Our Developing Nation Horizons: Canada’s Emerging Identity Unit 2 Our Developing Nation Horizons: Canada’s Emerging Identity

This unit helps investigate these questions. Why might people have immigrated to Canada between 1815 and 1867? What was the impact of interactions between Aboriginal peoples and European settlers? How did responsible government evolve in Canada? How and why did Canada become a nation?

The Colonists: Land and Government Chapter 2

Chapter Outcomes In this chapter we sill study the changes that came with the colonists who arrived in Upper and Lower Canada between 1814 and 1840.

Think Pair Share Imagine what British North America was like in the early 19th century.

Robinson Sisters: 1845 portrait depicts three sisters, all born in York (Toronto) the Capital of Upper Canada.

This painting depicts settlers with a typical rural cabin This painting depicts settlers with a typical rural cabin. Do you think the people in these images would agree with the following quote? “A highly civilized and densely populated state possesses extensive waste lands in the colonies. In a state possessing those waste lands (now Canada,) all citizens have equal rights- all have a share in the collective rights to these waste lands”. – editorial in a British newspaper the Spectator, Sept 18, 1847

“A highly civilized and densely populated state possesses extensive waste lands in the colonies. In a state possessing those waste lands (now Canada), all citizens have equal rights- all have a share in the collective rights to these waste lands”. – editorial in a British newspaper the Spectator, Sept 18, 1847

Land of Yesterday In 1791, the Constitutional Act created Upper and Lower Canada. Eastern part of country- growing and developing. Many colonists found British North America to be challenging and unlike their homeland. The environment seemed harsh; wilderness.

British North America Newcomers poured into Upper Canada- southern and eastern Ontario Lower Canada- Quebec and along the St. Lawrence, had a busy trade capital, Montreal. The Maritimes were long settled and stable.

The HBC The Hudson’s Bay Company claimed all lands drained by rivers flowing into the Hudson’s Bay. A large part of the continent fell under HBC control. As a result, the fur trade expanded west.

Colonial Growth and Aboriginal People The growth of the colonies came at the expense of Aboriginal peoples. They had once been military allies of the British, and were a vital part of the fur trade.

First Nations were often forced to give up their land to make way for the European immigrants. Most immigrants paid little attention to the hardships and injustices that Aboriginals faced as a result of colonization.

Upper Canada

British colony “up” the St. Lawrence River. “Up” as in further away from the Ocean; Further inland. In the early 19th century, Upper Canada was the newest colony in the British Empire.

Few roads. Forest was very dense; trees massive. Clearing the land was a newcomers first task. It proved to be a very difficult chore; a hectare a year.

Continued fears of American Invasions reinforced colonists’ ties with the British Empire. Important community leaders were often Loyalists, former members of the British army or members of the British gentry.

Loyalists- Americans who did not support the American Revolution, many of whom moved to the British Colonies, like Upper Canada. Gentry-the upper class

As a result of this leadership, life in the colony was very “British” As a result of this leadership, life in the colony was very “British”. (laws, traditions)

Daily life People depended on each other and formed close communities- (church). Making a living on a farm was difficult. Often took years to raise a crop for sale. Most were in debt; mortgages common. People depended on a barter economy.

Barter economy- an economy based on trading services and products instead of using money.

Social Class Family background important, especially to the upper class. Upper class people wanted to jeep the privileges they had enjoyed in Britain. Social boundaries were removed. Many discovered they would have to do the back-breaking labour themselves, as cheap labour and servants were not readily available.

Dependent on one another; People needed their neighbours. Many continued to think of Britain as “home.” Some sent their children back to England to be educated.

The efforts of the ruling classes in both Upper and Lower Canada eventually brought conflict. Poorer colonists were attracted to American style democracy.

To counter this, Britain tried to duplicate its own society in the Canadian colonies: 1. Gentry 2. Large Estates 3. Tenant Farmers

This angered immigrants who had left their homelands in order to escape the class system.

Family Compact A small group of upper-class officials who made up the Executive Council of Upper Canada after 1812 Snobs! All members knew each other, were often related and even dressed alike

The people of Lower Canada had a similar ruling body known as the Chateau Clique. Mostly made up of wealthy English speaking merchants.

Think Pair Share Why do you think the Family Compact operated as a clique? How does a clique maintain control? Are there modern equivalents to the upper class? Do they still have political power?

Land Problems in Upper Canada Almost everyone wanted to own and farm land. Those who did not worked in industries that supported farming. Many arrived to find that the good land was already owned by absentee landlords and land speculators.

Absentee Landlord A person who owns and rents out a property, but does not live in the region.

Land Speculators People who buy property at a low price and sell it at a much higher price, usually without spending much of their own money.

This was not what immigrants had expected. Advertising campaigns =good, cheap farmland close to thriving towns and markets.

Those who held the best land in Upper Canada were members of the Family Compact. Many colonists had no option but go to remote areas to farm, leading to lives of hardship and resentment. People felt tricked by land speculators.

Land! The problems associated with land was at the root of anger and resentment towards the Family Compact and the colonial government of Upper Canada. Major cause of the Rebellions of 1837

Unfair land policies and bad government based on privilege set the stage for violent confrontation of classes.

Crown and Clergy Reserves Blocks of land set aside to provide income for the government and for the Anglican Church. 2/7th of all land in Upper Canada. For the most part the land was un-cleared and unoccupied. This often led to more problems when roads were being constructed; had to go around these blocks instead of through. Often tied up prize farmland This led to more resentment.

The Role of the British Government Land problems mainly the result of attitudes of the British Government and a desire to duplicate English models in Canada. English model (large estates controlled by aristocrats) was contrary to the view of many immigrants, especially those from the United States. -discriminatory -undemocratic

British Government did not want colonist to adopt American attitudes and values. (feared another revolution) The government plan had been to attract important aristocrats to Upper Canada. (often younger sons who had little hope of inheriting land in Great Britain)

Canada Land Company The government had also allowed land speculation companies such as the Canada Land Company to buy large tracts of land. By 1815, almost half of good farmland was owned by speculators (often also part of the Family Compact)

First Nations leaders Often worried that their lands would be sold off by Britain. Some signed treaties in an attempt to protect their land, which were not completely successful.