Radical politician William Lyon Mackenzie leads a rebellion against the colonial government of Upper Canada on December 5th, 1837. Marching down Yonge Street, his disorganized group of rebel soldiers was quickly dispersed, and Mackenzie fled to the United States.

Responsible Government was realized in 1848-1849 under the administration of Premiers Robert Baldwin (representing Canada West) and Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine (representing Canada East).

The principle of Responsible Government was put to the test with the passage of the Rebellion Losses Bill by the reform movement in the Legislative Assembly. Despite his misgivings about the bill, the Governor General had ceded to the elected Parliament and gave the bill Royal Assent.

Appointed Governor General of Canada, John George Lambton, the First Earl of Durham, is directed to report on the political state of the Canadian colonies for the British Parliament.