The Great Migration

Immigration After the War of 1812, Britain wanted to open up the backwoods to farming They wanted to fill the colonies with people from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland Between 1815 and 1850 more then 800,000 immigrants came to Halifax, Saint John and Quebec City This is called the “Great Migration”

Reasons for Immigration The population in Britain was growing and there were less and less job opportunities Farmers were often being forced off their land to make room for city growth Poverty and hunger were a common feature of life in Britain Ireland suffered from a terrible famine Ocean travel was a lot safer The colonies offered free land, new opportunities and a chance for a better life = HOPE!

Coming to the Colonies Immigrants travelled by ship to Canada The journey took many weeks If you had money, there were comfortable cabins If you were poor – which most were – you were crowded into the dark and very dirty holds (below deck) Diseases were rampant So many died they called the ships “coffin ships” Some stopped in the Maritimes, but most continued to Quebec City and Montreal They then travelled by land to Upper Canada

The Terrible Year Around 30, 000 immigrants arrived every year from Britain 2/3 were from Ireland In 1847 the number of Irish immigrants increased dramatically to 100,000 There was a horrible potato famine in Ireland – all the crops had failed due to blight Approximately 1/3 of the population of Ireland relied on potatoes for their daily food and nourishment To make matters worse, an epidemic of Typhus broke out on the ships carrying the immigrants Thousands died on the way Thousands died in a quarantine station on the St. Lawrence at Grosse- Ile  In ,424 people were buried

SOAPSTone! “Advice for Immigrants” We will read the Primary Source together You will complete the SOAPSTone chart in small groups We will then discuss it

Pioneer Life Once the immigrants left the ships, they made their way inland by boat and wagon They were going to their plot of land When they reached their new home they had a new challenge to face The land wasn't ready for farming – it was still wilderness They had to now clear the trees and plant-life away to make fields

Pioneer Life: Women It was not just men who were doing hard work – women were too Women worked with the men of the family in both the home and on the farm Mary milks the cow admirably and drives the horses for me in the barn when I am threshing, and they tread out the grain. She also attends to the young lambs and is most useful in a hundred ways. Frances makes our candles and does the cleaning. The girls finish their spinning today... What they do not require for the house, they will “trade away” for winter dresses, boots, shoes, and a thousand little things which a large family of girls are always requiring... Their exertions have been wonderful, from before 5 in the morning until after 7 at night. - William Hutton, Farmer, Upper Canada Q: What kinds of chores did the women do?

Catherine Parr Trail Although women helped a lot with farming life – it was still a very difficult and demanding lifestyle Catherine Parr Trail, who came to Upper Canada in 1832, writes about this aspect of life for women The women are disconnected and unhappy. Few enter their whole heart into a settler's life. They miss the little domestic comforts they had been used to enjoy; they regret the friends and relations they left in the old country; and they cannot endure the loneliness of the backwoods. - Catherine Parr Trail, Backwoods of Canada

SOAPSTone! “Building a Log-House in Upper Canada” We will read the primary source together You will work on the chart independently

A Very British Colony The influx of so many people from Britain changed the colonies These immigrants brought with them their British customs and traditions – They spoke English – They played British games New industries opened up such as logging and mining People worked as labourers, servants, teachers and doctors

Population Increase Upper Canada Lower Canada Nova Scotia New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Newfoundland This chart does not include First Nations, although their population was in decline at this time. Why do you think this is?