History & Geography · Grade 7 · British North America: Transition and Conflict · Term 1

Rebellions of 1837-1838: Outcomes

Assess the immediate and long-term consequences of the rebellions, including British reactions and calls for reform.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: Canada, 1800–1850: Conflict and Challenges - Grade 7

About This Topic

The Rebellions of 1837-1838 in Upper and Lower Canada produced both immediate harsh responses and long-term political reforms. Rebels sought responsible government and an end to the Family Compact's control, but uprisings failed militarily. Britain dispatched troops, imposed martial law, executed leaders like Samuel Lount and Chevalier de Lorimier, and exiled others including William Lyon Mackenzie and Louis-Joseph Papineau. Public opinion divided, with many moderates calling for change without violence.

Students assess these outcomes against the rebels' goals, analyzing British reactions through Lord Durham's report. It recommended uniting the Canadas and granting responsible government, leading to the Act of Union in 1840 and self-government by 1848. This topic fits Ontario's Grade 7 history strand on Canada, 1800-1850, developing skills in evaluating historical significance, cause and consequence, and perspective.

Active learning suits this topic well. Role-plays of trials or debates on rebellion effectiveness let students embody diverse viewpoints, making abstract causation concrete. Gallery walks of primary sources build empathy for public opinion's role, while collaborative timelines reveal continuity from rebellion to reform.

Key Questions

1. Evaluate the effectiveness of the rebellions in achieving their stated goals.
2. Predict how the British government would respond to the uprisings.
3. Analyze the role of public opinion in shaping the aftermath of the rebellions.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the primary goals of the Rebellions of 1837-1838 and evaluate the extent to which they were achieved.
• Explain the British government's immediate reactions to the rebellions, including military responses and political measures.
• Evaluate the long-term consequences of the rebellions, such as the Act of Union and the move towards responsible government.
• Compare and contrast the perspectives of different groups, including rebels, British officials, and moderates, regarding the outcomes of the uprisings.
• Synthesize information from primary and secondary sources to construct an argument about the significance of the rebellions in shaping Canadian political development.

Before You Start

Government Structures in British North America

Why: Students need a basic understanding of the colonial government, including the roles of governors and appointed councils, to grasp the nature of the grievances that led to the rebellions.

Causes of the Rebellions of 1837-1838

Why: Understanding the underlying reasons for the uprisings, such as political and economic grievances, is essential for analyzing their outcomes and effectiveness.

Key Vocabulary

Responsible Government	A system of government where the executive branch is accountable to the elected legislative branch, rather than to the monarch or colonial governor.
Family Compact	An exclusive group of wealthy, powerful, and influential citizens who dominated the government and social life of Upper Canada in the early 19th century.
Act of Union	Legislation passed by the British Parliament in 1840 that united Upper Canada and Lower Canada into a single colony, the Province of Canada.
Lord Durham's Report	A significant report published in 1839 by John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, recommending political reforms for British North America following the rebellions.
Martial Law	The imposition of direct military control over normal civilian functions of government, especially in response to a temporary emergency such as invasion or major disruption.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The rebellions failed completely with no positive outcomes.

What to Teach Instead

While militarily crushed, they prompted Durham's reforms leading to responsible government. Role-plays help students trace short-term suppression to long-term gains, challenging binary success-failure views through peer discussions.

Common Misconception

Britain ignored the rebellions and made no changes.

What to Teach Instead

Britain investigated via Durham Report and enacted union and reforms. Timeline activities reveal this sequence, as students connect uprisings to policy shifts, countering ideas of imperial indifference.

Common Misconception

Only rebel leaders mattered in the outcomes.

What to Teach Instead

Public opinion from moderates pressured reforms. Gallery walks expose diverse voices, helping students see broader societal roles via collaborative analysis of sources.

Active Learning Ideas

Debate Carousel: Rebellion Success

Divide class into groups representing rebels, Loyalists, and reformers. Each group prepares 3 arguments on whether rebellions met goals. Groups rotate to debate at stations, with observers noting strengths. Conclude with whole-class vote and reflection.

45 min·Small Groups

Role-Play: Durham Inquiry

Assign roles as Durham commissioners, rebel witnesses, and government officials. Students prepare testimony on grievances and outcomes. Hold mock hearings where participants question each other, then draft a class 'report' summarizing recommendations.

50 min·Small Groups

Timeline Build: Cause to Reform

Provide event cards on rebellions, trials, Durham Report, and Act of Union. In pairs, students sequence cards on a large mural, adding cause-consequence arrows and quotes. Groups present one link to class.

35 min·Pairs

Gallery Walk: Public Opinion

Post stations with images, letters, and cartoons on reactions to rebellions. Pairs visit each, noting biases and influences. Regroup to discuss how opinion shaped British response.

30 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Historians working for Parks Canada analyze archival documents, similar to those from the 1837-1838 period, to interpret historical events and inform museum exhibits about Canada's past.
• Political scientists study historical reform movements, like the aftermath of the rebellions, to understand how public pressure and government responses shape democratic institutions in modern nations such as Canada and the United Kingdom.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Were the Rebellions of 1837-1838 a success or a failure?' Facilitate a class debate where students must use evidence from the period to support their arguments, considering both the rebels' original goals and the eventual reforms.

Exit Ticket

Ask students to write two sentences summarizing the most significant immediate outcome of the rebellions and one sentence explaining a long-term consequence that still impacts Canada today.

Quick Check

Provide students with a short primary source excerpt, such as a quote from Lord Durham's report or a newspaper article from the time. Ask them to identify the author's perspective on the rebellions and explain one piece of evidence that reveals this perspective.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the outcomes of the Rebellions of 1837-1838?

Immediate results included military defeat, executions, and exiles, but long-term effects brought the Durham Report, Act of Union in 1840, and responsible government by 1848. Students evaluate how violence spurred peaceful reform, connecting to goals of democratic control in British North America.

Did the Rebellions of 1837 achieve their goals?

Rebels sought responsible government; militarily they failed, but outcomes advanced it indirectly. Analyze effectiveness through British responses and public pressure. Debates help students weigh partial success against stated aims like ending oligarchic rule.

How can active learning help teach rebellion outcomes?

Simulations like mock trials or debates immerse students in perspectives of rebels, officials, and citizens, making consequences vivid. Collaborative timelines link events causally, while gallery walks build skills in source analysis. These methods foster historical thinking over rote facts.

What role did public opinion play after the 1837 rebellions?

Divided opinion, with reformers advocating change, influenced Durham's recommendations for unity and responsibility. Cartoons and letters show moderates' sway. Activities like station rotations let students interpret these sources, understanding opinion's power in shaping policy.