Upper Canada and Lower Canada were two historical British colonies in present-day Canada. They 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.
Key Facts
- Language and Culture:
- Upper Canada was primarily English-speaking, while Lower Canada was primarily French-speaking.
- Lower Canada maintained most of the French Canadian institutions, such as the French civil law system, guaranteed under the Quebec Act.
- Upper Canada developed on a model of British society, with British civil law and trial by jury.
- Lower Canada retained the seigneurial system, language, and religious institutions of Quebec.
- Religion:
- Upper Canada was predominantly Protestant, with the Anglican Church being the official Church of the province.
- Lower Canada was predominantly Catholic, with the Roman Catholic Church being the established Church.
- Geography:
- Upper Canada was located to the west of Lower Canada, extending from the Ottawa River to the Great Lakes.
- Lower Canada was located to the east of Upper Canada, extending from the Ottawa River to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, including what is now Labrador.
- Government:
- Each province had its own government, with an appointed lieutenant-governor, executive council, legislative council, and elected representative assembly.
- Upper Canada had a system of responsible government introduced in 1848, while Lower Canada did not have responsible government until later.
Language and Culture
One of the most significant differences between Upper and Lower Canada was their language and culture. Upper Canada was primarily English-speaking, while Lower Canada was primarily French-speaking. This difference was due to the different waves of immigration that settled in each colony. Upper Canada was settled primarily by English-speaking Loyalists from the United States, while Lower Canada was settled primarily by French-speaking Canadiens.
Religion
Another difference between Upper and Lower Canada was their religion. Upper Canada was predominantly Protestant, with the Anglican Church being the official Church of the province. Lower Canada was predominantly Catholic, with the Roman Catholic Church being the established Church.
Geography
Upper Canada was located to the west of Lower Canada, extending from the Ottawa River to the Great Lakes. Lower Canada was located to the east of Upper Canada, extending from the Ottawa River to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, including what is now Labrador.
Government
Each province had its own government, with an appointed lieutenant-governor, executive council, legislative council, and elected representative assembly. Upper Canada had a system of responsible government introduced in 1848, while Lower Canada did not have responsible government until later.
Conclusion
Upper and Lower Canada were two distinct colonies with different languages, cultures, religions, and governments. These differences led to tensions between the two colonies, which eventually culminated in the Rebellions of 1837-1838. In 1841, the two colonies were merged into the Province of Canada, which eventually became part of the Dominion of Canada in 1867.
References
- https://homework.study.com/explanation/how-was-upper-canada-different-from-lower-canada.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canadas
- https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-history-of-upper-and-lower-canada.html
FAQs
What was the primary language spoken in Upper Canada?
English
What was the primary language spoken in Lower Canada?
French
What was the dominant religion in Upper Canada?
Protestantism, with the Anglican Church being the official Church of the province
What was the dominant religion in Lower Canada?
Catholicism, with the Roman Catholic Church being the established Church
Where was Upper Canada located?
Upper Canada was located to the west of Lower Canada, extending from the Ottawa River to the Great Lakes
Where was Lower Canada located?
Lower Canada was located to the east of Upper Canada, extending from the Ottawa River to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, including what is now Labrador
What was the system of government in Upper Canada?
Upper Canada had a system of responsible government introduced in 1848
What was the system of government in Lower Canada?
Lower Canada did not have responsible government until later