Lower Canada Rebellions Readers Theatre

The Roles (in order of appearance):

1. Narrator 1
2. Narrator 2
3. Narrator 3
4. Chateau Clique Member 1
5. Parti Patriotes Member 1
6. Parti Patriotes Member 2
7. Parti Patriotes Member 3
8. Louis-Joseph Papineau

Narrator 1 The time: 1837. The place: Lower Canada, or what would come to be known as Quebec.

All Narrators This is the story of the Lower Canada rebellions of 1837 and 1838.

Narrator 2 In Lower Canada, there was a Francophone majority. These Francophones, the Quebecois,
had their power taken away from them by England with the end of the Seven Years War.

Narrator 3 However, the minority, a group of wealthy English merchants known as the Chateau
Clique, had the real control.

Chateau Clique Were the Chateau Clique, and we hold all of the power! In fact, we were selected by the
Member 1 British governor! We are always appointed to the councils.

Chateau Clique Its a good thing those French Canadien people arent directly appointed! They dont
Member 2 know whats best for themselves. We know whats best because we are rich and British.

Narrator 1 But the Chateau Clique and the British government had enemies!

Narrator 2 Starting in the 1820s, a party known as the Parti canadien decided to pursue a more
democratic government. They were mostly supported by the French Canadien people.

Parti Patriote And they ended up winning a majority of seats in the elected assembly!
Member 1

Parti Patriote Shortly after being founded, we started calling ourselves the Parti patriote!
Member 2

Parti Patriote However, we soon started to break out into fights between us Canadiens and the English
Member 3 speaking voters.

Parti Patriote In 1832, British soldiers killed three of our men after a fight broke out.
Member 2

1
Parti Patriote In 1832, we also had a cholera epidemic, remember?! It was brought by British and Irish
Member 1 immigrants that we didnt even want here!

Parti Patriote It killed nearly five thousand people! They should have at least halted emigration until the
Member 3 epidemic was over!

Narrator 2 Lower Canada also experienced crop failures, and many of our French Canadien farmers
faced starvation.

Narrator 3 But the reformers found a voice in a man named Louis-Joseph Papineau. He came from a
wealthy family and was a member of the elected assembly and had considerable influence.

Narrator 1 However, in March 1837, the government rejected his and the Parti patriotes proposals,
known as the 92 resolutions, even though the Canadiens held a majority of seats.

Narrator 3 So he organized rallies.

Louis-Joseph Fellow citizens! Brothers who share our suffering! We must work together to press our
Papineau demands for justice. We must speak with one voice!

Narrator 3 He was an excellent public speaker.

Louis-Joseph I will strive my utmost against this government. I denounce it. It has the arrogance to call
Papineau itself protector of the English minority in Lower Canada. But what about the Canadiens?
The people who are from this land and hold the majority! These members of the English
minority only act for themselves. I call on you to continue to boycott-

Narrator 1 (-Meaning to reject purchasing or using something to create pressure for change.)

Louis-Joseph -British goods. No one should buy anything from Britain. There is still much to be won.
Papineau England will learn about the peoples will. But now, it is not the time for arms. It is not
yet time for arms.

Parti Patriote Liberty or death!

Member 2

All Parti Patriote (Chanting) Liberty or death! Liberty or death! Liberty or death! Liberty or death! Liberty
or death!

Narrator 2 In November 1837, the government cut ties with the Patriote leaders, including Papineau,
who escaped to the Lower Canadian countryside.

Parti-Patriote So we prepared to fight the British troops, because we knew they would follow us.
Member 3

2
Parti-Patriote On November 23, 1837, we won the battle of Saint-Denis! Things were starting to look up
Member 1 for us!

Parti-Patriote But on November 23, we were defeated at Saint-Charles, and the British returned to Saint-
Member 1 Denis to burn it.

Narrator 1 And then, on December 14, 1837, the Parti-Patriote also lost the battle of Saint-Eustache.

Louis-Joseph So me and the other Patriote leaders fled to the United States-
Papineau

Chateau Clique -and the British troops looted and burned the French Canadien settlements. Served them
Member 1 right for questioning Britain!

Louis-Joseph We tried to organize another rebellion in 1838, while living in America.

Papineau

Parti-Patriote But unfortunately, we were defeated in a within a week, and our settlements were again
Member 2 attacked and overtaken by British forces.

Narrator 2 By definition, the rebellions failed.

Louis-Joseph Me and the other Patriote leaders never overthrew the government. I stayed in exile in the
Papineau United States, and France, for a very, very long time.

Narrator 3 And nearly everything stayed the same until Lord Durham came along.

Narrator 1 (But well learn about him next class.)

Louis-Joseph Eventually, in 1844, I was pardoned by the British government and allowed to return to
Papineau Canada. I resumed my political career, but through the passage of time, lost my influence
as a leader.

All Narrators So is the story of the Lower Canada rebellions of 1837 and 1838.