When the Constitutional Act, 1791 created Upper and Lower Canada, it also created separate governments in each colony. Examine the diagram above which shows the government structure in Upper and Lower Canada. Why do you think people may have felt frustrated with this structure?

By the 1830s, many people within the government, not just Mackenzie, were critical of the government system. These critics were called Reformers. Many felt that Executive members made decisions that benefited mainly themselves and their friends and family. The appointed Executive often ignored the wishes of elected Legislative Assembly members. Members of the Legislative Assembly felt that they had no real power since Britain could overrule any law, at any time.

Reformers like Mackenzie were tired of appointed officials making most of the decisions. They grew more frustrated that their requests for government reform were rejected repeatedly by the governor general and the Executive. As tensions grew, politicians were divided into two camps. The Reformers were on one side and the Conservatives who supported the existing system were on the other. The Conservatives were often called “The Tories.”

All of the Reformers wanted responsible government. With responsible government, the main decision makers in both Upper and Lower Canada would be the elected Legislative Assembly, rather than the appointed members of the Executive. The Legislative Assembly would then control the government, not the governor general. However, the Reformers disagreed on how to achieve responsible government. Mackenzie and his supporters decided that they wanted an American-style political system in Upper Canada and would use violence to achieve it.

In 1837, Mackenzie convinced some of his followers to try and seize control of the government. About 1,000 men, mostly farmers of American origin, gathered for four days in December at Montgomery’s Tavern on Yonge Street in Toronto.

At 8:00 p.m. on Monday, December 4, 1837, while most of Upper Canada's military personnel was in Lower Canada dealing with Papineau's rebellions, William Lyon Mackenzie set out by horse down Yonge Street to scout the route for his attack on Toronto. At the top of a place called Gallows Hill he met John Powell (a government official) who was out patrolling the city. Mackenzie and his men took Powell prisoner. “Do you have a gun?” Mackenzie asked Powell. “No,” Powell replied. Mackenzie took his word as a gentleman and sent him back toward the rebel headquarters at Montgomery’s Tavern.

Powell lied about having a gun. He drew out two pistols and shot one of his guards in the back of the neck, killing him. Mackenzie heard the shot and headed back. He saw Powell and fired a shot at him but missed. Powell got close and fired at Mackenzie point blank, but his gun flashed in the pan. Powell escaped and rode away to warn Toronto that the rebels were coming.

This didn't stop Mackenzie who thought that an attack on Toronto would be an easy victory because most of Upper Canada's military personnel were away helping to stop the rebellions in Lower Canada. The militia (soldiers) who were left were a random group of men armed with some guns along with whips, hoes, canes, and umbrellas. However, once the element of a surprise attack was lost, Mackenzie's rebellion was doomed to fail.

Nevertheless, Mackenzie made the unfortunate decision to lead the rebels himself. He marched them off on Tuesday morning, December 5, 1837. Several hundred rebels, who were poorly armed and organized, marched south on Yonge Street. Mackenzie led this group by horse back and he wore several overcoats to protect against bullets.

They eventually stationed themselves at Montgomery’s Tavern, just north of present-day Eglinton Avenue in Toronto. The next day, they marched toward the downtown area to obtain more guns and ammunition. A small group of about 30 Loyalists, who were fighting for the British, managed to scatter the rebels. A majority of the rebels ran away in a state of confusion once the gun fire started.

Later that evening, the rebels were able to regroup and reorganize under the command of an experienced military leader. However, the British forces were able to gather more troops, and they now numbered 1000 men. Two days later, the rebels were defeated, and the British burned down Montgomery’s Tavern. Another group of rebels, from the London, Ontario, area, tried to join Mackenzie, but they, too, were easily defeated by government forces. Tory supporters burned homes and farms belonging to known rebels and even those belonging to people who were only suspected supporters.

Mackenzie and other rebel leaders fled to the USA to avoid execution. Others in Mackenzie's rebellion weren't so lucky. Three men — two rebels and one loyalist — were killed in the early stages of the rebellion, but many captured rebels were later executed by the government. Two of those men were Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews who were hanged for committing treason.

In the end, Britain maintained control of the colony and Lord Durham was sent from Great Britain to investigate the causes of these rebellions and to make recommendations to prevent further conflict.

1. In the end, more than 1000 people were jailed on the suspicion of treason, 100 were exiled, and 15 were hanged. What could have been done to prevent this violence?

2. Think about all of the causes of the Lower and Upper Canada rebellions. Which cause do you think triggered the rebels to fight? Why? Support your answer with evidence.

3. Do you think the British government benefited from these rebellions? Why, or why not?