Colonies in the WildernessCanada in 1825

What was Canada?

Canada was part of British North America which included 6 colonies:

Upper Canada (South – East Ontario) Lower Canada (Southern Quebec) New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Newfoundland

British North America

Each of these colonies relied on Britain to make laws, provide defense, become trading partners and send immigrants to populate the colonies.

The Hudson’s Bay Company was responsible for Rupert’s Land near Hudson’s Bay and the North-Western Territory

BNA 1825

War of 1812

Between the British and the Americans. Resulted from the Napoleanic Wars in Europe between England and France.

British tried to stop Americans from shipping goods to Europe (France).

Americans retaliate by declaring war on Britain and attacking Upper Canada, a British colony.

Thomas Jefferson said “a mere matter of marching” would ensure the capture of Canada.

Canada’s Early SettlersSmall numbers of people had moved (immigrated)

to Canada from England and France for a few hundred years, but it was not until the fur trade that many Europeans began to make Canada their home.

In the 1800s many people lived in the Maritimes as there was plenty of work in shipbuilding and fishing. We had the food and raw materials needed by Britain.

After the war of American Independence (1775-1783), many “Loyalists’ (Americans who wanted to remain loyal to Britain) moved to Canada to stay under British rule.

Farming and Fur trade

New immigrants wanted to farm, especially in the fertile soils of Upper Canada. They were able to travel easily to Upper Canada because of the waterways (St. Lawrence River, Great Lakes)

There were few roads for horse and cart, and no railways.

Fur trade was still popular. HBC and its rival, the Northwest Company merged in 1821.