Act of Union 1840

1. Eliminate Upper and Lower Canada and create ONE unified Canada. One Governor, one Executive Council, one Legislative Council, and one assembly


2. Have EQUAL number of representatives in the assembly


3. Continue to assimilate the French population


4. Apply RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT

In 1840, all was accepted by the British EXCEPT Responsible Government.

With the 1840 Act of Union, what will United Canada's Constitution look like?

1. Governor General: No veto power
2. Executive Council: Still appointed
3. Legislative Council: was supposed to be elected by the people to achieve Responsible Government, but this was REJECTED in 1840. The governor still appointed the Legislative Council.
4. Assembly: 42 members from Canada WEST (formerly Upper Canada and present day Ontario), 42 members from Canada EAST (formerly Lower Canada and present day Quebec).

Is this assembly Representative Governement? Close enough. Population of Canada East was 600 000 people, and Canada West had 400 000 people. Still more French than English.

Is this a Responsible Government? NO!!!!! In 1840, the new Unified Government of Canda rejected the idea of the population voting for members of the Legislative Council (the law makers).

According to the British of Canada, there were no French Canadians who could be elected because they had not shown any British Allegiance.

When does United Canada achieve Responsible Government?

1848 Responsible Government

Responsible Government: when any given population can elect or vote members of government into power. In other words, DEMOCRACY.

Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine becomes the 1st French Canadaian to be elected by the people to be part of the Legislative Assembly in 1848.

Therefore, all is finally going well in Canada, especially between the English and the French...NOT!!! Wait for the next unit to see what happens!!!