Français  Contact Us  Help  Search  Canada Site Volume 1 (1000–1754) Volume 2 (1755-1871) Volume 3 (1872–2000) CHAPTER 1 The Conquest CHAPTER 2 The Revolt of Pontiac and the American Invasion CHAPTER 3 The Coveted Pacific Coast CHAPTER 4 The Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 CHAPTER 5 Demobilization A Time For Defence Cuts The American Threat The Great Fortifications Huge Expenses! The Great Lakes - Neutral Territory Annual Review of the Upper Canadian Militia The Militia of Lower Canada Demobilization of the French-Canadian Militia Political Confrontation and Secret Societies The 1837 Lower Canada Rebellion Saint-Denis and Saint-Charles Saint-Eustache The Horrors of War The Upper Canada Rebellion New Preparations Start of the 1838 Rebellions Napierville The Invasion of Upper Canada The Legacy of the Rebellions The Aroostook War Canadian Politics and British Withdrawal Reorganization of the Militia The 1855 Volunteers In the Maritimes CHAPTER 6 The Royal Navy, Ruler of the Seas CHAPTER 7 A Decade of Turbulence APPENDIX A The British Armed Forces APPENDIX B Daily Life of Soldiers and Officers APPENDIX C Uniforms and Arms APPENDIX D Reference      CHAPTER 5 Demobilization           Political Confrontation and Secret Societies ( 2 pages )           1 2      Political Polarization                Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer, 5th Baron Aylmer; Governor General of Canada, 1830-1835. (Click image to enlarge) During the 1820s and 1830s the political situation in Upper and Lower Canada deteriorated.  In each colony, groups of reformers began to stridently demand powers for the Legislative Assemblies.  But although they formed the Parliamentary majority all their bills were rejected by the Legislative Councils, which were controlled by the existing cliques. The British garrison was tied to this explosive political situation in spite of itself, because it was responsible for maintaining the public order.  When a serious incident occurred in 1832 in Montreal during elections, a detachment of the 15th Regiment called to the aid of the civil power opened fire on a mob that had refused to disperse, killing three Francophones, including the editor of an opposition newspaper.  This discredited the army in the eyes of many French Canadians. The situation worsened as the reform partisans, led by Louis-Joseph Papineau, began demanding political autonomy ever more stridently.  They assumed the name Patriotes.  Most were of French descent, but among them could also be found Irish nationalists and a few Americans.  Most Canadians of English origin identified with the conservative elements in place, even though some of them also favoured reforms.  In 1834-35 a number of political clubs were created with a view to taking up arms.  At the end of 1835 the British Party, taking an openly paramilitary stance, established the 393-member British Rifle Corps and demanded that the government provide them with weapons. 95  The new governor-in-chief, Lord Gosford, was aware of the danger this represented and ordered the corps disbanded on January 15, 1836.           Additional Images           Click image to enlarge      1 2   Last Updated: 2004-06-20 Important Notices