Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763–1914 - 3 Learning from past…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 35.1: Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763–1914 - 3 Learning from past mistakes: Canada and the Durham Report, 1837–40: The revolts of 1837–38: causes, course and impact.
The revolts of 1837–38 in Upper and Lower Canada had deep causes: frustration with appointed councils blocking reform, economic depression, crop failures, and ethnic tensions between French and…
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The revolts of 1837–38 in Upper and Lower Canada had deep causes: frustration with appointed councils blocking reform, economic depression, crop failures, and ethnic tensions between French and English speakers. In Lower Canada, Louis-Joseph Papineau led the Patriotes against British rule; in Upper Canada, William Lyon Mackenzie led rebels against the Family Compact. The course differed: in Lower Canada, fighting occurred at Saint-Denis, Saint-Charles and Saint-Eustache; in Upper Canada, a march on Toronto failed. Both revolts were quickly defeated by British troops and loyal militia. The impact was significant: Britain sent Lord Durham to investigate, leading to the Durham Report (1839) and the Act of Union (1840), which united the Canadas and influenced later responsible government.
What earns the marks
- Identifies and explains the causes of the revolts: political deadlock, economic hardship, ethnic tensions, and lack of responsible government.
- Describes the course of the revolts in Lower Canada: Papineau's leadership, battles at Saint-Denis, Saint-Charles and Saint-Eustache.
- Describes the course of the revolts in Upper Canada: Mackenzie's rebellion, the march on Toronto, and its failure.
- Explains the impact: the Durham Report, the Act of Union 1840, and the move towards responsible government.
- Analyses the relative importance of different causes and the extent of the revolts' impact on British policy.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the leaders: Papineau led Lower Canada, Mackenzie led Upper Canada.
Put it right: Keep their roles distinct.
Claiming the revolts succeeded.
Put it right: Both were defeated, but they led to important political changes.
Stating the Durham Report was written before the revolts.
Put it right: It was commissioned after the revolts and published in 1839.
Exam tips
- Structure answers around causes, course and impact to ensure coverage.
- Use specific dates and places to demonstrate detailed knowledge.
- Link the revolts to the broader theme of learning from past mistakes in the British Empire.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 35.1: Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763–1914 - 3 Learning from past mistakes: Canada and the Durham Report, 1837–40: The revolts of 1837–38: causes, course and impact. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
In which year did the armed revolts in Upper and Lower Canada take place?
Listen
The revolts of 1837–38 in Upper and Lower Canada had deep causes: frustration with appointed councils blocking reform, economic depression, crop failures, and ethnic tensions between French and English speakers. In Lower Canada, Louis-Joseph Papineau led the Patriotes against British rule; in Upper Canada, William Lyon Mackenzie led rebels against the Family Compact. The course differed: in Lower Canada, fighting occurred at Saint-Denis, Saint-Charles and Saint-Eustache; in Upper Canada, a march on Toronto failed. Both revolts were quickly defeated by British troops and loyal militia. The impact was significant: Britain sent Lord Durham to investigate, leading to the Durham Report (1839) and the Act of Union (1840), which united the Canadas and influenced later responsible government. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identifies and explains the causes of the revolts: political deadlock, economic hardship, ethnic tensions, and lack of responsible government. Describes the course of the revolts in Lower Canada: Papineau's leadership, battles at Saint-Denis, Saint-Charles and Saint-Eustache. Describes the course of the revolts in Upper Canada: Mackenzie's rebellion, the march on Toronto, and its failure. Explains the impact: the Durham Report, the Act of Union 1840, and the move towards responsible government. A common slip: confusing the leaders: Papineau led Lower Canada, Mackenzie led Upper Canada. Instead, keep their roles distinct. Exam tip: Structure answers around causes, course and impact to ensure coverage.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Revolts break out in Upper and Lower Canada
- 2. Act of Union unites the Canadas
- 3. Durham Report is published
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Rebellion and resistance
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Colonial governance and reform
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Ethnic and political tensions
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Consequences and reform
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Rebellion and resistance
- The revolts of 1837–38 in Upper and Lower Canada, led by Papineau and Mackenzie, were quickly defeated by British troops and loyal militia.
- Colonial governance and reform
- Frustration with appointed councils blocking reform and a lack of responsible government were causes of the revolts.
- Ethnic and political tensions
- Ethnic tensions between French and English speakers, alongside political deadlock, contributed to the revolts.
- Consequences and reform
- Britain sent Lord Durham to investigate, leading to the Durham Report and the Act of Union, which influenced later responsible government.
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of Paper 3, Option 35.1: Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763–1914 - 3 Learning from past mistakes: Canada and the Durham Report, 1837–40: The revolts of 1837–38: causes, course and impact.
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge