1. 4.2 The Societies of Lower Canada and Upper Canada, 1791 to 1840

2. I. The Canadien Population – Lower Canada
Growth of the Canadien Population
A high rate of natural growth allowed the Canadien population to increase consistently from in 1791 to by 1840
Most Canadiens were farmers, craftspeople & labourers
There were also members of the Catholic clergy, seigneurs and members of the professional bourgeoisie

3. II. Overpopulation of seigneuries & its consequences
In the early 19th century seigneuries (farmland) were becoming overpopulated

4. II. Overpopulation of seigneuries & its consequences
Consequences of Overpopulation
New Regions were opened up for colonization:
Vallée du Richelieu
Beauce
Bas-Saint-Laurent
Saguenay
Lac-Saint-Jean (see document #21, page 199)

5. New regions of colonization

6. Migration to cities
overpopulation forced many people to start settling in urban areas
The Candiens began working in factories
Emigration to the United States
Many families moved to the U.S.A. for job opportunities in factories, farms or logging camps
Mainly settled in Vermont & Maine

7. Border of Lower Canada & Vermont

8. III. Population of British Origin
British Population
Few Anglophones in Upper and Lower Canada
Mostly farmers, craftspeople or labourers
Some British Elite:
Governor
Judges
military officers
council members
merchants
Location
Inhabitants
% of Anglophones
Upper Canada
10 000
90%
Lower Canada
9 %

9. Growth of the British Population
Grew primarily due through immigration
Immigrants came from:
USA initially
Later from United Kingdom: Scotland, Ireland, England
British families were prompted to leave their homeland due to:
Poor economic conditions
Epidemics
Famine - Irish
Anglophone families were attracted by an offer of free land-grants in the colony

11. Epidemics and quarantine
1. Cause of the outbreaks:
Overcrowding of boats carrying British immigrants lacked hygiene and led to outbreaks of cholera and typhus
2. Quarantines stations:
Quarantine stations were set up to isolate sick immigrants upon arrival for 40 days
Stations set up at Pointe – Levy & Grosse- ile

12. Places of settlement
Some new immigrants settled in the townships in Montérégie or the Eastern Townships
Despite these efforts, most Anglophone settled in Upper Canada

13. 4.3 Economic Transformation 1800-1840

14. I British-American War of 1812 (War of 1812)
Napoleon organized a continental blockade against Britain – goods could not be imported or exported to or from Britain
In retaliation Britain blockaded France
US economy was affected
Resulted in Americans declaring war against Britain and invading Canada

15. Most Canadiens & the Catholic church remained loyal to the British
Natives joined forces with Britain because of American settlers encroaching on Native land
Treaty of Ghent in 1814 ended the war and the Americans stopped their attempts to expand into Canada

16. II Decline of the Fur Trade
Demand in Europe for fur dropped
The British government forced Northwest Company and Hudson’s Bay to merge
Timber replaced fur as the main export

17. III. International Context and the Growth of the Timber Trade
Britain obtained timber from Northern Europe for warships but due to the war, this was not possible
Preferential Tariffs promoted timber imported from Canada
Labour force for the Timber industry came from Canadiens and immigrants from U.K (Irish)
Farmers worked in the timber industry in winter for extra income as lumberjacks, sawyers, hewers
Preferential Tariffs: Lower duties on products imported from the colonies

18. IV. Changes in Agriculture
Corn Laws in England discouraged imports of grain from most places, but benefitted Lower Canada
It was a form of protectionism to protect British farmers
Strong population growth did not allow many exports; and overfarming and overpopulation led to lower crop yields

19. V. Capital and infrastructure
Construction of Lachine Canal
First bank created (Bank of Montreal – 1817
Improvement in transportation networks:
Roads
Canals (Lachine Canal – 1825)
Bridges
Railways
Bank of Montreal