How did the Act of Union of 1841 change the governments of Canada East and Canada West?

The Act of Union of 1841 significantly restructured the governance of the two Canadas by merging them into a single Province of Canada. This change had several key impacts on the political landscape of Canada East (formerly Lower Canada) and Canada West (formerly Upper Canada):1

• Legislative Representation: Despite the French-speaking population of Canada East outnumbering the English-speaking population of Canada West, the British government mandated that both regions receive an equal number of seats—42 each—in the new legislature. This was intended to limit the influence of the French Canadian majority and facilitate their assimilation.12
• Executive Control: Initially, the British authorities refused to grant "responsible government," maintaining control over the executive and legislative councils to ensure British dominance over the elected assembly.12
• Shift Toward Responsible Government: Political reformers from both Canada East and Canada West, including leaders such as Louis Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin, eventually pressured the British to grant responsible government in 1848. This allowed the elected assembly to hold the executive accountable.12
• Autonomy: Once responsible government was achieved, French Canadian members gained significant power, including the ability to influence taxation and spending, protect their language in the assembly, and secure control over educational, social, and municipal institutions within Canada East.2