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Different Perspectives: The Durham Report and Act of Union
An essay using the Canada in the Making site
Teacher Guide
After the Upper and Lower Canada rebellions of 1837, Lord Durham
was sent from England to investigate the cause of the unrest. He
produced his famous and highly controversial Report on the Affairs
of British North America (also known as the Durham Report) after
a short stay in the region. This led to the Act of Union, 1840.
This essay will require students to become familiar with the report's
text and comment on its significance.
Subject/Grade Level
Social Studies/History; Ages 15 and up
Overview
This is an essay requiring students to examine the events leading
to the Durham Report and to study the report itself. They will comment
on the events' impact, the Durham Report itself and later developments
on one of the political groups at the time. Students can work together
to extract the main points of the report.
Research for this essay should take one to four hour-long sessions
online, depending on whether students have access to a printed version
of the report. Note that the sources used in ECO can be printed
from the browser and then photocopied.
Outcomes (WCP, APEF); Expectations
(ON); Objectives (QC)
Table of Curricular Relevance by Course
and Province
Alberta
British Columbia and Yukon Territory
Manitoba
Ontario
Québec
Saskatchewan
APEF
WCP
Materials/Resources Required
Computers with Internet access.
Student Work Sheet
Suggested Rubric
Links
Early Canadiana Online: Canada in The Making
URL: http://www.canadiana.org/citm/
Essay writing resources can be found in the Writing An Essay unit
on ECO:
URL: http://www.canadiana.org/eco/lesson_plans/
topictoconc.htm
Other links can be found in the Student Work Sheet.
Previous Knowledge
Students will need
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An understanding of Web navigation symbols, tools and terminology,
particularly the tools used in ECO
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Familiarity with research and essay writing skills
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An understanding of the events leading to the rebellions of
1837 and 1838
Lesson Opener
Canada has a reputation as a peaceful country. Is this justified
by history? Ask if students know of violent uprisings in Canadian
history. Have they heard of the 1837 and 1838 rebellions? Ask them:
Procedure
Hand out Student Work Sheets and introduce students to the ECO
Canada In the Making Web site. Read the assignment and discuss.
Students may work in groups to facilitate research online. The
documents are summarized in the Canada in the Making section
on "Canada's Constitutional History," and the documents
are linked from there.
Students should write the essay from the perspective of one of
the following groups:
Summary
Discuss: Which of the groups and individuals above achieved their
goals, and to what extent? Who was the short and long-term "winner"?
Evaluation
See the Suggested Rubric.
Homework/Extension
Students can examine the Durham Report's impact on today's events.
Is it still relevant in English and French Canadian relations? Did
it have a lasting impact on Canada's Constitutional development?
How?
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