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The Reform movement, sometimes referred to as the Reform Party, began in the 1830s as the movement in the English speaking parts of British North America ( Canada). It agitated for responsible government.

In Maritime Canada, these movements were also referred to as Liberal, and later became the Liberal parties in those colonies. (See also PEI Liberal Party, New Brunswick Liberal Party, Liberal Party (Nova Scotia), Liberal Party of Newfoundland). The most prominent Reformer in the Maritimes was Joseph Howe.

In Upper Canada ( Ontario), the Reform movement was formed in opposition to the Family Compact. It was led initially by William Lyon Mackenzie, who became the principal figure in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837Events January 10 DePauw University founded in Greencastle, Indiana January 26 Michigan is admitted as the 26th U. State February 8 Richard Johnson becomes the first Vice President of the United States chosen by the United States Senate February 11 Americ. Mackenzie went into exile as a result of the failed rebellion. The uprising led to the 1839 Durham Report, which recommended responsible government in the Canadas.

In 1841, the Act of UnionThe Act of Union passed in July 1840 and proclaimed February 10, 1841, abolished the legislatures of Lower Canada and Upper Canada and established a new Parliament of Canada to replace them. This act effecting the political union of the Canadas was simila went into effect granting responsible government. Upper Canada became Canada WestCanada West was the western portion of the Province of Canada. It consisted of the part of the modern-day Canadian province of Ontario south of Lake Nipissing, the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, and the northern shore of Lake Superior. Formerly a colony c, forming with Canada EastCanada East (French, Canada-Est was the eastern portion of the Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian province of Quebec. Formerly a colony called Lower Canada, based on Lord Durham's report it was merged with ( QuebecQuebec ( In Detail) ( In Detail) National Motto: Je me souviens (I remember CapitalLargest city Quebec City Montreal Area Total % fresh water 2nd largest(1st lgst prov. 1 542 056 km² 11,5% Population Total (2004) Density Ranked 2nd 7 509 928 5,43/km² Admi) the United Province of CanadaNote: for information about Canada's present-day provinces, see Provinces of Canada. The Province of Canada was a British colony in North America, created by the fusion of the Canadas into one province by the Act of Union (1840). The former Lower Canada b. The leaders of the Reform movement in Canada West at this point were Robert BaldwinRobert Baldwin ( 12 May 1804 9 December 1858), Canadian statesman, was born at York (now Toronto). He, along with Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, is regarded by some as Canada's first Prime Minister. His father, William Warren Baldwin (d. 1844), went to Canad and Francis Hincks. The Reformers worked with the parti rouge to form government at various points in the 1840s.

The Reformers were more a loose movement than a party. Individual members voted independently on various issues. By the 1850s, the Reform Party had dissipated: moderate reformers had joined with Tories in 1854 to form a Liberal-Conservative coalition government under the leadership of John A. Macdonald and George-Etienne Cartier. This was the basis of what was to become the Conservative Party.

Left wing Reformers, along with the Clear Grits, promoted electoral reform, and reciprocity with the United States. In 1857, under the leadership of George Brown, the Clear Grits and left wing Reformers formed the Liberal Party in Canada West and, with the parti rouge and Maritime Liberal parties, formed the basis for the Liberal Party of Canada.