Lower Canada in 1791 was given an elected legislative assembly, but the assembly lacked authority in important matters. The appointed governor and an executive council could act against the assembly’s wishes. In 1837, a year of economic depression, rebellion came to Lower Canada. It was largely inspired by Louis Joseph Papineau, who wished to establish an independent nation. The rebellion was quickly suppressed, as was a similar outbreak in Upper Canada. The Earl of Durham investigated the causes of the discontent that led to the outbreaks and issued a report recommending the greater self-government. As a result, the British Parliament adopted the Act of Union of 1841, united the Canadas into the single Province of Canada with an assembly to which the executive council became responsible. Lower Canada was renamed Canada East. Upper Canada was called Canada West.

The united province failed to solve many problems, including those resulting from rivalry between French-speaking and English-speaking Canadians. The economic development of British North America, and fears that the United States might seek to annex part of all of it, caused leaders of Canada East to see the desirability of an expanded union on the principle of confederation of separate states. In 1867 the British Parliament passed the British North America Act to establish the Dominion of Canada as a confederation.

On July 1, 1867, Canada East and Canada West again became separate provinces, but as members of a confederation along with Nova Scotia and New Bruswick. Canada East became the province of Quebec, and Canada West became Ontario.