7) Economic Transformation Flashcards
Why did Napoleon build a blockade around the United Kingdom?
To weaken their military and economy.
What did the United Kingdom do in retaliation?
They imposed their own blockades and blocked all naval trade with France.
How did this affect the United States?
The US was France’s major trading partner. Their economy weakened because they weren’t getting resources from France.
How did the US react?
They invaded British colonies in Canada in 1812.
What were the roles of Canadiens in the conflict?
The Loyalist population joined the British to defend British interests in Upper Canada. Lower Canada was expected to assist the mother country. The Bishop wanted the Canadiens to remain Loyal to British authorities rather than be neutral.
Where did most attacks take place?
Upper Canada was more targeted because it was geographically closer to the US, but American troops marched on Montreal but lost during the battle of Chateauguay in 1813.
Who was Laura Secord?
She was the daughter of an American couple who immigrated to Canada in the 1780’s. She was given information from her husband that American troops were marching on Upper Canada. She ran through a forest for 18 hours without stopping to warn the British of the oncoming attack. She was successful in her mission.
Why did the First Nations want to alliance with the British?
They wanted land rights. The British were able to beat the Americans and the First Nations got land.
The ending of the war
In Europe, the Blockade imposed by Napoleon ended on April 4th 1814. The signing of the treaty of Ghent ended the war. The treaty forced Americans to stop attacking.
What happened to the fur trade?
It started to lose momentum because of overhunting and because more beavers were being hunted than being reproduced. By the 1830’s the European market for beaver had stopped and fur began to fall out of fashion.
What happened because of the decline of the fur trade?
Companies were forced to exploit new territories farther west, which required large investments. The distance at which the fur trade needed to operate and the construction of trading posts made the cost of production go up.
Why was the expansion more expensive?
It costed more money to ship the fur further.
The merger of companies
In 1821, the British government realized that the Hudson Bay and Northwest Company had big competition, so they encouraged them to merge. The name Hudson Bay remained and the companies began to export furs directly out of Baie d’Hudson.
The fur market
As the fur trade expanded, the market for fur was dropping. The fur trade slowly lost its value in favour of timber.
Growth of timber trade
A series of wars which put France against countries in Europe made the British colonies gather timber as a resource to rade on European markets. Timber industry developed fast. The timber industry encouraged the immigration of a more influential British bourgeoisie.
Why did British need timber and how did they ensure their supply?
They had to build war ships while at war with France. They turned to North America for timber.
What is a preferential tariff?
Decreased taxes on products like timber imported from the colonies. People would buy timber from their own colony to make more money for the mother country. They can buy as much as they want because the mother country would benefit from it.
Development of timber trade
Canadien workers in Lower Canada were employed as lumberjacks, hewers and sawyers. Forestry work was in high demand and it was an opportunity for farmers to make more money during winter.
Timberland
Timberland attracted investors and forested areas were colonized and many logging camps were established in the Vallée de l’Outaouais. The development of the timber industry also had an impact on the provinces major ports including Montreal, Quebec and Gaspé.
Changes in Agriculture
In Europe, the United Kingdom had a bigger population and needed more products from Canada for food. With the developments in agriculture and the intense cleaning of large swaths of lad, there was enough food made by farmers to be sent to European markets.
Why did Upper Canada have more agriculture?
Because of soil quality and population.
Organization of territory
Most British farmers settled in Eastern townships. This region was one of the first township systems to be created in the province. The British government was forced to open new roads which made the territory more accessible because of the development of more farmland.
What is protectionism?
An economic policy instituted by a government or state in order to protect the country or empire from foreign competition.
What was the corn law?
Britain was not allowed to import grain when wheat prices went below a certain price.
