Why did the Rebellion Losses Bill cause riots in Montreal in 1849?

The Rebellion Losses Act of 1849 caused riots in Montreal because it proposed to compensate individuals in Lower Canada for property losses incurred during the Rebellions of 1837.

The legislation, supported by Governor General James Bruce, 8th earl of Elgin, faced intense opposition from Tories who believed the bill would effectively reward those who had participated in the insurrection against the British Crown. This perceived injustice sparked violent protests in Montreal, during which the Parliament buildings were burned and Lord Elgin himself was stoned by an angry mob.1

The act was a significant test of the newly implemented system of responsible government, as it required the governor to support the administration’s policy despite the fierce public backlash from those who viewed the compensation as a betrayal of loyalist principles.1