The two colonies were formed in 1791, when the British Parliament passed the Constitutional Act, splitting the colonial Province of Quebec into two separate colonies. The Ottawa River formed the border between Lower and Upper Canada.
What policy divided Upper and Lower Canada?
the Constitutional Act, 1791
New Colony Created
The result was the Constitutional Act, 1791. The Act divided the Province of Quebec into Lower Canada to the east (on the lower reaches of the St. Lawrence River) and Upper Canada (along the lower portion of the present-day Ontario-Quebec boundary) to the west.
How is the Upper Canada different from Lower Canada?
The names “upper” and “lower” come from their position along the St. Lawrence River. Upper Canada was up river, closer to the source and Lower Canada was down river, closer to the mouth of the great waterway. To travel “up river” you had to paddle against the current.
When was Canada split into upper and lower?
The Constitutional Act of 1791 divided the Province of Quebec into Upper Canada (later Ontario), which was mainly Loyalist, Protestant and English-speaking, and Lower Canada (later Quebec), heavily Catholic and French-speaking.
Why was Upper Canada called Lower Canada?
The “upper” prefix in the name reflects its geographic position along the Great Lakes, mostly above the headwaters of the Saint Lawrence River, contrasted with Lower Canada (present-day Quebec) to the northeast.
How did Canada get divided?
The Province of Canada was made up of Canada West (formerly Upper Canada) and Canada East (formerly Lower Canada). The two regions were governed jointly until the Province was dissolved to make way for Confederation in 1867. Canada West then became Ontario and Canada East became Quebec.
What led to the unification of Upper and Lower Canada?
The unification of Upper and Lower Canada was a recommendation of the 1839 report filed by Lord Durham, governor general of British North America, and the result of an imperial mission to investigate the rebellions of 1837–38, which took place in both colonies.
What are the 2 territories of Canada?
The Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut are Canada’s three territories. They are primarily North of 60º latitude. While they account for 40 % of Canada’s land mass, they represent approximately 3 % of the Canadian population. There is a clear constitutional distinction between provinces and territories.
Why was Lower Canada called Lower Canada?
The prefix “lower” in its name refers to its geographic position farther downriver from the headwaters of the St. Lawrence River than its contemporary Upper Canada, present-day southern Ontario. Lower Canada was abolished in 1841 when it and adjacent Upper Canada were united into the Province of Canada.
What was Lower Canada called before?
Canada East
In 1841, Upper Canada and Lower Canada were renamed Canada West and Canada East, respectively. They were united as the single colony of the Province of Canada. Lower Canada was a British colony from 1791 to 1840. Its geographical boundaries comprised the southern portion of present-day Quebec.
What did the Lower Canada want?
Their leaders sought to take power from the Catholic Church in areas such as education. They also wanted to check the power of the anglophone merchant class. It was expanding its economic base due to the rapid growth in the timber trade. (See also: Francophone-Anglophone Relations.)
Why is Canada split into provinces?
Canada’s provinces differ from its territories because they are more independent of the federal government in their ability to set laws and maintain rights over certain characteristics of their land such as natural resources. Canada’s provinces get their power from the Constitution Act of 1867.
Who led the reform movements for Upper and Lower Canada?
The Reformers included William and Robert Baldwin, Barnabas and Marshall Bidwell, William Lyon Mackenzie, John Rolph and Egerton Ryerson. By 1828, the Reformers held a majority in the assembly. However, their reforms were blocked by the Tory-controlled councils. In the early 1830s, the Reform movement split.
Is Canada divided into two parts?
Canada has ten provinces and three territories. Each province and territory has its own capital city. You should know the capital of your province or territory as well as that of Canada.
What was Canada called before it was called Canada?
the North-Western Territory
Prior to 1870, it was known as the North-Western Territory. The name has always been a description of the location of the territory.
What are the 3 regions of Canada?
Canada includes many different geographical areas and five distinct regions.
- The Atlantic Region – Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick.
- Central Canada – Quebec, Ontario.
- The Prairie Provinces – Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta.
- The West Coast – British Columbia.
What is Upper Canada called today?
Ontario
Canada West, also called Upper Canada, in Canadian history, the region in Canada now known as Ontario. From 1791 to 1841 the region was known as Upper Canada and from 1841 to 1867 as Canada West, though the two names continued to be employed interchangeably.
What is Canada called nickname?
The general breakdown. Although it is unknown who coined the term Great White North in reference to Canada, the nickname has been in use for many decades. The general breakdown is that Canada is “Great” because it’s the second largest country in the world.
What did Upper Canada want?
The 1837 rebellion in Upper Canada was a less violent, more limited affair than the uprising earlier that year in Lower Canada. However, its leaders, including William Lyon Mackenzie, were equally serious in their demands. They wanted democratic reform and an end to the rule of a privileged oligarchy.
Did Upper and Lower Canada fight?
In 1837 and 1838, insurgents in Upper and Lower Canada led rebellions against the Crown and the political status quo. The revolt in Lower Canada was more serious and violent than the rebellion in Upper Canada. However, both events inspired the pivotal Durham Report.
Who led the reform movements for Upper and Lower Canada?
The Reformers included William and Robert Baldwin, Barnabas and Marshall Bidwell, William Lyon Mackenzie, John Rolph and Egerton Ryerson. By 1828, the Reformers held a majority in the assembly. However, their reforms were blocked by the Tory-controlled councils. In the early 1830s, the Reform movement split.