Heartland, Hinterland, Heartland, Hinterland,

and the Staple Tradeand the Staple Trade

Chapter 8 (pp. 98Chapter 8 (pp. 98--107)107)

VocabularyVocabulary

►►Heartland?Heartland?

►►Hinterland?Hinterland?

►►Staple?Staple?

►►Huh?Huh?

►►Some technical terms will be usedSome technical terms will be used…… be be

ready!ready!

Harold Harold InnisInnis

►►Professor of political economy at the Professor of political economy at the

University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto

►►In the 1920s, he helped develop, with W.A. In the 1920s, he helped develop, with W.A.

Mackintosh, the Mackintosh, the ““staple thesisstaple thesis””

�� CanadaCanada’’s economy but also political history and s economy but also political history and

culture is based on the exploitation and export culture is based on the exploitation and export

of staple commodities such as cod fish, furs, of staple commodities such as cod fish, furs,

timber and wheattimber and wheat

European expansion and European expansion and

mercantilismmercantilism

►►The Spanish and Portuguese explored and The Spanish and Portuguese explored and

settled in Central and South Americasettled in Central and South America

►►The French and the English explored and The French and the English explored and

settled in Central and North Americasettled in Central and North America

►►Mercantilism: market economy controlled by Mercantilism: market economy controlled by

the government, with the goal of increasing the government, with the goal of increasing

the amount of money in the state coffersthe amount of money in the state coffers

Cod fishCod fish

►►High demand for fish in EuropeHigh demand for fish in Europe�� cheaper than meatcheaper than meat

�� religious restrictions on meatreligious restrictions on meat

►►John Cabot reported back to England in John Cabot reported back to England in 1497 about the cod fish off the coasts of 1497 about the cod fish off the coasts of Newfoundland and Cape BretonNewfoundland and Cape Breton

►►Within a few years, England, France, Spain, Within a few years, England, France, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands fish on a Portugal and the Netherlands fish on a regular basis off Newfoundlandregular basis off Newfoundland

Cod fishCod fish

►►Wet fishingWet fishing

�� sailors stayed on board for the duration of the sailors stayed on board for the duration of the

fishing season (several months)fishing season (several months)

�� fish was cleaned, filleted and salted on boardfish was cleaned, filleted and salted on board

�� required to bring along large amount of saltrequired to bring along large amount of salt

�� mainly practiced by France, Spain and Portugal mainly practiced by France, Spain and Portugal

�� why do you think?why do you think?

Cod fishCod fish

►►Dry fishingDry fishing

�� fish was brought onshore to be cleaned, filleted, fish was brought onshore to be cleaned, filleted,

salted and driedsalted and dried

�� required small drying shacks and temporary required small drying shacks and temporary

housing for sailorshousing for sailors

�� required smaller amount than wet fishingrequired smaller amount than wet fishing

�� mainly practiced by England mainly practiced by England �� why do you why do you

think?think?

Cod fishCod fish

►►benefited European nations only benefited European nations only �� perfect perfect

mercantile modelmercantile model

►►had little to no impact on Aboriginal peoples had little to no impact on Aboriginal peoples

societiessocieties

►►did not require permanent settlementsdid not require permanent settlements

Cod fishCod fish

►►Dry fishing is more economically profitable:Dry fishing is more economically profitable:

�� uses less saltuses less salt

�� allows more fish as cargoallows more fish as cargo

►►Dry fishing led to the first contact with Dry fishing led to the first contact with

Aboriginal peoples and to the development Aboriginal peoples and to the development

of the fur tradeof the fur trade

�� trading of furs with Aboriginal peopletrading of furs with Aboriginal people

�� motivated the French to push further inlandmotivated the French to push further inland

Fur tradeFur trade

►►started mainly by the Frenchstarted mainly by the French

►►high demand in Europe for furshigh demand in Europe for furs

�� fashion of fur hats, especially beaverfashion of fur hats, especially beaver

�� depletion of European fur sourcesdepletion of European fur sources

►►required collaboration between the French required collaboration between the French

and Aboriginal peoplesand Aboriginal peoples

�� The French needed the Aboriginal peoples to The French needed the Aboriginal peoples to

hunt, and to help them survivehunt, and to help them survive

Fur tradeFur trade

►►Trading between the Trading between the WendatWendat ((HuronsHurons) and ) and

the French:the French:

�� beaver pelts in exchange for metal tools and beaver pelts in exchange for metal tools and

other European goodsother European goods

►►Political alliance between the French and Political alliance between the French and

the the WendatWendat

�� the French become involved in Aboriginal the French become involved in Aboriginal

conflicts (conflicts (WendatWendat vs. vs. HaudenosauneeHaudenosaunee))

Fur tradeFur trade

►►Henry Hudson explored North America in Henry Hudson explored North America in

1610 for the English1610 for the English

�� England becomes aware of the land around the England becomes aware of the land around the

Hudson BayHudson Bay

�� possible trading opportunities with Northern possible trading opportunities with Northern

Aboriginal peoplesAboriginal peoples

►►Charles II created the HudsonCharles II created the Hudson’’s Bay s Bay

Company by Royal Charter in 1670Company by Royal Charter in 1670

Fur tradeFur trade

►►Rivalry between the French and the EnglishRivalry between the French and the English

�� the French controlled the St. Lawrence Valleythe French controlled the St. Lawrence Valley

�� the English controlled the Hudson Baythe English controlled the Hudson Bay

►►Permanent trading posts are set up in Permanent trading posts are set up in

strategic placesstrategic places

�� beginning of European colonisationbeginning of European colonisation

Fur tradeFur trade

►►Heartland vs. hinterlandHeartland vs. hinterland

�� heartland: economic centre of a region or heartland: economic centre of a region or

country country �� EuropeEurope

�� hinterland: a region that provides the resources hinterland: a region that provides the resources

for the heartland for the heartland �� Canadian coloniesCanadian colonies

►►benefited mainly European nationsbenefited mainly European nations

►►benefited Aboriginal peoples a little at firstbenefited Aboriginal peoples a little at first

Fur tradeFur trade

►► loss of land on Aboriginal sideloss of land on Aboriginal side�� increase of conflicts among Aboriginal nations hunting increase of conflicts among Aboriginal nations hunting for the Europeans regarding territoriesfor the Europeans regarding territories

�� Europeans are settling down and claiming land for Europeans are settling down and claiming land for themselvesthemselves

�� displacement of Aboriginal peoplesdisplacement of Aboriginal peoples

►► traditional Aboriginal economics and culture traditional Aboriginal economics and culture threatenedthreatened�� Mercantilist/capitalistic models replace traditional Mercantilist/capitalistic models replace traditional community ownership modelcommunity ownership model

�� Christianity brought by missionaries Christianity brought by missionaries

Fur tradeFur trade

►►WarsWars�� French / English conflicts from Europe spread to French / English conflicts from Europe spread to coloniescolonies

�� Europeans involved in Europeans involved in WendatWendat / / HaudenosauneeHaudenosaunee conflict conflict

�� Aboriginal groups fight over territories and Aboriginal groups fight over territories and access to fursaccess to furs

►►DiseasesDiseases�� entire Aboriginal population are wiped out by entire Aboriginal population are wiped out by European diseasesEuropean diseases

TimberTimber

►►French did not exploit Canadian forests French did not exploit Canadian forests

muchmuch

►►the U.K. needed woodthe U.K. needed wood

�� largest navy in the worldlargest navy in the world

�� local forests are depletedlocal forests are depleted

►►British North American colonies became the British North American colonies became the

first supplier of timber for the U.K.first supplier of timber for the U.K.

TimberTimber

►►17761776--1783: American Revolution1783: American Revolution

�� the U.K. loses its timber supply from New the U.K. loses its timber supply from New

EnglandEngland

►►18031803--1815: Napoleonic Wars1815: Napoleonic Wars

�� the U.K. loses its timber supply from the Baltic the U.K. loses its timber supply from the Baltic

region (Northern Europe)region (Northern Europe)

►►Canada became the main source of timber Canada became the main source of timber

for the U.K.for the U.K.

TimberTimber

►►the U.K. gave its Canadian colonies the U.K. gave its Canadian colonies

preferential trade statuspreferential trade status

�� better trading terms than with other coloniesbetter trading terms than with other colonies

►►the U.K. set up privileged tariffs on timber the U.K. set up privileged tariffs on timber

from its Canadian coloniesfrom its Canadian colonies

�� tariffs are taxes on imported goodstariffs are taxes on imported goods

�� better deals for Canadians to trade with the UK better deals for Canadians to trade with the UK

than other placesthan other places

TimberTimber

►►ShipbuildingShipbuilding�� needed for fishing and tradingneeded for fishing and trading

�� beginning of large scale manufacturing beginning of large scale manufacturing (secondary industry) in the Canadian colonies(secondary industry) in the Canadian colonies

�� timber from Maritimes and Eastern regiontimber from Maritimes and Eastern region

�� shipbuilding mainly in Maritimesshipbuilding mainly in Maritimes

►►replaced by iron and steelreplaced by iron and steel

�� mainly in Eastern Canada (todaymainly in Eastern Canada (today’’s Ontario and s Ontario and Quebec)Quebec)

WheatWheat

►► European markets are disturbed by warsEuropean markets are disturbed by wars

�� the U.K. turned to its North American coloniesthe U.K. turned to its North American colonies

�� Prairies have very fertile land Prairies have very fertile land �� perfect for cerealsperfect for cereals

►► Preferential tariffsPreferential tariffs

�� Corn Laws of 1820Corn Laws of 1820

►►very expensive for U.S. to export their wheat to U.K.very expensive for U.S. to export their wheat to U.K.

►►very cheap for BNA for export their wheat to U.K.very cheap for BNA for export their wheat to U.K.

�� Preferential Trade Status of 1825Preferential Trade Status of 1825

►►easier for BNA to export to UKeasier for BNA to export to UK

WheatWheat

►►Europeans settled in the PrairiesEuropeans settled in the Prairies

�� new immigration wavenew immigration wave

►►many newcomers are from Eastern Europe, not many newcomers are from Eastern Europe, not

British IslesBritish Isles

�� Need for roads, canals and trains to export Need for roads, canals and trains to export

grainsgrains

�� Prairies became Prairies became –– temporarily temporarily –– the heartland of the heartland of

CanadaCanada

HeartlandHeartland

►►Heartland not fixed in one placeHeartland not fixed in one place

�� Cod fish: EuropeCod fish: Europe

�� Fur trade: mainly Europe, but Eastern Canada Fur trade: mainly Europe, but Eastern Canada

(Quebec) as well(Quebec) as well

�� Timber: Maritimes, and Eastern CanadaTimber: Maritimes, and Eastern Canada

�� Wheat: Central CanadaWheat: Central Canada

HinterlandHinterland

►►Hinterland not fixed in one placeHinterland not fixed in one place

�� Cod fish: coasts of Newfoundland and Cape Cod fish: coasts of Newfoundland and Cape

BretonBreton

�� Fur trade: Eastern Canada (Quebec), Hudson Fur trade: Eastern Canada (Quebec), Hudson

Bay area (40% of todayBay area (40% of today’’s territory!)s territory!)

�� Timber: Maritimes, Eastern CanadaTimber: Maritimes, Eastern Canada

�� Wheat: Central CanadaWheat: Central Canada

Relationships with the U.S.Relationships with the U.S.

►►Preferential Trade status and tariff lawsPreferential Trade status and tariff laws

�� limited U.S. exportslimited U.S. exports

►►gave an advantage to Canadian staples trading with gave an advantage to Canadian staples trading with

U.K.U.K.

�� U.S. limited imports from U.K.U.S. limited imports from U.K.

►►created a disadvantage for British economycreated a disadvantage for British economy

►►U.K. repealed Preferential Trade status and U.K. repealed Preferential Trade status and

tariff laws tariff laws

�� CanadaCanada’’s economy fell into a depressions economy fell into a depression

Relationships with the U.S.Relationships with the U.S.

►►Reciprocity Treaty, 1854Reciprocity Treaty, 1854

�� FreeFree--trade agreement between BNA and U.S.trade agreement between BNA and U.S.

�� Economic boom for CanadaEconomic boom for Canada

►►American Civil War (1861American Civil War (1861--1865) increased demands1865) increased demands

►►Repealed in 1866 by the U.S.Repealed in 1866 by the U.S.

Back to the staple thesisBack to the staple thesis

►►According to According to InnisInnis, the Staple trade explains , the Staple trade explains the differences between Canadian regions:the differences between Canadian regions:

►►In the Atlantic provinces, where cod was In the Atlantic provinces, where cod was fished, there is a strong tradition of fished, there is a strong tradition of decentralisation (lots of small towns, no decentralisation (lots of small towns, no central power) and of cooperation between central power) and of cooperation between people.people.

►►There is also a strong tradition of seasonal There is also a strong tradition of seasonal work.work.

Back to the staple thesisBack to the staple thesis

►►In Eastern Canada, where the fur trade was In Eastern Canada, where the fur trade was organised, there is a tradition of large organised, there is a tradition of large companies, with very businesscompanies, with very business--oriented oriented philosophies.philosophies.

►►InnisInnis believed the fur trade is what made believed the fur trade is what made Canada different from the U.S. and created Canada different from the U.S. and created the countrythe country’’s boundariess boundaries

Back to the staple thesisBack to the staple thesis

►►In the Prairies, farming is a very In the Prairies, farming is a very

independent work, so there is a distrust independent work, so there is a distrust

of governments and corporations.of governments and corporations.

►►Farming also depends on weather, Farming also depends on weather,

which cannot be controlled, so help is which cannot be controlled, so help is

needed during hard times. Universal needed during hard times. Universal

healthcare and the NDP both originate healthcare and the NDP both originate

from the Prairies.from the Prairies.

Questions?Questions?