Republic of Lower Canada

The Republic of Lower Canada was a break-away state proclaimed in the aftermath of the Rebellions of 1837–1838. The defeat of the rebellion meant that the state could never be properly established.

Republic of Lower Canada République du Bas-Canada
1838
Flag
Territories claimed by the Republic of Lower Canada    Territory of present-day Canada
Status	Unrecognized
Capital	Napierville
Common languages	French, English
Government	Republic
President
• 1838	Robert Nelson[1]
Legislature	Representative Democracy
Historical era	Lower Canada Rebellions
• Declaration of Independence	22 February 1838
• Battle of Odelltown	9 November 1838
Preceded by Succeeded by Lower Canada Province of Canada
Today part of	Quebec Newfoundland and Labrador

History

Origins

A British colony since 1763, Canada was divided into two distinct entities in 1791: Lower Canada, mainly inhabited by the descendants of the colonists of New France, and Upper Canada, mainly inhabited by British colonists. Lower and Upper Canada were frequently in tension with each other, which made governing difficult.^[2]

Declaration of independence and 1838 invasions

Robert Nelson declared himself the president of the republic and read the Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada in front of thousands of people cheering him along in Napierville.^[3]

See also

• Patriote movement
• Republicanism in Canada
• Executions at the Pied-du-Courant Prison
• History of Quebec