The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more
Skip to content Accessibility

Maintenance Operation
Our online services will be affected or interrupted for a few hours on Tuesday, April 22nd, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET.

Joseph Howe: The Tribune of Nova Scotia

This short drama is a portrait of Nova Scotian journalist and politician Joseph Howe (1804-1873) and his battle for freedom of press. When, in 1835, Howe was accused of seditious libel, no lawyer dared defend him. Choosing to defend himself, he addressed the jury for over 6 hours, urging jurors to leave an unshackled press as a legacy to their children. Though the judge instructed the jury to find Howe guilty, jurors took only 10 minutes to acquit him - a landmark event in the evolution of press freedom in Canada.
Your rental expires on
None
You've already purchased this film.
Download it from My purchases.
  • The History Makers
    The History Makers
    1959 - 1964 3 editions
    From the most intrepid explorers to the fathers of Confederation, this series of 17 half-hour episodes tells the compelling early history of our great country.

Suggestions

Details

This short drama is a portrait of Nova Scotian journalist and politician Joseph Howe (1804-1873) and his battle for freedom of press. When, in 1835, Howe was accused of seditious libel, no lawyer dared defend him. Choosing to defend himself, he addressed the jury for over 6 hours, urging jurors to leave an unshackled press as a legacy to their children. Though the judge instructed the jury to find Howe guilty, jurors took only 10 minutes to acquit him - a landmark event in the evolution of press freedom in Canada.

History - Canada - Pre-1867 Media and Communication Law and Crime All subjects
  • director
    Julian Biggs
  • producer
    Julian Biggs
  • executive producer
    Guy Glover
  • script
    Joseph Schull
  • photography
    John Gunn
  • sound
    Leo O'Donnell
  • sound editing
    Kathleen Shannon
  • re-recording
    Ron Alexander
  • cast
    James Barron
    Ursula Dapery
    William Ferguson
    Art Samuels
    Henry Gamer
    Basil Schapiro
    John Tregale

Education

Ages 11 to 18
Study Guides
Guide 1 Guide 2
School subjects
History - Canada under British Rule (1764-1867) History and Citizenship Education - Canadian Federation (1850-1929) History and Citizenship Education - Imperialism and Colonization (1800s-1900s) History and Citizenship Education - Struggles in the British Colony (1791-1850)

Research the concept of “responsible government” (consider watching the Heritage Minute on responsible Government). How does Joseph Howe argue for responsible government? What are the arguments against Joseph Howe’s political views? How does this impact the legal case against him? Create a T-chart that identifies Howe’s political successes and failures. How do these experiences influence his political career? His legacy in Nova Scotia today?

More educational content

Joseph Howe: The Tribune of Nova Scotia
Purchase options
Also available
DVD
Licence information
Already paid to see this film?
Licensing information
Download-to-own (DTO) licence detail
Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

You may download this film for private, personal or classroom use only. Public screenings and institutional (non-educational institutions) uses are not permitted.

Download films in standard or high definition. (Please note that bonus materials are not available for DTO films.)

Institutional licence

To purchase an institutional licence or to buy a film that is not available for DTO or VOD on the platform, please contact us.

The institutional price includes the rights to screen the film in institutional settings and at free public screenings.

Additional instructions

DTO films cannot be hosted on a streaming server. To add DTO films to an institutional or educational streaming server, please contact a sales agent to discuss pricing.

You can copy each file up to 5 (five) times, onto various devices.

Explore