1867 & All That

Episode 11 - Once More Unto the Breach

The secret Hunters Lodges come out of hiding and launch attacks in the autumn of 1838 and General Colborne, and especially the loyalist militia, get back to their work of suppressing rebellion. The rebel leaders once again show themselves not quite up to the task; we have a naval raid along the St Lawerence gone wrong, and blood on the streets in Windsor. But most importantly, it all wraps up. Rebellion rises from the ashes only to be forcefully told to go back where it came from. 

Episode 10 - Exile and Terror

Winter extends from 1837 to 1838 and the rebels in exile try to turn around their fortunes. William Lyon Mackenzie captures an island. Canadian loyalists sink a ship but they also kill an American. Radical Patriotes read a revolutionary declaration into the late February winter wind in Lower Canada and then are chased back across the border. We meet Lord Durham, the new Governor General, and he hatches a scheme to deal with rebel prisoners. And there are enough cross-border attacks to keep everyone on edge.

Episode 9 - Lake of Two Mountains on Fire

A Swiss-born revolutionary stirs things up in an already pretty agitated region of rebellion west of Montreal. Things turn pretty dire for the Patriotes this week. There is fire, and then some more burning. Then, to make things fun, more fire. And General Colborne earns a nickname - the 'vieux brulé' (that is, old firebrand). So, yeah, fire.

Episode 8 - William Lyon Mackenzie's Very Bad Day

The regular troops have left Upper Canada to go help put down rebellion in Lower Canada and that gives William Lyon Mackenzie an idea. Well, he had the idea already, but this seems like a good time to act on it. We have rebellion in Upper Canada. There is a secret meeting at a brewery; rebels and loyalists shoot at each other and then run away; there is even a Laura Second tie-in. But none of this can stop Mackenzie from having a very bad day. 

Episode 7 - The Battle At St. Charles

An intercepted letter proves fateful to the fate of rebellion. And the remaining British force in the Richelieu valley heads toward (and not away from) conflict. The early good showing of the Patriotes proves short-lived but, by the end of November 1837, it is still unclear how the rebellion in Lower Canada will turn out. 

Episode 6 - 'Let's Dance!'

The Rebellion in Lower Canada is absolutely underway this week - the Patriotes leaders flee Montreal; the habitants fortify local strongholds; and the British General Colborne sends troops out to try to drown the the flames of rebellion before they burn too strong. And we have pig noises. Just because.

Episode 5 - Denounce the Oppressors

It's the summer of 1837 and Lower Canada is in turmoil - horses are losing their tails, effigies are burning, the charivari has turned political, and we have more (and more) resolutions. Oh, and a little thing called rebellion breaks out.

Special Bonus Episode - Cool Canadian History

A special bonus episode from our sister podcast Cool Canadian History. You can - and should! - subscribe to more than one Canadian history podcast.

Episode 4 - Good Governor, Bad Governor

From 1834 to 1836 reformers in both colonies move from hope to anger as two new governors, in their very different ways, prove to not be what the more radical of reformers want. We have the famous 92 resolutions that might (maybe) read like a passive aggressive almost break-up letter. And we also have a Governor General and his lasso knighthood, and much, much more.

Episode 3 - Expulsion

In Upper Canada a fiery reformer named William Lyon Mackenzie shows that anger at the political system can flourish even amongst supposedly loyal English speaking colonists. Mackenzie also learns that printing presses don't swim very well.