Republic of Canada

This article is about the short-lived "Republic of Canada". For the article about those who wish to end the monarchy in Canada, see Republicanism in Canada.
Republic of Canada
Unrecognized state
1837–1838


Flag

Republic of Canada in North America in 1837.
Navy Island
Capital Navy Island
Languages English
Government Republic
President
 •  1837–1838 William Lyon Mackenzie
Historical era Upper Canada Rebellion
 •  Republic declared 17 December 1837
 •  Republic collapses 4 December 1838
Preceded by 		Succeeded by
Upper Canada
Province of Canada

The Republic of Canada was a government proclaimed by William Lyon Mackenzie on December 5, 1837.[1] The self-proclaimed government was established on Navy Island[2] in the Niagara River in the latter days of the Upper Canada Rebellion.

History

In the latter days of the Rebellions of 1837 in Upper Canada, after Mackenzie and 200 of his followers retreated from Toronto to Navy Island, he declared a separate republic. He established an independent currency, and supplied his camp using the American supply steamer Caroline.[3] He recruited followers by promising 300 acres (120 ha) of land to any man that supported his cause.[4] He later included in his promise $100 in silver to his supporters, payable on May 1, 1838.[5]

On December 29, Royal Navy Commander Andrew Drew and seven boatloads of Canadian militiamen crossed the Niagara River to Fort Schlosser. They captured the Caroline used by William Lyon Mackenzie and his rebels on Navy Island. Drew's forces set the ship alight and sent it adrift towards Niagara Falls, resulting in the death of one American. It was falsely reported that dozens of Americans were killed as they were trapped on board, and U.S. soldiers retaliated by burning a British steamer while it was in U.S. waters, triggering what became known as the Caroline affair.

On January 13, 1838, Mackenzie abandoned Navy Island under heavy fire from British troops. He and his force retreated to Buffalo, New York, where they were captured by the U.S. army and sentenced in the U.S. to 18 months imprisonment for violating neutrality laws between the United States and the British Empire, ending the prospect of a successful Canadian declaration of independence and what the British viewed as an inconsequential and unsupported colonial rebellion.

Some of the supporters retreated to the Thousand Islands, and "caused Canadian authorities much anxiety" in mid-1838.[6] In the United States, Hunters' Lodges were established along the frontier border, some also operating in Upper Canada. The organization of these societies was headquartered in Cleveland, and its principal mission was to "emancipate the British Colonies from British Thraldom".[7] On 16 September 1838, a convention attended by 160 delegates of the organization was held in Cleveland,[8] during which it elected Abram D. Smith the first president of the Republic of Canada.[9] The organization also defined plans for a Republican Bank of Canada, which would use gold, silver, and its own currency as money, and pledged "the whole wealth, revenue, and resources" of Upper Canada as collateral for loans.[8]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Yates 1958, p. 123.
  2. ↑ Insurance Institute of Toronto, p. 57.
  3. ↑ Walz & Walz 1970, p. 87.
  4. ↑ Walz & Walz 1970, p. 88.
  5. ↑ Liam, Peppiatt. "Chapter 78: Mackenzie as an Exile". Robertson's Landmarks of Toronto Revisited.
  6. ↑ Shortridge, p. 18.
  7. ↑ Shortridge, p. 19.
  8. 1 2 Shortridge, p. 20.
  9. ↑ Russell 1968, p. 220.

References

  • Russell, Francis (1968). The American heritage history of the making of the Nation. American Heritage Publishing Company. 
  • Shortridge, Wilson Porter (18 April 2008). "The Canadian–American frontier during the Rebellion of 1837–1838". The Canadian Historical Review. University of Toronto Press. 7 (1): 13–26. doi:10.3138/CHR-07-01-02. 
  • Walz, Jay; Walz, Audrey (1970). Portrait of Canada. American Heritage Press. 
  • Yates, Raymond Francis (1958). Under Three Flags: Western New York from the Ice Age to the Atomic Age. Stewart. 
  • Proceedings. Insurance Institute of Toronto. 1921. 

Coordinates: 43°03′20″N 79°00′35″W / 43.055437°N 79.009595°W / 43.055437; -79.009595

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