Editing Canadas (section)

==History==
[[File:Geographical, Statistical, and Historical Map of Upper and Lower Canada, and the Other British Possessions in North America. Sheet 1 CTASC.jpg|thumb|Geographical, statistical, and historical map of Upper and Lower Canada, and the other [[British Possessions]] in North America (1823)]]
The two colonies were created in 1791 with the passage of the ''[[Constitutional Act 1791]]''. As a result of the influx of [[United Empire Loyalists|Loyalists]] from the [[American Revolutionary War]], the [[Province of Quebec (1763–1791)|Province of Quebec]] was divided into two new colonies, consisting of Lower and Upper Canada. The creation of Upper Canada was in response to the influx of [[United Empire Loyalist]] settlers, who desired a colonial administration modelled under British institutions and [[common law]], especially British laws of land tenure. Conversely, Lower Canada maintained most of the French Canadian institutions guaranteed under the [[Quebec Act]], such as the French [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] system.

In 1838 [[John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham|Lord Durham]] was sent to the colonies to examine the causes for [[Rebellions of 1837–1838|rebellion in the Canadas]]. His [[Report on the Affairs of British North America|report on the colonies]] recommended that the two colonies should be united, and the introduction of [[responsible government]]. The [[British Parliament]] would eventually act on the former suggestion, with the passage of the ''[[Act of Union 1840]]''. The ''Act of Union'' went into force in 1841, and saw the Canadas united into the [[Province of Canada]]. However, the Act did not establish responsible government, which was not introduced until 1848.