Radical agitation and the Canada question in British politics, 1837-41

Abstract

This article re-examines the problem of radical disunity after 1832. The main focus is on radical attitudes towards the second Melbourne ministry (1835–41) and its handling of the Canadian rebellions of 1837. Even when the government's imperial difficulties created a suitable opportunity to rekindle their reform campaign, radical leaders failed to co-operate effectively and made little headway in mobilizing and harnessing popular support. This defeat can be profitably explored through the experiences of Thomas Perronet Thompson (1783–1869), who emerged as one of the most energetic and strident critics of British policy in Canada during and after the rebellions. Despite his best efforts, Thompson was unable to win over other radical leaders or to attract a large following, a failure that highlights the wider constraints faced by radicalism in this era.