Economic Features of British North America Flashcards
In the mid-1800s BNA was becoming …
Industrialized
Factories with ________ equipment were replacing small, hand powered shops.
Steam-powered
Did industries appear everywhere across BNA at the same time? If not, what affected the growth of industries?
No, factors such as geography, transportation, and population affected the growth of industries.
Where was one of the first places for industry to flourish in BNA? Why was that?
Montreal in late 1840s because the St. Lawrence River gave the city good water supply.
Why was water from the St. Lawrence River so important for the effectiveness of factory? Explain.
It gave the city good water supply. Boilers were built to convert water into steam, which in turn ran pumps, lathes, drills, and other equipment.
Why did factory workers hire recent immigrants to do dreary and dangerous work?
These people were not well educated and were poorly paid. They escaped even worse conditions in their homelands.
Why did factories hire women and children as young as 6 years old? How were they treated in the workplace?
Employers often paid them less than men. There weren’t any child labor laws. Employers beat them if they made mistakes or fell asleep from exhaustion.
How industrialized did the city of Montreal become in the 1840s and 1850s time period? Was this period of time short- lived?
Montreal was established as the most industrialized city in BNA. It was a long period of time (100 years).
What other communities around Montreal also experienced significant growth of steam-powered factories?
Saint-Henri, Valleyfield, Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Jean, Hochelaga
What were the three main industries which dominated Montreal? Provide a description of each.
Food was the largest industry at the time and had small and big operations. Footwear was the second largest industry at the time and footwear factories dominated BNA. Textiles were done by women and children and was done in people’s homes.
How many years after industrialization arrived in Canada East did it arrive in Canada West?
30 years
What was the largest industry in Canada West in the 1870s? What products did this industry produce?
The largest industry is textiles. They made things out of cotton like clothing, curtains, and table cloths.
How long did it take for Canada West to catch up with Canada East in terms of industrialization?
10 years
What was the dominant industry in the maritime colonies and why?
Ship building was an important craft because fishing and overseas trade were significant.
What types of skilled workers were needed for ship building in the Maritimes?
Skilled carpenters, Sail makers, Wood turners
