What caused the lower Canada rebellion?

Answer 1

The Lower Canada rebellion was connected to two main themes: 1) the subordination of French Canada and its institutions to the ruling British regime; 2) the resurgence of French Canadian nationalism. French Canadians had secured control of the Lower Canada assembly, led by the emerging middle class, but encountered resistance to attempts to assert regional autonomy from the colonial British authorities. During the 1830s, economic recession and mass Immigration caused severe suffering in Lower Canada and threatened their cultural majorities in Montreal and Quebec City. In response to these problems, the Patriotes, an organised French Canadian party, pushed for major reforms. They cut funding to local governments and civil service, preventing provision of public goods. The British government responded by asserting their control and pushing through the Russell Reforms, rejecting demands for autonomy by French Canada, and leading to the rebellion itself in 1837.

Answer 2

The Lower Canada rebellion started mainly right after the Constitutional Act, which split the colony into Lower Canada and Upper Canada. The French Canadians made up most of the Legislative Assembly, however they actually had no power. All the power in the government was placed into the hands of the Chateau Clique (Legislative Council). Another reason was that they felt that the French were being discriminated. The British government had encouraged English settlers to settle in the Eastern Townships, increasing the English population. Irish immigrants carrying the disease cholera, were also sent to settle in Quebec. The French Canadians felt that the government was trying to kill off the French population with diseases. The taxes for the French farmers were also rising, whereas the members of the two councils (English) were given salaries.