focus of study

·         Familiarity with cooperative learning and group work

·         Familiarity with the school’s Internet policy, including safe use of the Internet

Planning Notes

·         The teacher prepares primary documents dealing with historians’ interpretations of the Conquest – to be used in Teaching/Learning Strategy 7. The primary documents may be found in an anthology such as Emerging Identities edited by Paul W. Bennett and Cornelius J. Jaenen.

·         The teacher may need to prepare student readings dealing with the Quebec Act, as described in Teaching/Learning Strategy 8.

·         The teacher does some research on historical and contemporary situations in which the words “conquest”, “occupation,” and “assimilation” are used. The teacher may examine the British conquest of Ireland in the 16th century and the British attempts “to assimilate” the Irish. The American “occupation” of Japan from 1945 to 1952 may be explored.

·         The teacher prepares an overhead map of 18th century North America to illustrate the locations of the Thirteen Colonies, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

·         Selected segments of the CBC video series: Canada: A Peoples’ History, “Battle for a Continent,” Episode 4, are prepared for use in the classroom.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.   The teacher leads the class in a discussion related to the meaning of the words “conquest”, “occupation,” and “assimilation.” The terms may be applied to a variety of historical and contemporary situations, such as the British “conquest” and attempted “assimilation” of Ireland, the American “occupation” of Japan.

2.   After performing the relevant background readings, the students, working in groups, are asked to hypothesize about the reactions of various interest groups to the Treaty of Paris and the Royal Proclamation. Students speculate on the reactions of the following groups and record their conclusions:

·         The Aboriginal peoples

·         The American colonists

·         The Acadians

·         The respective governments of France and England

·         The respective elements in the society of New France: the habitants, the seigneurs, the bourgeoisie, and the clergy of the Catholic Church.

3.   The teacher leads a discussion in which the results of the battle of the Plains of Abraham and the fall of Montreal are outlined in the light of the Treaty of Paris (1763) and the Royal Proclamation (1763). The terms “conquest,” “occupation,” and “assimilation” are used in reference to this period of Canadian history. Comparisons are made to other historical and contemporary situations in which these terms are used.

4.   The students write short, reflective pieces on the Royal Proclamation from the perspectives respectively of the French-Canadian, the British, the American colonists, and the Aboriginals, thus indicating the impact of the document on each group.

5.   The teacher leads the students in an examination of the respective roles of British governors James Murray and Guy Carleton in the implementation of the British policies of assimilation and conciliation. Led by teacher questioning, the class explores and evaluates various aspects of the Conquest. Students read about and discuss the following issues: the relevance of the British and French legal systems, land and seigneurial systems, nepotism, the economic troubles associated with the fur trade and declining currency, the absence of an elected assembly, the monopolistic nature of British trade, and the symbols of authority being replaced in Quebec.

6.   Students examine the role of the Roman Catholic Church and its role in education, health and welfare services, politics, and cultural and spiritual guidance in Quebec after the Conquest. Although she does not fit chronologically into this unit, the accomplishments of Marguerite Bourgeoys
(1620–1700) in the areas of education and social welfare continued in post-1760 Quebec. The teacher reviews with students the board’s policies regarding safe use of the Internet. Students research the work of Bourgeoys and the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame with women, children and Aboriginal peoples on the website www.CND-M.com.

7.   The meaning of the Conquest of 1760 – and the historic relationship of Canada’s two founding European peoples – remains one of the most controversial issues in Canadian historiography. Students, in groups, examine a variety of historical interpretations of the Conquest. The teacher prepares class handouts containing the five historical interpretations of the Conquest listed below. The teacher divides the class into five groups and each group is assigned one of the interpretations of the Conquest. Students in each of the five groups discuss their assigned historian’s interpretation of the Conquest. One student from each group is selected to role play the historian and defend his thesis before the class. Students in other groups are encouraged to challenge his interpretation. Among the interpretations to be examined:

·         Francis Parkman’s 19th century interpretation of the Conquest as a liberation of Canada from oppressive despotism of France.

·         Mason Wade’s interpretation, which emphasizes both the magnanimity of the British and the “indomitable will” and spirit of survival of the French Canadians.

·         Michel Brunet’s “social decapitation” thesis, which contends that the Conquest destroyed the Canadien bourgeoisie and relegated French Canadians to a subservient economic role in the field of agriculture.

·         Jean Hamelin’s thesis that doubted the existence of a significant Canadien bourgeoisie for the British conquerors to decapitate.

·         George F.G. Stanley’s interpretation of the Conquest, which emphasized the psychological effects of military defeat on the Canadiens.

8.   After the students in the five groups have completed their classroom discussion of the five interpretations of the Conquest, they are assigned readings dealing with the Quebec Act of 1774. They may be teacher-prepared readings or readings from a textbook. Working in groups, the students examine the following questions related to the Quebec Act:

·         What were the major provisions of the Quebec Act of 1774?

·         What was the “Catholic problem” in a Quebec under British rule, and how was it dealt with under the Quebec Act?

·         Describe and explain the reaction of the American colonists to the Quebec Act.

·         What are the long-term results of the Quebec Act in developing a Canadian duality of cultures?

·         What were the possible British motives for the passing of the Quebec Act?

The students present their findings dealing with the Quebec Act to the class. The teacher leads a classroom discussion related to the importance of the Quebec Act.

9.   Students read about the causes of the American Revolution and the genesis of the United Empire Loyalists in a textbook source. The teacher uses an overhead map of North America in the 18th century while conducting this lesson. Using the map, references can be made to the Thirteen Colonies and the path of the United Empire Loyalists to Quebec and Nova Scotia. The teacher leads the class in a discussion about the major causes of the American Revolution. The teacher asks students to answer the following questions:

a)   Why did the colonies of Quebec and Nova Scotia not join the American revolt against Great Britain?

b)   What elements in Colonial America would tend to be Loyalists – or opponents of the revolution against Great Britain?

c)   What would be the impact of the arrival of thirty thousand United Empire Loyalists in the colony of Nova Scotia, and ten thousand in the colony of Quebec?

d)   Why did approximately three thousand Black migrants move to Nova Scotia during and after the American Revolution and what hardships did they encounter in Nova Scotia?

e)   What was the role of Joseph Brant, the Mohawk chief, in the Revolutionary War?

The students answer these questions in their notes. The teacher may encourage students to use alternate forms of note taking such as mind maps, symbols, charts, or pictorials.

10.  Students examine Seymour Lipset’s 1965 essay, “Revolution and Counter-revolution.” (See Canada: A North American Nation, pp. 7-8, 12-13) Students may also examine Pierre Berton’s, Why We Act Like Canadians (pp.55-61). The teacher asks students to list some of the characteristics of Canadian society that may be attributed to the migration of the Loyalists to Canada. The teacher leads the class in a discussion about the validity of the Lipset thesis. Is Canadian society in general more conservative, more elitist, more law-abiding than American society, and, if so, can these “national characteristics” be traced back to the values carried by the United Empire Loyalists?

11.  The arrival of the United Empire Loyalists in British North America led to the establishment of new colonies. New Brunswick was created in 1783 and Upper and Lower Canada in 1791. Students compose notes on the Constitutional Act of 1791. The teacher leads a class discussion on the significance of the Constitutional Act of 1791.

12.  The teacher leads a classroom discussion that focuses on the eighteenth century British government’s policies towards Aboriginal peoples, African Americans and refugees – in the context of the events studied in Activity 1. The classroom discussion analyses the extent to which British policies coincided with gospel values and speculates about the motives of the British policies.

13.  For the purpose of a review of the major topics covered in this Activity, the teacher may screen selected segments from a video such as Canada: A People’s History, Episode 4, “Battle for a Continent.”

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

T/L S # – Task/Product

Purpose

Achievement Categories

Tool/Assessor

2 – Royal Proclamation group work

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry

Self/Peer/Teacher roving conference

4 – Royal Proclamation written response

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Communication

Teacher

7 – student analysis in groups of historians’ interpretations of the Conquest

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Communication
Application

Teacher roving conference

8 and 9 – student analysis in groups of the Quebec Act; student analysis of the impact of the American Revolution

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication

Self/Peer

10 and 12 – discussion of Lipset thesis and gospel values

Formative

Inquiry
Application

Teacher by means of anecdotal notes

Accommodations

·         Consult individual exceptional student IEPs for specific recommendation about requirements for accommodation for individuals.

·         Accommodation should be made for students who have difficulty recording and/or synthesizing information. Individuals with these special needs could be grouped with students who are able to assist with these needs.

·         Summaries of documents may be prepared if the primary documents are too challenging in length or level of difficulty.

Resources

Print

Bennett, Paul W. and Cornelius J. Jaenen. Emerging Identities. Scarborough, Ontario: Prentice-Hall Canada, Inc., 1986. ISBN 0-13-274200-4

Bennett, Paul, et al. Canada: A North American Nation. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1989.
ISBN 0-07-548860-4

Berton, Pierre. Why We Act Like Canadians. Markham, Ontario: Penguin Books, 1987.
ISBN 0-14-010442-9

Careless, J.M.S. Colonists and Canadiens, 1760–1867. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1971.

Catechism of the Catholic Church. Toronto, Ontario: Doubleday, 1995.

Morton, Desmond. A Short History of Canada. Edmonton, Alberta: Hurtig, 1983. ISBN 0-88830-253

Non-print – websites and video

Early Canadiana Online – sites dealing with primary documents– www.canadiana.org/eco/english

Canadian History – site dealing with the Conquest– www.Canadahistory.com

The Conquest– www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/5869/index.html (Go to Year to shows all events.)

Canada: A Peoples’ History, Volume 4: Battle For A Continent. Videocasette. CBC-Radio Canada, 2000.

 

Activity 2.2:  The War of 1812 and the British North America Colonies

Time:  5 hours

Description

Through the use of research and role-playing, students gain an understanding of the major issues related to the War of 1812, and the types of societies present in Upper and Lower Canada after the war. Students become aware of a growing British Canadian nationalism in Upper Canada as a legacy of the War
of 1812. The students examine the major issues of political, economic, and religious controversy in Upper Canada as background to the Rebellion of 1837. Students study development in the British North America colonies of Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, and Red River. The Catholic Church’s position on armed resistance to oppression is analysed in light of the 1837 Rebellions and in light of contemporary armed rebellions.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations

CGE2c - presents information and ideas clearly and honestly and with sensitivity to others

CGE2d - writes and speaks fluently one or both of Canada’s official languages

CGE3d - makes decisions in light of gospel values with an informed moral conscience

CGE5e - respects the rights, responsibilities, and contributions of self and others

Strand(s):  Communities: Local, National, and Global; Change and Continuity; Citizenship
                        and Heritage; Social, Economic, and Political Structures, Methods of Historical Inquiry

Overall Expectations

COV.02 - analyse the principal characteristics of the French and English colonial experiences in Canada;

COV.03 - assess the significance of successive waves of immigrants in the development of regional, provincial, and national identities in Canada;

CCV.01 - analyse how Canada’s changing relationships with France, Britain, and the United States have influenced the formation and transformation of Canada’s identity;

SEV.04 - describe and evaluate the nature of the Canadian political system and the groups and individuals who contributed to its development;

HIV.03 - communicate opinions and ideas based on effective research clearly and concisely.

Specific Expectations

CO2.02 - demonstrate an understanding of colonial history as it contributed to the concept of Canada as the product of “two founding nations”;

CO3.02 - describe the significant waves of immigration;

CO4.01 - demonstrate an understanding of Canada’s role in international affairs prior to Confederation;

CC1.01 - demonstrate an understanding of the resistance of French and British settlers to the establishment of European colonial institutions;

CC1.03 - analyse how conflicts and compromises between Canada and the United States have helped to shape Canadian identity;

CH2.03 - analyse why and how the people of Quebec have acted to preserve their political identity;

CH2.04 - describe the role of significant Quebec-based political figures in the development of the French presence in Canada;

SE4.03 - describe the role of selected significant events and legislation in the development of the current Canadian political system;

HI3.01 - communicate effectively, using a variety of styles and forms.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Experience with researching and role-playing a historical individual

·         A geographical knowledge of the British North American colonies and the Northern United States

·         Knowledge of protest movements and instances of armed resistance to oppression in contemporary history

Planning Notes

·         Establish a time-frame for the various student presentations of role-playing.

·         Prepare blank maps of Eastern British North America and the Northern United States for student use in completing notations of the major battles of the War of 1812.

·         Review information on contemporary protest movements and instances of armed resistance to oppression in the modern world.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.   The teacher leads the students in a review of the major provisions of the Constitutional Act of 1791. Students should note the conservative nature of the new constitutional arrangement – with representative, but not responsible, government in the two colonies, and with land provisions for the maintenance of “a Protestant clergy.”

2.   In order to appreciate the contributions of the United Empire Loyalists to the British North America colonies, each student is required to produce a series of journal entries that might be written by a United Empire Loyalist over a period of time (the suggestion is 10 years). Subject areas to be covered include: a description of the Loyalist’s social, political, and cultural background; reasons for migration; the direction of the migration, both in the initial stages and the secondary migration; the impact on the colonies of Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick; and the production of historically accurate mapping examples to illustrate the journal entries.

3.   Students are assigned to research a number of personalities related to this segment of Canadian history. Personalities to be researched for the purpose of role-playing: Henry Clay (American Congressional leader), John C. Calhoun (American Congressional leader), James Madison (American president), William Hull (American general), Tecumseh (leader of the Shawnee); Isaac Brock, Bishop John Strachan, Laura Secord, Susanna Moodie, Catherine Parr Traill, Robert Gourlay, Louis Joseph Papineau, William Lyon Mackenzie, William Proudfoot, Egerton Ryerson, Sir Francis Bond Head. Depending on the size of the class, one or two students are assigned to the research of each individual mentioned above. One or both students role-play the individual (each is assessed separately). The preliminary role-playing may be performed in front of smaller groups in order to lessen student anxieties. The teacher should model role-playing to help ease students into this activity.

4.   Students read about and compose notes on the causes of the War of 1812 under the headings:

a)   Western posts and compensation to Loyalists

b)   Maritime rights and the issue of impressments

c)   American suspicion of Amerindian intrigues

d)   The motives of the United States War Hawks

Students may be encouraged to use alternate forms of note taking such as the use of mind maps, symbols, pictorials, and charts.

5.   Working with a blank map of Eastern British North America and the Northern United States, students indicate the locations and names of some of the major battles of the War of 1812 and the years in which the battles were fought.

6.   The students role-playing Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, James Madison and William Hull present the American perspective on the War of 1812.

The students role-playing Tecumseh, Isaac Brock, and Laura Secord present the British North American perspective on the War of 1812.

7.   The teacher leads the class in a discussion about the results of the War of 1812. Students are introduced to the concept of status quo ante bellum and to the concept that the War of 1812 was a “seedbed” for British Canadian nationalism, especially in the colony of Upper Canada. The teacher may screen selected segments about the War of 1812 from a video such as Canada: A People’s History, Episode 5, “A Question of Loyalties.”

8.   The teacher introduces the students to the major issues of political, religious, and economic controversy in Upper Canada in the years following the War of 1812 by having students role-play personalities from this period of time.

The following personalities are role-played by students: Susanna Moodie, Catherine Parr Traill, Bishop John Strachan, Robert Gourlay, William Proudfoot, Egerton Ryerson, Sir Francis Bond Head and William Lyon Mackenzie. Each of the personalities is required to comment upon the major issues of political, religious, and economic controversy. As a follow-up activity, the personalities may take part in a debate on the issues under consideration. After the role play, the teacher reviews with the class the issues of Crown lands, Clergy reserves, oligarchy, responsible government, state church, and government support for transportation and education.

9.   In order to analyse the background causes of the 1837 Rebellion in Upper Canada, the teacher may utilize (as an alternate activity) the exercise, “The Election of 1836 in Upper Canada: A Role-playing Activity” by Susan Smith Blocker and found in The History and Social Science Teacher, pp. 191–199.

10.  The teacher makes students aware of the significant immigration to Canada of Scottish settlers in this period of time. Among the personalities born in Scotland: William Proudfoot, Lord Selkirk, William McGillivray, John Strachan, and William Lyon Mackenzie. Students are asked to investigate some of the reasons for Scottish immigration and to discover the identities of other famous Scots who contributed to Canadian history in the 19th century.

11.  The teacher presents a mini-lesson on the rivalry between the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company in the Canadian West. The role of William McGillivray in the economic development of the North West Company and the role of Lord Selkirk in the Hudson’s Bay Company and the settlement of Red River are examined.

12.  To understand the issues of political controversy in Lower Canada, the class listens to the grievances of the Reformers as presented by the student role-playing Louis Joseph Papineau. The teacher reviews the major issues of political controversy in Lower Canada.

13.  Reformers in Upper and Lower Canada attempted to bring about change in a non-violent manner in the years prior to 1837. The teacher asks students to brainstorm about the names of organizations that are attempting to bring about change in contemporary society in a non-violent manner. What methods are used by these organizations? In what situations does the line between legal protest and non-legal protest become blurred? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 2243, armed resistance to oppression is not legitimate unless all of the following conditions are met:

a)   there is certain, grave, and prolonged violation of fundamental rights

b)   all other means of redress have been exhausted

c)   such resistance will not provoke worse disorders

d)   there is well-founded hope for success

e)   it is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution.

The teacher asks the class to apply the above conditions to contemporary situations of armed resistance.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

T/LS # – Task/Product

Purpose

Achievement Categories

Tool/Assessor

2 – journal entries and map-work dealing with Loyalists

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry

Peer/Teacher roving conference

3, 6, 8 and 12 – research and role-playing of assigned personalities

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding
Thinking/Inquiry Communication
Application

Teacher with check list

4 and 5 – note work and map work dealing with the War of 1812

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Communication

Teacher using anecdotal notes

12 – application of Catholic values to modern instances of armed resistance to oppression

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Communication
Application

Self/Peer/Teacher using anecdotal notes

Accommodations

·         Provide a graphic organizer to assist students in organizing information about the War of 1812.

·         For ESL students, provide vocabulary help and extra time for class assignments.

Resources

Print

Bennett, Paul, et al. Canada: A North American Nation. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1989.
ISBN 0-07-548860-4

Bennett, Paul W. and Cornelius J. Jaenen. Emerging Identities. Scarborough, Ontario: Prentice-Hall Canada Inc., 1986. ISBN 0-13-274200-4

Berton, Pierre. The Invasion of Canada, 1812–1813. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1980.

Careless, J.M.S. Colonists and Canadiens, 1760–1867. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1971.

Catechism of the Catholic Church. Toronto, Ontario: Doubleday, 1995.

Morton, Desmond. A Short History of Canada. Edmonton, Alberta: Hurtig 1983. ISBN 0-88830-253

Websites And Video

Canada: Birth of our Nation – Competition, Conquest, Colonization – sites dealing with the War of 1812, the Rebellion in Lower Canada– www.rockyview.ab.ca/bpeak/students/canada/canfront.html

Early Canadiana Online – www. canadiana. org/eco/english

Canada: A Peoples’ History, Episode 5, “A Question of Loyalties 1775-1815.” Videocasette. CBC, 2000. (108 minutes).

Activity 2.3:  Rebellion, Responsible Government, and Catholic Education

Time:  5 hours

Description

During this activity, the causes of, and roles played by key figures in the Rebellions of 1837 are analysed as reformers fight against the control held by the Family Compact and Chateau Clique in Upper and Lower Canada. The response of Britain, eventually culminating in the Act of Union (1840), and the implications for political and social institutions are also explored. The battle for responsible government in the colony of Nova Scotia is also analysed. Students research the origins of the Catholic School system in Canada West and participate in a mock debate about the existence of the Catholic School system in Ontario. With references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, students are presented with opportunities to evaluate armed resistance against oppression and government policies related to refugees.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations

CGE2a - listens actively and critically to understand and learn in light of gospel values;

CGE4f - applies effective communication, decision-making, problem-solving, time and resource management skills;

CGE5a - works effectively as an interdependent team member;

CGE7e - witnesses Catholic social teaching by promoting equality, democracy, and solidarity for a just, peaceful, and compassionate society.

Strand(s):  Communities: Local, National, and Global, Change and Continuity, Citizenship and Heritage,
                        Social, Economic, and Political Structures

Overall Expectations

COV.03 - assess the significance waves of immigration in the development of regional, provincial, and national identities in Canada;

SEV.04 - describe and evaluate the nature of the Canadian political system and the groups and individuals who contributed to its development;

SEV.05 - assess the efforts of popular movements to reform Canadian society.

Specific Expectations

CO2.02 - demonstrate an understanding of colonial history as it contributed to the concept of Canada as the product of two founding nations;

CO2.03 - describe significant sectarian divisions within colonial society and how they shaped the political and cultural issues of the period;

CO3.02 - describe significant waves of immigration;

CC5.01 - assess whether British colonial policies were directed towards the creation of a homogeneous society in Canada;

CH2.03 - analyse why and how the people of Quebec have acted to preserve their political identity;

CH2.04 - describe the role of significant Quebec-based political figures in the development of the French presence in Canada;

SE1.02 - assess the extent to which education has been used in Canada as an instrument for shaping regional, provincial, and national identities;

SE4.03 - describe the role of selected significant events and legislation in the development of the current Canadian political system;

HI3.01 - communicate effectively, using a variety of styles and forms.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Comprehension of representative and responsible government

·         Understanding of the political structures in Upper and Lower Canada as prescribed by the Constitutional Act (1791)

·         Grasp of current issues related to public and Catholic education in Ontario

Planning Notes

·         The teacher selects key excerpts dealing with the Rebellions of 1837 from Canada: A People’s History Episode 7, “Rebellion and Reform” and prepares the excerpts for classroom use if desired.

·         The teacher should be familiar with materials related to the development of the Catholic school system in Ontario.

·         The teacher should prepare research material on the topic of the history of Catholic schools in Ontario.

·         The teacher should prepare a paper-and-pen test which covers the material of Activities 1-3.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.   The teacher reviews the concepts of representative and responsible government and the political systems in Upper and Lower Canada.

2.   “Time Line of Major Events Leading to the Rebellions of 1837 in Upper Canada” (Appendix 2.3.1) is distributed to students. Using the criteria from Strategy 12 in Activity 2.2 above, students, in groups, decide if Mackenzie and his followers were morally correct in their decision to use armed resistance against the political authority of Upper Canada. A teacher-led class discussion reviewing the reasons for rebellion in 1837 should follow.

3.   Students should consult readings from an approved textbook or another source concerning causes for the Rebellions of 1837 in Lower Canada. Students should make notes concerning the key role that Louis-Joseph Papineau played in the movement towards rebellion, and note similarities and differences with the causes for revolt in Upper Canada.

4.   Selected segments dealing with the Rebellions of 1837 from a video such as Canada: A People’s History, Episode 7, may be viewed at this time.

5.   Students compose notes recording key events of the Rebellions of 1837 in Upper and Lower Canada.

6.   The teacher outlines key events in the aftermath of the Rebellions and outlines the important recommendations of the Durham Report (1839).

7.   The teacher distributes copies of The Act of Union (1840) and the Achievement of Responsible Government in the Canadas (1841–1849) (Appendix 2.3.2). Using the material in the Appendix, the teacher explains the reasons for the Act of Union and the manner in which responsible government was achieved in the Canadas. The teacher leads a discussion concerning how responsible government would now allow the Canadas to develop with more autonomy from Britain and how this development may lead to federation with other British North America colonies.

8.   The teacher makes students aware of the achievement of responsible government in the colony of Nova Scotia months before the achievement of the same in the two Canadas. Students are asked to hypothesize why Britain would grant responsible government to Nova Scotia. The work of Joseph Howe in the fight for responsible government is also examined.

9.   The teacher provides students with information on the Irish Famine immigration of the late 1840s and the story of Grosse Isle in 1847. Like the Highland Scots and the United Empire Loyalists, the Irish immigrants were refugees from economic and/or political deprivations in their homeland. In the context of Canada’s history of accepting refugees, the class discusses the moral values inherent in the issue of accepting or rejecting refugees in contemporary Canadian society. The teacher makes reference to the following passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church [Section 2241]: “ The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin.”

10.  The Canadian identity is intertwined with immigrant values. Hugh MacLennan has noted that “all four ethnic groups that came together to create Confederation – the French, the Loyalists, the Scotch and the Irish – were the children of four separate defeats and abandonments.” (Hugh MacLennan, “Scotland’s fate Canada’s lesson” in MacLean’s, October, 1973, p. 29. The teacher leads the class in a discussion about the possible implications for national identity when a nation is built on the experiences of groups that may be considered “losers” in the games of national and international politics.

11.  The influx of Catholic Irish immigrants into Canada West had an impact on the establishment and growth of government-supported Catholic schools in Canada West during the 1840s and 1850s. The teacher asks students to hypothesize about reasons why legislators provided government funding for Catholic schools in the legislature of the two Canadas. The teacher ascertains that students understand that in the one legislature of Canada East and Canada West there were present a majority of Catholic representatives from Canada East and a majority of non-Catholic representatives from Canada West.

12.  Students conduct research for a class debate concerning the following question: Is the Continued Existence of the Catholic System of Education in Ontario Justifiable? The teacher divides the class into two groups so that both sides of the debate will be argued. Among the topics that may be researched and used in the debate are the following:
The schools system previous to 1840, The Common School Act (1841), The Common School Act (1850), The Tache Act (1854), The Scott Act (1863), Section 93 of the British North America Act (1867), Act to Improve the Common and Grammar Schools of Ontario (1871),

The Tiny Township Case (1925-1928), Bill 30 –“Full Funding” for Catholic Schools (1984), Reassessment of Proportional Corporate Taxes (1989), Preferential Hiring of Catholics to Teach in the Catholic System Upheld by Ontario Courts (1997) [currently under appeal]

The debate can be divided into three components: Justification of Origins, Constitutional and Legal Justification, and Contemporary Justification. Students are encouraged to use statistics and legal excerpts as support for their positions and not to simply speak on an emotional level. Class time may be allotted for research and the teacher should act as the moderator during the debate.

13.  Unit test on material covered in the unit thus far.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

T/L S # – task/product

Purpose

Achievement Categories

Tool/Assessor

2 – discussion regarding the use of armed force in resistance to oppression

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Communication Application

Peer/Teacher roving conference

3 and 5 – note-making on the causes and events of the Rebellions of 1837

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication

Teacher with check list

9 and 10 – discussion regarding the rights of refugees (application of gospel values) and discussion regarding parts of the Canadian identity

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Communication Application

Teacher using anecdotal notes

12 – research and debate related to existence of Catholic Schools in Ontario

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Communication

Teacher check list

13 – paper-and-paper test

Summative

Knowledge/Understanding Communication

Teacher with test template

Accommodations

·         The teacher may offer many enrichment opportunities for gifted students; for example, students may examine the status of Catholic schools in Alberta, Newfoundland, and Quebec.

·         For ESL students, the teacher may provide vocabulary aid and provide additional time to complete the unit test.

Resources

Sources on the Rebellion in Upper Canada

Craig, Gerald M., ed. Discontent in Upper Canada. Toronto: Copp Clark, 1972.

Cross, Michael., ed. The Frontier Thesis and the Canadas. Toronto: Copp Clark, 1970.

Dent, J.C. The Story of the Upper Canada Rebellions, 2 Vols. Toronto: C.B. Robinson, 1885.

Dunham, Aileen. Political Unrest in Upper Canada 1815–1836. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1963.

Earl, David W.L., ed. The Family Compact: Aristocracy or Oligarchy? Toronto: Copp Clark, 1967.

Lindsey, Charles. The Life and Times of William Lyon MacKenzie. Toronto: Morang and Co., 1912.

Rasporich, Anthony W., ed. William Lyon Mackenzie. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1972.

Sources on the Rebellion in Lower Canada

Harris, R. Cole. “Of Poverty and Helplessness in Petite-Nation,” Canadian Historical Review, Vol. LII (1971), pp. 23–50.

Manning, Helen Taft. The Revolt of French Canada 1800–1835. Toronto: MacMillan, 1962.

Ouellet, Fernand. Louis Joseph Papineau: A Divided Soul. Canadian Historical Association Booklet
no. 11, Ottawa: CHA, 1964.

Schull, Joseph. Rebellion: The Rising in French Canada. Toronto: Macmillan, 1971.

Sources on the Union of Canada East and Canada West.

Blakely, Brian and Jacquelin Collins. Documents in British History, Vol. II: 1688 to the Present. Toronto: McGraw-Hill, 1993.

Careless, J.M.S. The Union of the Canadas: The Growth of Canadian Institutions, 1841-1857. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1967.

Leacock, Stephen. Baldwin, LaFontaine, Hincks: Responsible Government. Toronto: Morang & Co., 1907.

Lucas, C.P., ed. Durham’s Report on the Affairs of British North America. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1912.

Nish, Elizabeth, ed. Racism or Responsible Government: The French Canadian Dilemma of the 1840’s. Toronto: Copp Clark, 1967.

Ryerson, Stanley B. Unequal Union: Confederation and the Roots of Conflict in the Canadas, 1815–1873. Toronto: Progress Books, 1968.

Wade, Mason. The French Canadians, 1760-1967. Toronto: Macmillan, 1968.

Sources on Public and Catholic Education in Ontario

Franklin, W. Catholic Education and Politics in Ontario. Toronto: Catholic Education Foundation, 1985.

Hodgins, J. George, ed. Documentary History of Education in Upper Canada, Vols. IV and V. Toronto: Warwick and Rutler, 1897.

Katz, Michael B. and Paul H. Mattingly, eds. Education and Social Change: Themes from Ontario’s Past. New York: New York University Press, 1975.

Matthews, C.J. Catholic School Systems Across Canada. Willowdale: Canadian Catholic School Trustees Association, 1990.

McDonald, Neil and Alf Chaiton, eds. Egerton Ryerson and His Times. Toronto: Macmillan, 1978.

Prentice, Alison, The School Promoters: Education and Social Class in Mid-Nineteenth Century Upper Canada. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1977.

Stamp, R.M. The Historical Background to Separate Schools in Ontario. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Education, 1985.

Wilson, J. Donald. “The Ryerson Years in Canada West,” in J.D. Wilson, R.M. Stamp and L.-P. Audet, eds. Canadian Education: A History. Scarborough: Prentice-Hall, 1970. pp. 214–240.

Catechism of the Catholic Church. Toronto, Ontario: Doubleday, 1995.

Websites

Canada: Birth of our Nation – Competition, Conquest, Colonization – sites dealing with the Rebellion in Lower Canada, the Union of the Canadas– www.rockyview.ab.ca/bpeak/students/canada/canfront.html

Canadian Foundations – sites dealing with Lord Durham and his Report– www.ola.bc.ca

 

Activity 2.4:  Causes for Canadian Confederation and Implications of
                        The British North America Act (1840–1867)

Time:  6 hours

Description

During this activity, students come to understand the economic, military, and political reasons for Canadian Confederation, to appreciate the fragile nature of the union, and to understand the process by which the union of the British North America colonies was achieved. An analysis of Sections 91, 92,
and 93 of the British North America Act is completed, with special emphasis on Section 93 and its constitutional guarantee for the continued existence of Catholic schools in any province that possessed the schools at the time of union. In the unit culminating activity, students role-play delegates to the Quebec constitutional conference of 1864 and receive the opportunity to demonstrate their mastery
of 19th century Canadian history and of the various provisions of the British North America Act. Students further demonstrate their understanding of Canada’s constitution by creating a comparison organizer involving the Quebec Resolutions of 1864 and the Charlottetown Accord of 1992.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectation

CGE1d - develops attitudes and values founded on Catholic social teaching and acts to promote social responsibility, human solidarity, and the common good;

CGE2b - reads, understands, and uses written material effectively;

CGE3b - creates, adapts, and evaluates new ideas in light of the common good;

CGE3c - thinks reflectively and creatively to evaluate situations and solve problems;

CGE4b - demonstrates flexibility and adaptability;

CGE7g - respects and understands the history, cultural heritage and pluralism of today’s contemporary society.

Strand(s): Communities: Local, National, and Global; Change and Continuity; Citizenship and Heritage;
                        Social, Economic, and Political Structures; Methods of Historical Inquiry

Overall Expectations

CCV.02 - demonstrate an understanding of the conflict between east-west and north-south linkages and their impact on the maintenance of Canadian identity;

CHV.02 - demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of the French presence in Canada and its contributions to Canadian identity;

SEV.03 - assess the impact of Canada’s major economic relationships on Canadian sovereignty;

SEV.04 - describe and evaluate the nature of the Canadian political system and the groups and individuals who contributed to its development;

HIV.01 - demonstrates an understanding of historians’ methods of locating, gathering, and organizing research materials;

HIV.02 - critically analyse interpretations related to Canadian history, culture, and identity;

HIV.03 - communicate opinions and ideas based on effective research clearly and concisely;

HIV.04 - demonstrate an ability to think creatively, manage time efficiently, and work effectively in independent and collaborative study.

Specific Expectations

CO2.02 - demonstrate an understanding of colonial history as it contributed to the concept of Canada as the product of two founding nations;

CC1.03 - analyse how conflicts and compromises between Canada and the United States have helped to shape Canadian identity;

CC2.02 - demonstrate an understanding of the causes and implications of Canadian regional differences;

CH2.03 - analyse why and how the people of Quebec have acted to preserve their political identity;

SE4.02 - demonstrate an understanding of the principles of the Canadian political system;

SE4.03 - describe the role of selected significant events and legislation in the development of the current Canadian political system;

HI1.03 - organize research findings, using a variety of methods and forms;

HI2.04 - draw conclusions based on effective evaluation of sources, analysis of information, and awareness of diverse historical interpretations;

HI3.01 - communicate effectively, using a variety of styles and methods;

HI3.02 - use an accepted form of academic documentation effectively and correctly and avoid plagiarism;

HI3.03 - express ideas, opinions, and conclusions clearly, articulately, and in a manner that respects the opinions of others;

HI4.01 - demonstrates an ability to think creatively in researching conclusions about both assigned questions and issues and those conceived independently;

HI4.03 - demonstrates an ability to work independently and collaboratively and to seek and respect the opinions of others.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Some background concerning the American Civil War

·         Familiarity with Sections 91, 92, and 93 of the British North America Act

·         Knowledge of the current political and social climate of Canada and the powers which federal and provincial governments wield

·         Methodologies related to citing sources and creating an annotated bibliography

Planning Notes

·         Make copies of Sections 91, 92, and 93 of the British North America Act available as resource materials.

·         Create an overhead map illustrating the British North America Colonies in the 1860s.

·         Prepare a timeframe for the culminating activity role-playing exercise.

·         Decide which historical characters best complement personalities within the class.

·         Review effective techniques used in oral presentations.

·         Select and prepare segments from Canada: A People’s History Episode 8, “The Great Enterprise” for classroom use if desired.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.   The students read about the economic, military, and political reasons for Confederation and compose notes on this material.

2.   The teacher leads a classroom discussion on the causes of Confederation. Among the topics to be covered: the attitude of Great Britain, railway building, “political deadlock” in the two Canadas, external threats, and the roles of individual politicians. The teacher uses an overhead map of the British North America colonies during the discussion. The map may be used to highlight Fenian pressure points, the building of railways, and the relative isolation of the Red River, Vancouver Island, and Newfoundland colonies.

3.   Students examine the objectives of the four main Canadians at the Charlottetown Conference in September 1864 – the goals of John A. Macdonald, Georges Cartier, George Brown, and Alexander Galt. Students examine the reasons why Antoine-Aimé Dorion opposed Confederation in the Assembly of the two Canadas.

4.   The teacher asks the students to examine the question of whether or not the passage of the Quebec Resolutions was a democratic process. The Resolutions won approval by a vote of 91-33 in the legislature of the two Canadas. However, the voters in the British North America colonies were not directly consulted. In New Brunswick in 1865, when Confederation was the issue in an election, the pro-Confederation party of Leonard Tilley lost the election. By what means was Tilley able to bring New Brunswick into Confederation, and what strategy did Charles Tupper employ in Nova Scotia to bring that colony into Confederation?

5.   The class reviews the major reasons for the achievement of Confederation by viewing selected segments from a video such as Canada: A People’s History, Episode 8, “The Great Enterprise.”

6.   The teacher distributes copies of Sections 91, 92, and 93 of the British North America Act and introduces the constitutional concepts of “residual powers,” “ultra vires,” and “intra vires.” The teacher directs students’ attention to Section 93 of BNA act and the provision that the provinces have exclusive jurisdiction over education with the proviso that “nothing in any … law shall prejudicially affect any right or privilege with respect to denominational schools which any class of persons have by law in the province at the Union.” The class discusses the significance of the proviso above with respect to Roman Catholic schools in Ontario.

7.   Debate over the appropriateness of the British North America Act has continued since its passage in 1867. In the unit culminating activity, students have the opportunity to participate in a mock constitutional conference: the Quebec Conference of 1864.

The format for this role-playing assignment is of a “town hall” design. The physical set-up of the room will be a “round-table” format. Characters are invited to present their petitions of support or opposition to the Conference Chair Etienne P. Tache.

·         There are twenty assigned characters in this constitutional role-playing. In classes with more than twenty students, the teacher assigns more than one student to certain characters. Thus two students may be assigned to the role of John A. Macdonald and to the role of A.A. Dorion.

·         Every student must provide both an oral and a written petition on behalf of the character assigned, either praising or condemning aspects of the Quebec Resolutions ‘sensitive’ to that character. Each student in his/her role-playing is also encouraged to present rebuttals to the arguments of other characters.

·         Students use the ‘Card Method’ of research (See Appendix 2.4.1) to garner information about their assigned character and his position on the seventy-two resolutions passed at the Quebec Conference.

·         The role-playing is an approximation of the arguments presented at Quebec City in October 1864. Two assigned characters, A.A. Dorion and Joseph Howe, were not actually present at the historical Quebec Conference. However, both of these men had strong statements to make about Canadian Confederation and therefore are included in the mock Constitutional Conference.

·         In performing research on their respective “Fathers of Confederation,” some students (with characters such as John A. Macdonald and Georges Etienne Cartier) will have an easier task than others (students with characters such as T.H. Haviland and F.B.T. Carter). The teacher should take this factor into consideration when assessing the respective students’ performance tasks.

·         In some cases, students may have to do some “reasonable speculation” about their respective characters’ attitudes toward the Quebec Resolutions. For example, the students role-playing T.H. Haviland from the colony of Prince Edward Island and F.B.T. Carter from the colony of Newfoundland may use the generally accepted arguments for these colonies’ opposition to the Quebec Resolutions.

8.   The teacher reviews the requirements of the role-playing assignment (Appendix 2.4.1).

The teacher presents the advantages of employing an organizational method when researching materials. Students use the ‘Card Method’ of research for this unit culminating activity
(Appendix 2.4.1). The teacher reviews with the class methodologies related to citing sources and creating an annotated bibliography. Class time is allotted for students to begin researching the background of their chosen/assigned character. The teacher reviews effective techniques in making oral presentations and skills needed to be an effective listener. The teacher reviews the evaluation criteria for the exercise with students (Appendix 2.4.2). Plans should be made to convert the classroom into a reasonable facsimile of the setting during the Quebec Conference. The teacher should act as the moderator and timekeeper for oral petitions made during the role-playing simulation.

9.   As a follow-up activity to the mock constitutional conference of 1864, the teacher requires students to perform research on the constitutional conferences that resulted in the Charlottetown Accord of 1992. Students are required to create a comparison organizer outlining the significant similarities/differences between the process and results of the Quebec Resolutions of 1864 and the Charlottetown Accord of 1992.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

T/LS – task/product

Purpose

Achievement Categories

Tool/Assessor

2, 3 and 4 – note-making and discussion on the causes of Canadian Confederation

Formative

Knowledge/Understanding Communication

Teacher observation

6 – student research on designated character and 500-word report

Summative

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication
Application

Teacher with rubric

7 – student role-playing of the designated character in mock constitutional conference

Summative

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication
Application

Teacher with rubric

8 – research and creation of comparison organizer for Quebec Resolutions and Charlottetown Accord

Summative

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication
Application

Teacher with rubric

 

Accommodations

·         There are numerous enrichment opportunities for gifted students who may research in further depth the Quebec Resolutions, the Meech Lake Accord, and the Charlottetown Accord.

·         Students with difficulties in oral communication skills may present their petition to the teacher without an audience.

Resources

Bonenfant, Jean Charles. The French Canadians and the Birth of Confederation. Canadian Historical Association Booklet No. 21. Ottawa: CHA, 1966.

Cook, Ramsay, ed. Confederation. Canadian Historical Readings Series. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1967.

Cornell, Paul G. The Alignment of Political Groups in Canada, 1841–67. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1962.

Morton, W.L. The Critical Years: The Union of British North America, 1857–1873. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1964.

Rawlyk, G.A. The Atlantic Provinces and the Problems of Confederation. Halifax: Breakwater Press, 1979.

Ryerson, Stanley B. Unequal Union: Confederation and the Roots of Conflict in the Canadas, 1815–1873.Toronto: Progress Books, 1968.

Wade, Mason. The French Canadians, 1760–1967. Toronto: Macmillan, 1968.

Waite, P.B. The Charlottetown Conference. Canadian Historical Association Booklet No. 15. Ottawa: CHA, 1970.

Whitelaw, W.M. The Quebec Conference. Canadian Historical Association Booklet No. 20. Ottawa: CHA, 1972.

National Library of Canada – Towards Confederation – factors leading to Confederation, including a series of maps – www.NLC-BNC.ca

Canada: Birth of our Nation – Competition, Conquest, Colonization – sites dealing with various aspects of Canadian Confederation – www.rockyview.ab.ca/bpeak/students/canada/canfKront.html


Appendix 2.3.1

Timeline of Major Events Leading to the Rebellions of 1837 in Upper Canada

 

1817 - Robert Gourlay’s statistical survey revealed a widely held view that the progress of the colony was hindered by the large tracts of land that lay idle as clergy and crown reserves.

1818 - Gourlay called a convention of township representatives at York, where the pioneer farmers could express their opinion and choose delegates to present their grievances directly to the British government.

1819 - Gourlay was found guilty of seditious libel and banished from Upper Canada.

1820 - William Lyon Mackenzie arrived in Upper Canada from Scotland.

1821 - Barnabus Bidwell, an American who had taken the oath of allegiance, was disqualified from sitting in the Legislative Assembly because he was considered an non-citizen. Later his son, Marshall Spring Bidwell was also expelled on the same grounds.

1824 - The Reformers won a majority in the Legislative Assembly. They passed a bill allowing Methodist ministers to solemnize marriages, but the bill was vetoed by the Legislative Council. Mackenzie founded the Colonial Advocate, to promote Reform policy.

1826 - The Reformers attempted to secularize the clergy reserves and use the proceeds from the sale of the land for public education. The legislation was blocked by the Legislative Council and Mackenzie’s printing press was thrown into the Toronto harbour by Tories.

1828 - In the election of this year, Egerton Ryerson, the leader of the Methodist religion, aligned his followers with the Reformers. He rallied opinion against clergy reserves and the Anglican monopoly of higher education, and for the rights of all Protestant denominations. Mackenzie was elected to the Legislative Assembly with a majority of Reformers.

1829 - 53 bills passed by the Legislative Assembly dealing with revenues, clergy reserves, the election of judges, and other reforms were vetoed by either the Legislative or Executive Councils.

1830 - Tories won the election after the death of King George IV. The Tories passed a bill that finally gave control of income and expenditures to the Legislative Assembly, but in return for a permanent amount of money automatically supplied to the Executive Council each year.

1832 - Mackenzie spent a year and a half in Britain to petition the British government for reforms in the colonial government of Upper Canada. He carried a petition with 25 000 signatures but he had little success and came home disillusioned.

1833 - Ryerson, uneasy with Mackenzie’s more radical course, withdrew Methodist support for the Reform movement.

1834 - The election saw the Reformers again form a majority in the Legislative Assembly.

1835 - A committee of the Legislative Assembly under Mackenzie’s direction drew up the Seventh Report on Grievances and submitted it to the British government. The report included complaints about the clergy reserves, the disposition of public lands, the privileges of the Church of England, the Canada Land Company, and the power of the banks. The Report demanded an elected Legislative Council, like the United States Senate, and an Executive Council which was responsible to the Assembly.

1836 - After dropping the term “Colonial” from the Colonial Advocate in 1833, Mackenzie adopted a new title for his paper, the Constitution. Sir Francis Bond Head replaced John Colborne (1828-1836) as Governor. Head called an election and the Tories used intimidation, “ballot stuffing”, and “name calling” in the rough campaign that followed. Head accused the Reformers of Republicanism and disloyalty to the Crown. Ryerson threw the support of the Methodists behind the Governor. Voting by open ballot favoured the Tories who used patronage and intimidation. The Tories won the election.


Appendix 2.3.2

The Act of Union (1840) and the Achievement of Responsible Government in the Canadas (1841–1849)

 

The United Province of Canada

Canada West

Canada East

Population: 450 000

Population: 650 000

42 members in the elected Assembly

42 members in the elected Assembly

 

Political Parties in the Two Canadas

The Clear Grits: They wanted an elective system on American lines. Promoted the separation of Church and State, development of the west, and “representation by population.” Led by George Brown.

The Conservatives (Tories): They promoted development of business and were strong supporters of the Railway. Led by John A. McDonald.

Parti Bleu: They desired to protect French rights and to develop English business interests. They were conservative and pro-Church. Led by George Etienne Cartier.

Parti Rouge: An anti-clerical revival of Papineau radicalism. Desired an American style of government. Led by Antoine-Aimé Dorion.

 

The Achievement of Responsible Government in the Canadas

1841 - Reformers Robert Baldwin and Louis Lafontaine are allowed to sit in the Legislative and Executive Councils, but the Governors dominate affairs.

1846 - Repeal of the Corn Laws in Britain indicating a policy of ‘free trade’ in the British Empire. Lord Grey, the new Colonial Secretary, believed in self-government for the colonies.

1847 - Lord Elgin, Lord Durham’s son-in-law, was sent to the Canadas as Governor to carry out Grey’s policy.

1848 - The reformers won a large majority in the election. Governor Elgin called on Baldwin and Lafontaine to form the first responsible one-party cabinet. This cabinet would be responsible to the majority in the Legislative Assembly.

1849 - The Rebellion Losses Bill passed through the Legislative Assembly. This law would provide compensation for people who had suffered losses in the Rebellions of 1837 in Lower Canada. After the bill passed through all Councils, the Tories placed enormous pressure on Governor Elgin not to sign the legislation as they claimed that the bill was a reward for rebels. After Elgin signed the bill, Tory supporters rioted in Montreal, Elgin’s carriage was stoned, and the Parliament buildings in Montreal were burned down, but “responsible government” was a reality.


Appendix 2.4.1

Culminating Activity: The Quebec Conference (1864) Revisited

 

In order to organize researched material efficiently it is important to develop a method helpful to this end. Students use the ‘Card Method’ of research to collect information related to the character studied:

·         Note cards will be categorized and have the following information on them:

The source should be the author’s surname or a key word that can be cross-referenced with the entry in the bibliography. The category indicates a grouping of your research, and the page reference from that source should be listed if applicable. Below is an example of a note card.

Whitelaw

The Quebec Conference

pp. 122-123

__________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

·         Students must use at least three sources for their information and will be required to submit research cards created during the process. Theoretically, each of the cards used in a student’s report should represent a required citation.

Upon completion of the research, students are to create a 500-word petition which provides the background of their character and evaluates the Quebec Resolutions from that character’s perspective. Students must employ proper citations and provide an annotated bibliography for this report.

Students role-play their character as they present their arguments to Etienne P. Tache, the chair of the conference. This oral presentation will last between two and three minutes. Students are encouraged to present rebuttals to the arguments of other characters in the role-playing. The teacher acts as the moderator for these presentations. The evaluation criteria can been found on the evaluation rubric (Appendix 2.4.2).

The following is a list of characters that may be chosen by or assigned to students:

Canada West

Canada East

John A. Macdonald

Georges Etienne Cartier

George Brown

Etienne P. Tache

Thomas D’Arcy McGee

A. A. Dorion

Oliver Mowat

Alexander T. Galt

William MacDougall

Hector Langevin

Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

Charles Tupper

Leonard Tilley

Joseph Howe

Edward Chandler

A. G. Archibald

John Hamilton Gray

Prince Edward Island

Newfoundland

A. A, Macdonald

F.B.T. Carter

T.H. Haviland

Ambrose Shea

The assigned character should be able to comment on some or all of the following issues discussed at the Quebec Conference: federal and provincial powers; the role and powers of an upper house or Senate; representation by population in the lower house or House of Commons; the role of the governor general; the designation of “residual powers” to the federal government; economic arrangements and federal taxation and subsidies; educational rights for denominational schools; criminal law and the appointment of judges: use of the French language in courts and parliament and the code civile.

Students should address some of the above-mentioned issues in their written petitions.


Appendix 2.4.2

Assessment Rubric:  The Quebec Conference (1864) Revisited (Oral Presentation)

Note: This rubric may serve as a model for the development of other task-specific rubrics.

 

Student Name: _____________________________________

 

Categories/ Criteria

Level 1
(50–59%)

Level 2
(60–69%)

Level 3
(70–79%)

Level 4
(80–100%)

Knowledge/ Understanding

Demonstrates an understanding of issues related to the Quebec Resolution

 

 

- demonstrates a limited understanding of issues related to the Quebec Resolution

 

 

- demonstrates some understanding of issues related to the Quebec Resolution

 

 

- demonstrates considerable understanding of issues related to the Quebec Resolution

 

 

- demonstrates a high degree of understanding of issues related to the Quebec Resolution

Thinking/Inquiry

 

 

 

 

Uses critical thinking skills to determine point of view of his/her character

- uses critical thinking skills to determine point of view of his/her character with limited effectiveness

- uses critical thinking skills to determine point of view of his/her character with moderate effectiveness

- uses critical thinking skills to determine point of view of his/her character with considerable effectiveness

- uses critical thinking skills to determine point of view of his/her character with a high degree of effectiveness

Communication

 

 

 

 

Organizes his/her research in a clear and effective oral presentation

- communicates information and ideas in an oral form with limited effectiveness

- communicates information and ideas in an oral form with moderate effectiveness

- communicates information and ideas in an oral form with considerable effectiveness

- communicates information and ideas in an oral form with a high degree of effectiveness

Application

 

 

 

 

Applies Quebec Resolutions to the perspective of the designated character in an oral presentation

- applies Quebec Resolutions to the perspective of the designated character in an oral presentation with limited effectiveness

- applies Quebec Resolutions to the perspective of the designated character in an oral presentation with moderate effectiveness

- applies Quebec Resolutions to the perspective of the designated character in an oral presentation with considerable effectiveness

- applies Quebec Resolutions to the perspective of the designated character in an oral presentation with a high degree of effectiveness

Note: A student whose achievement is below Level 1 (50%) has not met the expectations for this assignment or activity.

Comments:

 

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