Chapter 7: The great migration and the push for democracy

Chapter 7 focus Questions: What challenges of co-existence did the Great Migration create? Why did peoples in British North America want more democratic government? To what extent did demands for more democratic government reflect challenges of coexistence in British North America? How did the response to demands for more democratic government shape Canada?

The Great Migration After the War of 1812, Britain was eager to open up the backwoods to farming. It planned to fill its colonies with people from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Between 1815 and 1850, more than 800 000 people came. This period in history is called the Great Migration. Why did so many people want to leave Britain to live in the colonies? Let’s read page 201 to find out…. -have students read page 201 then fill in the section on their worksheet that deals with the reasons why so many people left Britain  Then have the students read page 202 regarding the opportunities in the colonies, then work to complete the section of their worksheet dealing with the cartoon on page 202

Cartoon Page 202

Coming to the Colonies Immigrants traveled from Britain to Canada by ship. It was a long journey that lasted for many weeks. For those with money, there were comfortable cabins. The poor were crowded into the dark and filthy holds below deck, where diseases ran rampant. So many people died on these voyages that they called the boats “coffin ships.” Some of the immigrants stopped in the Maritime colonies. Most, however, continued up the St. Lawrence River to Québec City and Montréal. From there, the newcomers travelled by land to Upper Canada. Read page 204 -read page 204 up to “cholera controversy” on page 205

The Terrible Year About 30 000 immigrants arrived from Britain each year. Two-thirds were from Ireland. Then, in 1847, immigration from Ireland leapt to 100 000. The potato crop had failed - so thousands set out for North America. A cholera epidemic broke out aboard the ships – a quarantine station was created at place in Quebec called Grosse-Île (which is along the St. Lawrence). Thousand died as the ships waited on the St. Lawrence River at Grosse-Île. Read “Cholera Controversy” on page 205

A Very British Colony The arrival of so many people from Britain changed the identity of the British colonies. The newcomers opened up vast areas for farming. New industries such as logging and mining began to emerge. People worked as laborers and servants, doctors and teachers, loggers and miners. The newcomers brought another important change… They brought a very British flavor to their new communities.