La crise sous Craig (1807-1811) : nature des conflits et historiographie

A study of how historians have interpreted Governor Sir James Craig's so-called "Reign of Terror" -- either as a constitutional conflict or as a racial conflict. Craig (1748-1812) served as governor of Lower Canada from 1807 to 1811. The author points out that during his tenure, the colony underwent a series of transformations: penetration by the capitalist market under the impetus of the Atlantic trading network; ideological ferment and polarization around the redefinition of power relationships between the actors in society, old and new, following amputation of the commercial empire of the St Lawrence, the arrival of the loyalists, division of the province of Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada, and introduction of a rudimentary system of parliamentary government into the colony; and economic, demographic, and military pressures from the United States.

Canadian Historical Association Historical Papers/La Société historique du Canada Communications historiques

59-74

1967

fr