1837: The Birth of Canadian Democracy

1837: The Birth of Canadian DemocracyThis rich account of the 1837 38 rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada serves as a starting point for further investigation into the topic. The struggle, which was spearheaded by the proletariat, was legendary for its steadfastness against the Family Compact, the Anglo Canadian ruling class, and the British monarchical system as a whole. They challenged the idea that some rule over others through natural, i. e. divine, right and demanded a system

This rich account of the 1837-38 rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada serves as a starting point for further investigation into the topic. The struggle, which was spearheaded by the proletariat, was legendary for its steadfastness against the Family Compact, the Anglo-Canadian ruling class, and the British monarchical system as a whole. They challenged the idea that some rule over others through natural, i.e. divine, right and demanded a system accountable to the people. Though many of their demands were bourgeois, they were undoubtedly of a more progressive nature than the Canadian state which exists today -- equality of all nations, including Indigenous nations, and rights by virtue of being human. W.L. Mackenzie, the leader of the Republic of Canada, went even further in expressing a premature yearning for socialism and communism, declaring himself a social-democrat and asserting that the only way value is added to commodities is labour. Suffering under the yoke of the feudo-bourgeois relations, the people said "enough!" and fought until the end.

These rebellions are omitted from the textbooks and media because the bourgeoisie knows what they accomplished; the truth is that they were highly successful and the reason we have even the limited rights we have now. Heroic 1837-38 tears to shreds the notion of the "polite and passive Canadian", the Patriots show us the only way today -- revolution!