When we think of a rebellion leading to democracy, we usually think of the United States and its War of Independence against the British, between 1775 and 1783; but Canada had its rebellions that also resulted in more populace control, if not independence from the English crown.

The rebellions of 1837 and 1838, in what were then called Lower and Upper Canada, led to the institution of responsible government and eventual nationhood for British North America. Willam Lyon Mackenzie led the revolt in Upper Canada, against the elitist and anti-democratic Family Compact, and Louis Joseph Papineau did so in Lower Canada against the Chateau Clique.

In 1838, Lord Durham became the Governor-General of Canada and was tasked with bringing peace to the colonies. He wrote the Durham Report in 1839. The Report included some pretty culturally insensitive things about the French, plans for assimilation and replacement, but also recommended the unification of Lower and Upper Canada into one 'Province of Canada', leading to the later Act of Union. Durham also recommended greater democratic powers for the people, responsible government, that the government should be answerable through elections. In 1840, Upper and Lower Canada were unified. Elected officials would gain more political power than those appointed by the Crown in one province after another, provinces that in time would also join Canada.