1837 Rebellion in Canada

The rebellion in Lower Canada, headed by Louis-Joseph Papineau, might even have become another American Revolution. It rose from the frustrations of the French Canadian Patriotes, and under different leadership they could have found support from the English speaking radicals of Toronto who rebelled at the same time. But Papineau and his lieutenants fled ignominiously to the U.S. soon after violence started in mid-November. He left his supporters to face the crushing reprisals of the forces of authority and the opportunity was lost.