The Constitution Act, 1791

The Constitution Act, 1791, was a law passed by Britain to organize the government in the Canadian colonies. It split the vast territory of New France into two separate regions: Upper Canada (now Ontario) and Lower Canada (now Quebec). Each region was given its own government and legislative assembly to better manage local affairs. This act aimed to provide more effective governance and accommodate different cultural groups—English-speaking in the north and French-speaking in the south—setting the foundation for Canada's political development.