1. The Great Migration At the end of today’s lesson, you will be able to:
Describe “push” and “pull” factors involved in immigration.
Describe the immigrant experience in the 1800s compared to modern times
Describe how immigration affects Canadian identity

2. Key Terms Immigrant: (n.) someone who moves to a new country
Influx: (n.) mass arrival of people
Emerge: (vb.) begin to develop
Epidemic: (n.) widespread outbreak of something, especially a disease.
Quarantine: (n) forced isolation of people who are suffering from an infectious disease.
Rugged: (adj.) tough, strong, enduring.
Newcomer: (n) a person who has arrived to a place.

3. Introduction Why do people immigrate to Canada nowadays?
Think-pair-share: First, on your own, brainstorm reasons why people immigrate to Canada. Focus on “push” and “pull” factors. Then discuss your ideas with the person next to you.

4. The Great Migration
After the war, Britain wanted to fill its colonies with people from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
In total, more than 800,000 immigrants arrived to the ports of Halifax, Saint John, and Quebec city.

5. Reasons for immigration
“Push” factors
A growing population in Britain meant jobs were limited
Poverty and hunger were common. Ireland, in particular suffered a terrible famine, forcing many rural people to leave.
Farmers were being forced off the land.

6. “Pull” factors
The colonies offered free land, better opportunities and a chance for a better life.
The opportunity to work in new industries: logging, mining etc.
Freedom, especially for enslaved African Americans.

7. Coming to the Colonies
Immigrants traveled from Britain to Canada by ship.
The ships were dark, filthy, and disease was widespread.
Many people died before they reached Canada. The boats were known as “coffin ships.”

8. The Immigrant Experience
Top right: The Famished, by John Falter, Irish immigrants are shown coming ashore at Grosse-Ile.
Bottom right: Irish farmers being forced off their land.

9. The Immigrant Experience
Top left: A “coffin ship” on its way to North America
Bottom left: Another “coffin shop.” Thousands of people died on the voyage to Canada. Thousands more died as the ships waited on the St. Lawrence river at Grosse-Ile. Gross Ile acted as a quarantine station.

10. The Immigrant Experience in Canada
Life was not easy in Canada
Many of the new immigrant families faced the same challenges: clearing the dense forest, dealing with the isolation of the environment, and dealing with dangers in the logging industry.

11. Homework review-The War of 1812
1. What are three reasons the United States and Britain couldn’t get along?
Britain was at war with France. Americans were reluctant to trade with the French.
The British were kidnapping American soldiers to serve in the British navy.
The British were supporting the First Nations in the struggle for land.
2. How did Americans view the outcome of the war? What about people living in Upper and Lower Canada?
Britain viewed the war as a victory over Britain.
The people of Upper and Lower Canada believed they had stopped an American attack.
3. Who was Tecumseh and how did he help the British?
Leader of the Shawnee. Tecumseh united various First Nations to fight against the Americans. Tecumseh and General Brock won the Battle of Detroit. Tecumseh showed a lot of courage and is considered a great leader.

12. Activity
Using the chart provided, fill-out the “push” and “pull” factors for each group that came to the colonies. Also, think about challenges each group would have faced once they came to Canada.