British North America In the 1800’s

• Two important events that shaped BNA in the 1800’s were:

• 1763—Britain won all of France’s North American colonies

• 1776—The British colonies in what is now the US rebelled and became independent from Britain

Important terms

• Colony: a territory of a “home” country in another part of the world.

• Hudson’s Bay Company: A company that was given rights in much of Canada by the British government.

• Province of Canada—Separated into Canada East and West (now Quebec and Ontario)

Population--1851

• Approximately 2 536 000 (very small considering how large of a space it was)

• Europeans were the majority

• First Nations and Inuit were the minority

• 85% rural--country

• 15% urban—towns

• Largest city in the Maritimes was Saint John, NB (30,000)

The peoples of the BNA

The British

• They were the elite. What does that mean?

• Descendants of the United Empire Loyalists—Who were they?

• Had been given large areas of land—for CHEAP!!

• Had the most to say in government, owned the largest businesses and set social standards for the communities.

• Mostly, all followed the teachings of the Church of England.

The French and the Acadians

• Two groups

• 1) The French of Canada East (Quebec—les Habitants)

• 2) The Acadians (NB, NS, PEI)

The French of Canada East

• Majority

• Many had been there since the 1600’s

• Roman Catholic

• Only in Canada East were the French Guaranteed certain rights: language, customs, laws and faith.

The Acadians

• Named after the first permanent French settlement in North America

• 1600’s and 1700’s strong economies and settlements

• 1755-le Grand Derangement (“the Expulsion”

• 8,000-10,000 forced to leave their homes

• Some moved to Canada East, others to Louisiana or to French communities on the coast of NFLD.

• Others went as far as France.

• It’s been estimated that up to 50% of the Acadians that were deported died as a result of the expulsion.

Acadians con’t…

• Did eventually return to BNA, but it took many years for their development to catch up.

• The Acadians remained in poverty—still a problem to this day.

Aboriginal Peoples

• First Nations

• Inuit

• Metis

First Nations

• Originally, had been treated as a “separate nation” by those in power.

• By 1850, the colonial leaders saw them as subjects.

Problems faced by the First Nations

• Loss of land—European settlers needed and were allowed (sometimes encouraged) to take whatever land they wanted.

• Officially, the government did eventually set aside land for the First Nations.

• Unofficially, they didn’t stop anyone from taking over whatever land they wanted.

Problems con’t…

• Drop in Population• 500 000 before first contact

• 102 000 by 1871 (some entire communities were wiped out)

• Why? Usually disease—no protection from European diseases

The Metis

• Largest settlement in the BNA was near Lake Winnipeg

• Were of mixed descent of French and First Nations ancestry

• Employed in the Fur trade—low level positions

• Couldn’t advance due to racist attitudes

Black Colonists

• Slavery abolished in the BNA in 1834

• American Revolution—approx. 3000 Black Loyalists came to the BNA (mostly NB and NS)

• Different benefits than their white counterparts

• Poor quality, small plots of land.

• Difficulties getting titles to land—made to move?

Black Loyalists con’t…

• Between 1840-1860 30 000 Black people (men, women, children) came to BNA

• Why?

• Most moved to Ontario and NS