How did the Canadian rebellions of 1837 begin?

The Canadian rebellions of 1837 began due to political discontent and economic distress in Upper and Lower Canada.

The Canadian rebellions of 1837 were a series of uprisings that took place in Upper and Lower Canada, which are now Ontario and Quebec respectively. The root cause of these rebellions was a growing dissatisfaction with the political and economic conditions in these provinces. The political discontent was primarily due to the lack of democratic representation and the dominance of the 'Family Compact' in Upper Canada and the 'Chateau Clique' in Lower Canada. These were small groups of influential men who controlled the executive councils of their respective provinces, effectively ruling without any significant input from the general population.

In Upper Canada, the Family Compact was seen as favouring the interests of the British elite at the expense of the local population. They controlled the allocation of land, public spending and the administration of justice, leading to widespread corruption and nepotism. The economic distress was caused by a series of crop failures and a banking crisis in the mid-1830s, which led to high levels of debt and unemployment.

In Lower Canada, the Chateau Clique was resented for its attempts to anglicise the French-speaking majority and for its control over the colony's finances. The economic situation was also dire, with the timber trade in decline and the population suffering from poverty and food shortages.

The rebellions were sparked by the British government's rejection of a series of political reforms proposed by Louis-Joseph Papineau in Lower Canada and William Lyon Mackenzie in Upper Canada. These reforms aimed to increase democratic representation and reduce the power of the ruling elites. When these proposals were rejected, Papineau and Mackenzie organised armed uprisings in an attempt to overthrow the colonial governments.

The rebellions were ultimately unsuccessful, but they did lead to significant political changes. In the aftermath of the rebellions, the British government sent Lord Durham to investigate the causes of the unrest. His report recommended the union of Upper and Lower Canada and the introduction of responsible government, which would give the elected assembly control over the executive council. These recommendations were largely implemented in the 1840s, marking the beginning of a more democratic era in Canadian history.