Constitutional Act Of 1791

Similarities/differences in upper/lower Canada

Upper Canada:

-people in government were upper class

-not paying attention to the lower class needs

-lands overpriced because of land speculators/absentee landlords

-reserve lands blocked of roads the could connect communities of markets

-British government not willing to listen to citizens

Similarities:

-land prices were high for both

-citizens wanted a responsible government

-upper class are ruling the lower class

-British government not willing to listen to upper Canada and lower Canada’s complaints

Lower Canada:

-ruling class was English and majority population was French

-French unhappy with English rule

-English have the majority of the wealth

-population increase led to limited land available to people

– Britain promoted English speaking immigrants

-government closes down newspapers that criticize government

Constitutional Act Of 1791

The Act didn't satisfy the French. They saw the English as a threat to their home so when the English recieved more power in Canada, the French’s fears came to reality since the English had more dominance and power over the French and for that, the French wanted reform. Upper Canada was irritated with Lower Canada for its demands. This Act eventually contributed to the seperation between French and English Canada that is now known today.

Constitutional Act of 1791

When the act was created in 1791, the purpose of the act was in satisfaction of the demands of the loyalists. When the act seperated Canada into upper Canada and Lower Canada, the ''higher'' class/upper Canada were not willing to listen to the citizens. This action lead to unintended and intended consequences along with the aftermath.

Intended/unintended Consequences Of The Act

Intended consequence:

The Act of 1791 stated that only people that were 21 years or older, along with no criminal record had land ownership and were given the right to vote. The government stated that in order to vote, you had to own land/ rent property of a certain value. This number was set low on purpose,. Voting did increase, as more had the right.

Unintended consequence:

Since women were not excluded in the Act, women with property in Lower Canada were given the right to vote. The reason is because in Lower Canada, people with rights were under the French Law, which allowed women to receive half of her husband’s property after he had died. Women in Upper Canada were unable to vote because English Common Law did not grant them property. This only added to the tensions between Upper and Lower Canada, since people felt that they were treated unfairly.

Unintended consequence:

Because women were not specifically excluded in the Act, women with property in Lower Canada were given the right to vote. This is because in Lower Canada, their rights were determined under French Law, which allowed women to receive half of her husband’s property after him dying. Women in Upper Canada, were unable to vote because English Common Law did not allow them property. people felt that they were treated unfairly because of this.

Constitutional Act of 1791

The act gave equal rights to all races and genders across Canada.(both upper and Lower Canada) The act claimed that you had to be a land owner, 21 and older with little to no criminal activity to vote. But The act never said anything about race or gender to be restricted to vote. This was remarkable because this took place in a very unequal, racism time and age. It was a start to the end of racism and gender inequality.

Different perspectives Of the French/English

Since the Act of 1791 began, many people were affected living in both Upper and Lower Canada had different views and perspectives on the Act/situation. When this act occured back in 1791 ,the change with the reformation was bad with both the English and French settlers. This was mainly because the English had thought that the Canadiens had too much power,While this affected both the English and French religiously and politically.