Immigration and Emigration

Emigration to the United States Historical Event: Between 1850-1890 over 400,000 French Canadiens moved to the U.S.A to work in their factories. Many French-Canadiens living in the St-Lawrence Valley left their farms to move to cities in the U.S.A. (Vermont, Massachusetts and Maine). Causes of Emigration: Overpopulation on the farms in the St-Lawrence Valley: too many people, not enough work, so the French Canadians moved to the U.S.A to work in the factories French Canadiens in Massachusetts, working in textile factories

Emigration to the United States Government and Church’s “solution”: The clergy was worried that the exodus of French Canadians would make the Catholic population more and more of a minority in Canada. The church and the government wanted to stop French Canadians from leaving the province, so they opened up new regions of colonisation in the Laurentides, Saguenay and Outaouais regions. Agricultural colonization programs would provide employment opportunities for the farmers, so they would not choose to leave Quebec.

Were the government and Clergy successful? No: many French Canadians continued to leave to the U.S.A. because colonizing a new area was difficult work: clear the land, harsh climate, low crop yields Between 1861 and 1901, net migration in the Dominion of Canada was negative (more people were leaving than coming in) Yes: new regions were colonized over time

What “field of honor” other than military, does Monseigneur LaFlèche refer to?

Agriculturalism Agriculturalism: An ideology that values farming and a traditional way of life, and rejects industrial developpment. Agriculturalists promote traditional values: French language and Catholic religion This ideology was popular during the second half of the 19th century, and was promoted by the Quebec government. In 1888 Honoré Mercier created the Department of Agriculture and Colonisation to create a program that would colonize the regions of Quebec.

Origins of Immigrants 1868-1891 Immigration in QuÉbec BEFORE 1867: Irish immigrants moving to Quebec to escape the Great Famine (potato famine) Many died on their voyage across the Atlantic ocean, and those that survived were quarantined on Grosse Île. After 1867: The federal government wanted to encourage immigration in the Dominion of Canada Most immigrants came from European countries (Northern Europe and Britain) Origins of Immigrants 1868-1891

Review Questions Why were French Canadians leaving the farms to go work in American factories? How did the Quebec government and Catholic clergy attempt to slow down the emigration of the French Canadians? Characterize agriculturalism. Compare the origins of immigrants in Canada before and after confederation.