Description
Book SynopsisIn nineteenth-century Toronto, people took to the streets to express their jubilation on special occasions, such as the 1860 visit of the Prince of Wales and the return in 1885 of the local Volunteers who helped to suppress the Riel resistance in the North-West. In a contrasting mood, people also took to the streets in anger to object to government measures, such as the Rebellion Losses bill, to heckle rival candidates in provincial election campaigns, to assert their ethno-religious differences, and to support striking workers.
Expressive Acts examines instances of both celebration and protest when Torontonians publicly displayed their allegiances, politics, and values. The book illustrates not just the Victorian city’s vibrant public life but also the intense social tensions and cultural differences within the city. Drawing from journalists’ accounts in newspapers, Expressive Acts illuminates what drove Torontonians to claim public space, where t
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Tory Rebels and a Viceregal Visit 2. The Press and Election Culture 3. A Prince in Town 4. Religious Processions and Disorder 5. Colonialism Triumphant: Celebrating the Suppression of the North-West Resistance of 1885 6. Boys, Young Men, and Disorder 7. Strikers and their Supporters Conclusion Notes Index
