First published in 1927, this account of the political struggles of Upper Canada prior to the Rebellion of 1837 remains a classic piece of Canadian historical scholarship.

This volume presents a broad documentary coverage of the rebellions and material on areas of Upper Canada not directly threatened by them. A judicious reading should provide a sound knowledge of the uprisings.

In Popular Politics and Political Culture in Upper Canada, 1800-1850 Carol Wilton shows us that ordinary Canadians were much more involved in the political process than previous accounts have lead us to believe. They demonstrated their interest in politics, and their commitment to a particular viewpoint, by active participation in the petitioning movements that were an important element of provincial political culture.

This collection of articles provides a fresh look at the multi-faceted history of Upper Canada. As well as new perspectives on themes in economic, social and political history, essays are included on topics of concern to contemporary scholars such as nati

First published in 1927, this account of the political struggles of Upper Canada prior to the Rebellion of 1837 remains a classic piece of Canadian historical scholarship.

Loyalty evolved as the central political idea in Upper Canada during the first half of the nineteenth century. It formed the basis of political legitimacy and acceptance into provincial society. David Mills examines the evolution and development of the concept of loyalty, placing special emphasis on the contribution of moderate reformers.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian author of William Cooper's Town assesses the early 19th century conflict over the legacy of the American Revolution, citing the agendas of key contributors while offering insight into the war's role in shaping the United States and Canada.

In nineteenth-century settler colonies such as Upper Canada, New South Wales and New Zealand, governors not only administered, they stood at the head of colonial society and ordered the festivities and ceremonies around which colonial life centred. Governors were expected to be repositories of political wisdom and constitutional lore. Governors and Settlers explores the public and private beliefs of governors such as Sir Thomas Brisbane, Sir John Colborne, Sir George Grey and Lord Elgin as they struggled to survive in colonial cultures which both deified and vilified their personal qualities.

John Beverley Robinson (1791–1863) was one of Upper Canada’s foremost jurists, a dominating influence on the ruling élite, and a leading citizen of nineteenth-century Toronto who owned a vast tract of land on which Osgoode Hall now stands. The loyalists had founded a colony firm in its devotion to the Crown, with little room for dissent. As a true loyalist son, educated by John Strachan, Robinson attempted to steer Upper Canada toward emulation of what he perceived to be Britain’s ideal aristocratic society. As a young ensign in the York militia, he defended his sovereign at Queenston Heights, and as acting attorney-general he prosecuted traitors who threatened to undermine the colony. Later, as attorney-general and de facto leader of the assembly during the 1820s, he tried to mould the government to the British form. But factors he never understood—the influence of American democracy and liberalism in the Colonial Office—ensured that Upper Canada would never be a ‘new Albion.’ Robinson was appointed chief justice in 1829, and his judicial career spanned thirty-three years, during which he insisted the courts were subservient to the legislature and established precedents declaring their role should be limited to the enforcement of existing laws, with no independent creative function. His long service on the bench represented both a preservation and a strengthening of the British tradition in Canadian law. In this biography, early Toronto comes alive through the eyes of a powerful man—firm in his beliefs, attractive to women, respected by his fellows—who sought to mould society to his own ideals. For historians, lawyers, and students of jurisprudence who seek an understanding of the roots of legal practice in nineteenth-century Ontario, it is essential reading. Electronic Format Disclaimer: Image of "The Three Robinson Sisters" (Emily, Augusta, and Louisa) by George Theodore Berthon, 1846 on page XV removed at the request of the rights holder.

A City in the Making examines certain of the events that took place in the nineteenth century Toronto, paying particular attention to those who carved a thriving metropolis out of the frontier post that was the town of York.