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Uncover historical reasons for the differences between Canadians and Americans and the impact of French and British colonization in Canada. Discover how Canadians preserved their way of life and maintained their French heritage.
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Question… • An exchange student from Europe is visiting us, and says that there is no difference between Canadians and Americans. How would you respond? • What are some historical explanations for your answers?
Remember… • The explorers who came to Canada were not looking to colonize new lands. • They were, in a word, after money. Whether it be access to the trading routes of the Far East (via the hypothetical Northwest Passage), gold, or eventually fish and of course beaver, it all ultimately came down to one thing – financial gain. • Settling Canada was seen as undesirable. Voltaire, the famous French philosopher referred to Canada as “quelques arpents de neige”, just a few acres of snow • “Canada” at this time was essentially Quebec and their First Nations allies • However, eventually it became a case of “Keeping up with he Joneses” and France began to be drawn into the race for Empire against their long-time enemy, England
Colonies in North America, the Philippines, Asia, and coastal Africa became strategic battlegrounds for the erupting European conflictThe Seven Years War began in 1756, and encompassed regions throughout the world
The two generals fight it out over the north American colonies • Montcalm/France • Disliked North America, and held a low opinion of both colonists and aboriginal people VS • James Wolfe/England • 1759, a young general, James Wolfe, was sent by King George II and William Pitt to conquer Quebec
The View Of The Taking of Quebec: 20 minutes that change the history of canada
The Capitulation of Montreal • With the British forces converging on Montreal, and the Aboriginal allies having signed peace agreements with the British, the French had little choice • On September 8, 1760, they signed the Articles of Capitulation, giving control of Montreal, and all of New France, to the British • The conquest of New France was complete
Ultimately, however, France was willing to give up Canada because it meant they could gain back Guadeloupe, which the British had taken during the 7 Year War [think sugar plantations vs a “few acres of snow”]
British colonies • Britain now has a total of 16 colonies in the New World: can you name them? • Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and the 13 colonies to the south:
Was the war that destroyed Quebec…the war that created Canada?
Dates to remember… • Battle of the Plains of Abraham: 1759
Think about this… • Assume that a powerful foreign country has just conquered your country. There are going to be changes to your language and some of the laws. How would you react? What could you do to help to preserve your way of life?
Now what? • FACT: The British now ruled more than 70 000 French Canadians who spoke no English, were Roman Catholic (as opposed to Protestant), were used to a different legal system, and had a very different system of land division (the seigneuries) • ALSO: the Habitants still vastly outnumbered English speakers • There were over 2 000 000 Anglo-Americans in North America at the time and only 70 000 Canadiens. But in Canada these 70 000 Canadiens vastly outnumbered the few hundred British settlers • The British hoped to deal with this by immersing the French-speaking Catholics in a sea of English Protestants who they thought would flood into Canada from the Anglo-American colonies to the south • But – guess what? That’s right. No one wanted to come.
What to do with the French? • Guy Carleton, one of the first British governors of Canada: “It seems as if this country must, to the end of time, be peopled by the Canadian race.” • Carleton initially took a severe attitude to the Canadiens • However, he soon found that, compared with the newly establish English settlers, they were both hard-working and tough. • His sympathies began to lie more and more with these “brave and hardy people” • He became a strong supporter for preserving the French heritage and he believed it was unrealistic to try to force a new system of government on these people • He upheld the seigneurial system and supported the use of French civil law in the courts and argued that Roman Catholics had the right to worship in their own way
Question: why only the 13 colonies? • Newfoundland too remote • Nova Scotia much too dependent on Britain to avoid making them mad and siding with the Americans • Quebec definitely too French to think of aiding their long-time enemies, the Americans • So the 13 colonies were on their own
Fun fact • The United States invaded Canada in 1775 • Why? Canada was a British colony, and therefore a threat to the American cause • They hoped the population would join with the revolution • However, there was not much support for the American rebels: clergy and land owners remained loyal to the Crown and, after some delay in choosing sides, so did the merchant class – many of whom had shared the American resentment at having to pay taxes to Britain • The habitants were mostly neutral, although because of the Quebec Act they probably felt they were better off with Britain
France, England and…their first nations allies? • The First Nations allies were abandoned by the British after the war and essentially left out of the peace process
World connections • France is basically broke after supporting the American colonists and being left out of the peace process • The French revolutionaries were very inspired by what had transpired in the American colonies and especially the Declaration of Independence • Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen signed in 1789 and French Revolution breaks out
Dates to remember… • Battle of the Plains of Abraham: 1759 • Declaration of Independence: 1776 • French Revolution: 1789
Loyalists • Loyalists were American colonists who stayed loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War: they were often called Tories, Royalists, or the King's Men. • They were opposed by the Patriots, who supported the revolution, and called them "persons inimical to the liberties of America". • Prominent Loyalists repeatedly assured the British government that many thousands of them would spring to arms and fight for the crown. In practice, the number of Loyalists in military service was far lower than expected
Some Motives for loyalists… • They were older, better established, and resisted radical change • They felt that rebellion against the Crown—the legitimate government—was morally wrong. • They were alienated when the Patriots resorted to violence, such as burning houses and tarring and feathering. • They wanted to take a middle-of-the road position and were angry when forced by the Patriots to declare their opposition. • They had a long-standing sentimental attachment to Britain (often with business and family links). • They realized that independence was bound to come someday, but wanted to postpone the moment. • They were cautious and afraid that chaos and mob rule would result.
United empire loyalists • About15 percent of the Loyalists (65,000–70,000 people) fled to other parts of the British Empire, to Britain itself, or to British North America (now Canada). • The southern Loyalists moved mostly to Florida, which had remained loyal to the Crown, and to British Caribbean possessions, often bringing along their slaves. • Northern Loyalists largely migrated to Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. They called themselves United Empire Loyalists. Most were compensated with Canadian land or British cash. • Loyalists who stayed in the US were generally able to retain their property and become American citizens. • Historians have estimated that between 15 and 20 percent of the two million whites in the colonies in 1775 were Loyalists. Of these, about 40 000 fled to Canada.
Impacts of loyalists • The Loyalist influx gave the region its first substantial population and led to the split of Quebec and the creation of a separate province, Upper Canada, in 1791. The decision to split Quebec (now "Lower Canada") in 2 was because these loyalists wanted an administration based on British laws and institutions. • Fun fact: The English of most Canadians is similar to General American English. Many linguists attribute this to the influence of the Loyalists, who helped establish Canada’s English-speaking population and thereby created a common origin with American English • Though greatly outnumbered by later immigrants, Loyalists and their descendants exerted a strong and lasting influence. Modern Canada has inherited much from the Loyalists, including a certain conservatism, a preference for “evolution” rather than “revolution” in matters of government, and tendencies towards a pluralistic and multicultural society.
Basically… • This resettlement added many English speakers to the Canadian population. It was the beginning of new waves of immigration that established a predominantly English-speaking population in the future Canada both west and east of the modern Quebec border.
Black loyalists • About 3,500 Black Loyalists, both free and enslaved men, women and children, arrived in the Maritimes. Many were drawn by the promise of 100 acres for each head of household and an additional 50 acres for each family member, plus provisions. • Some such as Richard Pierpoint — a formerly enslaved man — had gained their freedom by fighting under the British Crown during the American Revolution. • However, most were enslaved and therefore brought to the British territories as spoils of war or as the property of Loyalists. By the 1790s, the number of enslaved Black people in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island ranged from 1,200 to 2,000
