HISTORY UNIT 1 CANADA WEST Flashcards
What is Canada West known as today?
Canada West is known as present-day Ontario.
In the first half of the 1800s: who was settling in Canada West?
Tens of thousands of British immigrants were settling in Canada West.
Where were these British immigrants settling?
These British immigrants were settling on fertile land previously occupied by First Nations peoples.
What transformation did Canada West undergo by the 1850s?
Canada West transformed from scattered, isolated settlements into a lively network of farms, towns, and cities.
Before the 1850s: how were crops and timber primarily transported for export?
Before the 1850s: ships transported crops and timber for export to Europe and the United States.
Who primarily benefited from ship transportation in Canada West?
People living near ports: rivers: or canals primarily benefited from ship transportation.
What transportation challenges did farmers living further inland face?
Farmers living further inland struggled to get their crops to market.
What significant development in the 1850s changed transportation in Canada West?
The boom in railway construction in the 1850s changed transportation in Canada West.
How did railways benefit farmers living further inland?
Railways brought crops and other products to ports for export: benefiting farmers who previously faced transportation challenges.
What was the main industry in Canada West?
Agriculture was the main industry in Canada West.
Where was farming especially expanding in Canada West?
Farming was especially expanding north of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.
What were essential for transportation, trade, and local communities in Canada West?
Major rivers such as the Ottawa River and the St. Lawrence River were essential.
What was the southern part of Canada West known for?
The southern part of Canada West had fertile lands suitable for agriculture.
What was the northern part of Canada West characterised by?
The northern part of Canada West was heavily forested.
What became centres of commerce for more remote settlements with railway development?
Answer: Towns and cities such as Toronto and Brantford became centres of commerce.
What happened to all the fertile land stretching north from Lake Ontario and Lake Erie?
Answer: All of the fertile land stretching north from Lake Ontario and Lake Erie was being farmed.
What developed as the railways expanded to serve rural populations?
Answer: More towns were established to offer services to rural populations.
What provided new opportunities for immigrants moving to towns and cities in Canada West?
Answer: The economic growth created by the railways provided new opportunities.
Who were Thornton and Lucie Blackburn?
Answer: Thornton and Lucie Blackburn were Black Americans who escaped slavery and became successful business owners in Toronto.
What significant business did Thornton Blackburn start in Toronto?
Answer: Thornton Blackburn started the first cab service in Toronto.
What was the population growth in Canada West between the 1840s and 1860s?
The population of Canada West tripled to almost one and a half million.
Which ethnic group became the largest in Canada West by the 1860s?
The Irish became the largest ethnic group in Canada West by the 1860s.
What provided employment for many Irish immigrants who lacked funds to buy land?
Railroad construction and local industries provided employment for many Irish immigrants.
What social tensions arose due to competition for jobs in Canada West?
Answer: Social tensions arose as the Irish had to compete with Canadians and other immigrants for jobs.
What caused increased tensions between Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants in Canada West?
Religious differences caused increased tensions between Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants in Canada West.
What significant Protestant society was formed by Irish Protestants in Canada West?
Answer: The Orange Order was formed by Irish Protestants in Canada West.
What influence did the Orange Order hold in Toronto?
The Orange Order held significant influence over politics: policing: and firefighting in Toronto.
What was the political status of Canada West and what was the main industry?
Canada West was a British colony as part of British North America, and agriculture was the main industry.
Which First Nations group adopted European farming, and what was the government’s response to their land?
The Mississauga of the Credit River adopted European farming techniques, but the government refused to recognise their ownership and forced them off their land.
Who were Nahnebahwequay and Kezhegowinninne, and what did they do for First Nations communities?
Nahnebahwequay (Catherine Sutton) and Kezhegowinninne (David Sawyer) were Ojibwe leaders who helped local First Nations bands start farms.
What actions did the government of Canada West take regarding First Nations’ land and what was one consequence of this?
The government pressured First Nations to sign away their territories and refused their attempts to buy back land, leading to protests, including in Britain.
When was slavery abolished in British North America, and what was the Underground Railroad?
Slavery was abolished in British North America in 1833, and the Underground Railroad was a secret network to help enslaved Black people escape.
What was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and how did it affect the number of people fleeing to British North America?
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 in the United States allowed the recapture of escapees, causing even more people to flee to British North America.
Approximately how many people fled via the Underground Railroad, and what did they establish in southern Canada West?
Between 30,000 and 40,000 people fled to British North America and many formed Black settlements with their own schools and churches.
Who was Mary Ann Shadd and what was her role in the abolitionist movement?
Mary Ann Shadd was a Black Canadian activist who established abolitionist newspapers to inform the public about slavery and the Underground Railroad.
How did the growth of railways impact farming, and what industry developed to support it?
Railways increased farming due to easier transport, and entrepreneurs began manufacturing farm machinery to meet demand.
What was the significance of the Massey Company in Canada West?
By 1886, the Massey Company’s farm machinery factory was the largest factory in Toronto, employing 700 people.
What improvements in transportation occurred by 1850, and what were two of their effects?
By 1850, railways and canals improved transportation, making it more efficient and connecting regions and opening up markets.
Name two specific railway links in Canada West and beyond that were important.
Railways linked Montreal to Portland, Maine, and Toronto to Collingwood.
What did railway construction encourage/influence?
Railways encouraged westward expansion, strengthening the economy and making Confederation more appealing.
Besides agriculture, what were major rivers like the Ottawa and St. Lawrence River essential for in Canada West?
Major rivers were essential for transportation and trade, as well as local communities.
Beyond Irish conflicts, what broader social tensions arose in Canada West during the mid-1800s?
Rapid immigration led to job competition among Canadians and Irish immigrants, causing broader social tensions beyond religious conflicts.
How did the geography of Canada West influence its development and settlement?
Southern Canada West had fertile land for agriculture, while the forested north supported lumbering. Rivers like the Ottawa and St. Lawrence were vital for trade, transport, and community growth.
Who was Harriet Tubman?
Harriet Tubman was a formerly enslaved Black woman who became a leading “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, a secret network helping enslaved people escape from the United States to freedom.
What was Harriet Tubman’s connection to Canada West and what was her impact?
Canada West, where slavery was abolished in 1833, was a major destination. Harriet herself had escaped to Canada West and aimed to help others do so too. Driven particularly by the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 in the US, Tubman made approximately 19 secret missions, guiding an estimated 300 Black people to safety in Canada West. Her actions significantly contributed to the population growth of Canada West and the establishment of Black settlements there.
