KEY HISTORICAL EVENTS AND CONCEPTS (HU1) Flashcards
Explain the following: The formation of British North America and its colonies
Northwest and Pacific Coast:
Governance: Initially Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) rule, then British colonial governance emerged with Vancouver Island in 1849 and British Columbia in 1858.
Population: Majority First Nations (around 140,000 in 1857), smaller Métis and European population (around 10,000). Sparsely populated.
Main Economic Resources: Fur trade, lumbering, fishing, mining (copper, silver, coal), and gold mining.
Structure: Vast territory. Pacific Coast: mountainous, dense forests, fjords, large coastline. Northwest: expansive prairies, large boreal forests.
Important Details: The 1862 smallpox epidemic devastated First Nations. The Fraser River Gold Rush (1858) led to a major influx of non-Aboriginal people and conflicts over land.
Canada East (Present Quebec):
Governance: Part of the Province of Canada after 1840, government dominated by English politicians. (Same w CW)
Population: Majority French-speaking Canadiens (around 670,000), mostly Catholic and working class. English businessmen held economic power in cities. Urban population grew from 5% in 1800 to 20% by 1867.
Main Economic Resources: Agriculture, lumber industry, manufacturing (especially clothing), and commerce. The seigneurial system was a feature of land ownership.
Structure: Part of the Province of Canada above Canada West.
Important Details: Strong French cultural and linguistic identity led to French nationalism. (Catholic Churches had significant influence). Significant migration from rural areas due to poverty and unsustainable farming.
Canada West (Present Ontario):
Governance: Part of the Province of Canada after 1840. Significant influence of the Orange Order on politics, policing, and firefighting in Toronto. Government policies led to First Nations land loss.
Population: Rapid growth due to British and Irish immigration (reached almost 1.5 million by 1860s, Irish the largest ethnic group). Also a significant Black American population (around 30,000-40,000) via the Underground Railroad.
Main Economic Resources: Primarily agriculture, significantly boosted by railway expansion. Growth of towns as commercial hubs and development of mills and farm machinery manufacturing.
Structure: Part of the Province of Canada alongside Canada East. Southern part fertile land for agriculture, northern part heavily forested.
Important Details: Railway expansion was crucial for the region’s transformation. The Underground Railroad had a significant impact on its population and society.
Atlantic Colonies:
Governance: Under direct British government control. Four distinct colonies: Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
Population: Primarily European settlers.
Main Economic Resources: Newfoundland: Fisheries. Prince Edward Island: Agriculture. Nova Scotia: Shipping and coal mining. New Brunswick: Forestry, shipbuilding, lumber, iron, mining. Dangerous working conditions existed, and child labour was common as families needed all members to contribute to their livelihoods.
Structure: Bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Four individual colonies with unique characteristics.
Important Details: The Reciprocity Treaty with the US (1854-1865) significantly impacted their trade. Shipbuilding was a key industry in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Government forcibly took over First Nations land for new settlers.
Explain the following: The Reciprocity Treaty (1854) – purpose, impact, and end
Purpose: It was a trade agreement between Britain and the United States. This treaty allowed free trade (no taxes) on farm goods and natural resources between (BNA) and the USA.
Impact:
◦Trade with the USA went up after it started in 1854.
◦More demand for goods from BNA’s Atlantic colonies due to the railway boom in America in the 1850s.
◦Even more demand during the American Civil War (1861-1865) for BNA’s farm and natural products.
End: The USA stopped the treaty in 1865 after the Civil War. The United States started putting high taxes on goods from BNA, and the Atlantic colonies lost a key market for trading.
Explain the following: Railway expansion and its effects on Canada West
Railway expansion in the 1850s Canada West increased rail lines, connecting isolated settlements and improving trade by providing easier access to ports for agriculture and timber. Effects on CW:
Improved Trade & Transport: By the 1850s, railways connected Canada West and East, making it easier to transport crops and goods to ports. Even inland farmers could now access markets more efficiently.
Urban Growth: Cities like Toronto and Brantford became commercial hubs, offering services such as blacksmiths and general stores for rural settlers.
Local Industries: Railways spurred small industries; mills processed grain into flour and wool into fabric, benefiting farmers.
New Opportunities: Economic growth attracted immigrants. Thornton Blackburn, a former slave, established Toronto’s first cab service, showing how railways created success stories and encouraged settlement.
Farming Expansion: Railways increased farming; loans helped farmers buy machinery, and entrepreneurs in Canada West began manufacturing farm equipment. The railway also made transporting machinery to farms easier, further boosting agricultural production.
Explain the following: The role of First Nations and Métis in British North America
First Nations Peoples:
-Original inhabitants of British North America, holding a fundamental role in maintaining the land, resources, and culture.
-Played a significant role in trade, agriculture, and establishing relationships with early European settlers.
-Faced increasing displacement due to European settlement and government policies.
-In the Atlantic colonies, despite Peace and Friendship Treaties guaranteeing rights, the government offered little protection from settler encroachment.
-Economically marginalized, relying on selling wild produce and crafts like maple syrup and baskets.
-In Canada West, despite adopting European-style agriculture, they were denied land ownership, and the government auctioned their lands to settlers instead.
-The Canadian government refused to allow them to buy back ancestral territories.
-In the Northwest and Pacific Coast, First Nations initially outnumbered Europeans.
-The Fraser River Gold Rush disrupted their lives, polluted fishing waters, and led to violent conflicts. (Fraser Canyon War in 1858)
-The 1862 smallpox epidemic had a devastating impact on these communities.
-Chief Briot petitioned to stop land sale, protecting Mi’kmaq from poverty, but was rejected by the government, showing how the First Nations fought to keep their lands out of Britain’s hands.
Métis People:
-Descendants of French and British traders and First Nations wives, with a unique cultural identity.
-Played a key role in the fur trade (hunting and trapping) as intermediaries between European traders and First Nations.
-Engaged in farming, hunting, trapping, and trading.
-In the Red River Settlement, they worked to preserve their cultural heritage by educating children in both European and First Nations traditions.
-The arrival of settlers from Canada West in the late 1850s created racial and religious conflicts, disrupting the unity of the Red River colony.
Explain the following: Population changes in Canada East and Canada West
Canada East:
*The majority of the population in Canada East was French-speaking Canadiens, descendants of early French settlers.
*Initially, the urban population was small; in 1800, only 5 percent lived in cities.
*By 1867, the urban population had increased significantly to 20 percent.
*This shift was largely due to Canadiens abandoning farm life as their land plots became too small to support families and they incurred debts.
*Many Canadiens migrated to cities within Canada East to find work.
*A significant number of Canadiens also left Canada East to seek employment in the United States.
Canada West:
*The first half of the 1800s saw tens of thousands of British immigrants arriving in Canada West annually.
*Between the 1840s and 1860s, the population of Canada West tripled to almost one and a half million.
*Among the new arrivals were British immigrants and Black Americans who escaped slavery via the Underground Railroad. Approximately 30,000 to 40,000 Black people fled to British North America along this route.
*Irish immigrants arrived in such large numbers that they became the largest ethnic group in Canada West by the 1860s.
*These population increases led to Canada West changing from scattered, isolated settlements to a lively network of farms, towns, and cities.
Explain the following: The Underground Railroad and its impact on Canada West
The Underground Railroad
-A secret network that helped enslaved Black people escape to the northern U.S. and Canada West, where slavery was abolished in 1833.
-Not an actual railroad, but a network of secret routes, safe houses, and abolitionists who assisted escapees.
-Canada West was a major destination because British law protected freedom seekers from being sent back to slavery.
-The Fugitive Slave Act (1850) allowed slave owners to capture escapees even in free states, leading many to flee to BNA.
-An estimated 30,000–40,000 people escaped to British North America.
-Created a haven for those escaping slavery, offering them freedom and opportunities.
-Harriet Tubman, a famous conductor, made 19 trips south and helped around 300 people escape.
-Conductors led escapees between “safe houses,” often traveling by night.
-The Underground Railroad became North America’s largest freedom movement.
-Slavery was abolished in the U.S. in 1865 after the Civil War.
Impact on Canada West
-Led to the creation of Black settlements in southern Canada West.
-Communities built schools, churches, and businesses, fostering independence.
-Mary Ann Shadd, a Black abolitionist, established newspapers raising awareness.
-Diversity increased, making Canada West more multicultural.
-Thornton Blackburn, a former enslaved person, built Toronto’s first cab service.
-Canada West became a symbol of freedom and hope, influencing abolitionist movements.
Explain the following: Industries in Newfoundland and other colonies (e.g., shipbuilding, farming)
Atlantic Colonies:
*Newfoundland: Fisheries.
*Prince Edward Island: Agriculture.
*Nova Scotia: Shipping and coal mines. Growing industries.
*New Brunswick: Forestry and shipbuilding. Also benefited from lumber, iron, and coal industries.
Canada East (Present-day Québec):
*Dominated by English businessmen in the economy.
*Agriculture (though facing challenges).
*Lumber industry.
*Manufacturing, particularly the clothing industry.
*Investment by the Catholic Church in railways, mining, and lumber.
Canada West (Present-day Ontario):
*Agriculture (growing due to immigration and railway development).
*Development of the railway system and related commerce.
*Farm machinery manufacturing.
Northwest and Pacific Coast:
Northwest:
*Rupert’s Land:
◦Fur Trade, Agriculture
*Northwest Territory:
◦Hunting, fishing, and gathering (inferred from historical perspective)
Pacific Coast:
*New Caledonia (later part of British Columbia):
◦Gold Mining
*Vancouver Island (later part of British Columbia):
◦Trade, Gold Mining, Coal Mining, Lumber
Explain the following: The Orangemen and their influence in Canada West
The Orange Order in Canada West
-A Protestant society formed by Irish Protestants in Canada West.
-Founded amid rising tensions between Irish Catholics and Protestants.
-Non-Irish Protestants in Canada West also became members.
-Held secret meetings and training to defend their communities.
-Organized public parades in downtown Toronto to display influence.
-Dominated politics, policing, and firefighting in Toronto (late 1800s).
-20 of 23 Toronto mayors (1845–1900) were members, along with many city councillors.
-Their control over government and services raised concerns about bias.
-Increased social tensions with Irish Catholics, influenced by visible symbols (e.g., clothing colors).
-After a Protestant constable was attacked, -Orangemen retaliated by attacking a Catholic cathedral.
-Nine major riots (1849–1864) occurred between Catholics and the Orange Order.
Explain the following: The Province of Canada and its political structure
There were four main political parties during the 1860s in the Province of Canada.
Canada East:
-Parti Rouge (not in support of Confederation)
- Parti Bleu (supported Confederation on 1 condition)
Canada West:
- Conservatives (strongly supported Confederation)
- Clear Grits (supported idea of Confederation)
Following the union of Upper and Lower Canada, the resulting Province of Canada had a political structure where Canada East and Canada West each received an equal number of seats in parliament, requiring them to collaborate on legislation. However, this system faced challenges due to their differing interests, languages, and religions, and during the 1860s, the political landscape was dominated by four main parties: the Conservatives and Clear Grits in Canada West, and the Parti Bleu and Parti Rouge in Canada East.
Explain the following: Political deadlock and the reasons for forming a coalition government
Political Deadlock:
This occurred in the Province of Canada because no new laws could be passed in the legislative assembly.
-Differing Interests:Canada East and Canada West had different interests, languages, and religions.
- Voting Against Each Other: Due to these differing interests, members of government and opposition would often vote against each other’s bills.
- No Majority: As a result of the divisions, neither side could consistently secure a majority of votes in the parliament.
- These fundamental differences in interests, languages, and religions between Canada East and Canada West led to government members and the opposition frequently voting against each other’s proposed legislation. This resulted in a situation where neither side could consistently achieve a majority in parliament, ultimately causing a political deadlock where no new laws could be passed. It was because of this political deadlock that a coalition government was seen as necessary.
- Coalition Government Proposal: George Brown, leader of the Clear Grits, suggested a coalition government.
- Reason for Coalition: The idea behind the coalition government proposal was that different political parties could work together to achieve common goals, with the main aim of overcoming the political deadlock that was preventing any progress in passing necessary laws.
Explain the following: Confederation and the role of political parties (Parti Rouge, Parti Bleu, Clear Grits, Conservatives)
What were the names, leaders, and key political platforms of the two main political parties in Canada West during the 1860s?
Part 1
The two main political parties in Canada West were the Clear Grits, led by George Brown, and the Conservatives, led by John A. Macdonald.
* The Clear Grits wanted people to have more of a voice in government operations, advocated for representation by population in the government system, had support from the rural population, and supported the idea of a confederation of British North American colonies.
* The Conservatives were loyal to Queen Victoria and the connection to Britain and strongly supported and worked towards the confederation of the British North American colonies.
Explain the following: Queen Victoria’s decision to make Ottawa the capital.
What challenges were faced in selecting a capital for the Province of Canada, what initial location was chosen and why were there complaints, who ultimately decided the location, and what were the reasons for the final selection?
Selecting a capital for the new Province of Canada was a challenge for the new government.
* The capital city was initially selected as Kingston.
* There were complaints over Kingston’s location and border security, which led to pressure on the government to meet in Toronto, Montréal, and Québec City.
* Ultimately, Queen Victoria decided where the capital city should be located.
* Bytown, now named Ottawa, was selected as the new capital city because it could be protected in case of an American attack, the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River provided water transportation routes into and out of the town, and it was located on the border between Canada West and East. There was criticism of this plan because Ottawa was a long distance from the more developed cities of Toronto, Kingston, Montréal, and Québec City.
Explain the following: Confederation and the role of political parties (Parti Rouge, Parti Bleu, Clear Grits, Conservatives)
What were the names, leaders, and key political platforms of the two main political parties in Canada East during the 1860s?
Part 2
The two main political parties in Canada East during the 1860s were the Parti Bleu and the Parti Rouge.
- The Parti Bleu was led by George-Étienne Cartier.
- Their key political platform included:
- Supporting confederation only if Canada East would
maintain its religious and family law systems. - Wanting cooperation between the French and English.
- The Parti Rouge was led by Antoine-Aimé Dorion.
- Their key political platform included:
- Opposing a confederation of British North American colonies.
- Feeling that it would not be beneficial to the French population of Canada East.
Explain the following: The Cause of the Act of Union.
Discuss the context leading to the Rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada in 1837, Lord Durham’s recommendations, and the key outcomes of the subsequent Act of Union.
The 1800s saw British North American colonies desiring more freedom from Britain, but the slow response led to The Rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada in 1837.
To understand these rebellions, Lord Durham investigated and made three recommendations.
- Merge Upper and Lower Canada into one colony with an English-speaking majority.
- Assimilate French people and culture into British language and culture.
- Implement responsible government with an elected assembly.
In response, the Act of the Union bill passed in 1840, and it came into effect on February 10, 1841, uniting Upper and Lower Canada into The Province of Canada, which were then named Canada East (formerly Lower Canada) and Canada West (formerly Upper Canada) on maps.
What was the primary political challenge faced in the Province of Canada following the union of Upper and Lower Canada and the establishment of equal representation in parliament, and what solution was proposed by George Brown to address this challenge?
Following the union of Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada, each section received an equal amount of seats in parliament, meaning Canada East and Canada West had to work together to pass laws. However, this became increasingly difficult due to their different interests, languages, and religions, leading to government and opposition members voting against each other’s bills, and no new laws being passed. The consequence of these increasing difficulties was a political deadlock, where neither side could secure a majority of votes. George Brown, the leader of the Clear Grits, proposed a coalition government as a solution to this political deadlock.
What were the characteristics of the coalition government proposed to solve the political deadlock, and what were its two main ideas?
The proposed coalition government involved different political parties choosing to set aside their differences and work together to achieve a common goal, typically during a political deadlock in the legislative assembly or in an emergency situation. This coalition government had two main ideas to help solve the political deadlock issue:
*
To form a union of British North American colonies into one country.
*
That Canada East and Canada West would be officially split into two separate provinces, each with their own local government to decide on local matters and one central government to look after issues that would concern both provinces.
