Chapter 3 Canadian History
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Mr. Chisholm
Chapter 3 – Global Influences and the Development of Canada
The Changing Roles of New France and Acadia:
1663: New France becomes a royal province of France (royal government):
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Few settlements, 2000 colonists
Economically dependent on France
Militarily vulnerable, especially to Iroquois attack
As a result of the accession of Louis XIV – the “Sun King” – to the throne of France and the
precarious situation in the colony of New France, a significant re-organization occurred in the
colony. Louis XIV wanted to build a self-sufficient nation through the establishment of colonies
and a French empire. Colonies would serve as sources of raw materials and markets for finished
goods produced in the “mother country” (mercantilist model).
Royal government – introduced into New France in 1663:
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Sovereign Council with three key officials
Bishop (Church) – religious affairs
Governor (represented monarch) – military affairs
Intendant (day-to-day colonial affairs) – economic matters (manager)
Characteristics:
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authoritarian, paternalistic
frequent internal bickering and conflict
competing interests/influence of three main governing officials
constant struggle for power and influence
The Settlement Era:
Jean Talon – first intendant (1665-72):
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increased population (policies re: immigration, early marriage, large families)
economic policies (diversification)
Acadia:
1605 – Champlain founded settlement at Port Royal:
 colony changed hands frequently – why?
 Strategic location
Development of an “independent” outlook:
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Neglected French colony
Closer to the 13 Colonies than Quebec
Different economic base – farming
Result – emergence of a distinct “Acadian” identity
1690 –97 – Acadia controlled by the British
1697 – returned to French in Treaty of Ryswick
1710 – Port Royal captured by English for the last time – re-named Nova Scotia
Chapter 3 Canadian History
NSVS
Mr. Chisholm
1713 – Treaty of Utrecht – Acadia becomes part of the British Empire
Acadians lived peacefully under British rule for 45 years, until the Acadian Expulsion (Le Grand
Derangement) of 1755. More than 7000 Acadians were forcibly removed from Nova Scotia and
dispersed amongst the Thirteen Colonies. Over the next several decades, many returned to
Acadia and re-established residence there.
The Conquest of New France:
1756 – beginning of Seven Years’ War
1758 – British forces capture Louisbourg
1759 – British siege of Quebec – Battle of the Plains of Abraham
1763 – Treaty of Paris ends war
French Canadians:
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Fear loss of culture, language, religion and traditions on part of French Canadians
British rule affected government institutions, but social and economic continuity
established
1763 – Royal Proclamation:
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British conciliatory toward New France and the French Canadians, in the face of possible
conflict with native peoples in the interior, and increasing tensions with 13 Colonies
The American Revolution and Canadian Evolution:
The American Revolution created two countries:
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By design, it gave birth to the United States
By circumstance, it planted the seeds of a future Canada
End of Seven Years’ War held promise of peace for Britain in North America. Within twelve
years, the British Empire was rocked by revolution in the Thirteen Colonies.
Thirteen Colonies:
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Believed that the colonies to the north – especially Nova Scotia – would support their
revolution, along with native peoples
Both Quebec and Nova Scotia remained neutral in the conflict
Quebec:
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Its neutrality was virtually ensured by conciliatory terms of the Quebec Act (1774), which
restored much of their traditional lifestyle
Americans like Washington critical of French culture and presence of the Roman Catholic
Church in North America
Life under benign British rule preferable to uncertainty of life with radical American
neighbors
Nova Scotia:
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Remained largely neutral in the conflict
Scattered communities, geographically isolated
Chapter 3 Canadian History
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Mr. Chisholm
Aboriginals:
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Some supported each side in the conflict
Most tried to protect their lands, culture and way of life, supporting whatever side offered
to protect their sovereignty
Why did the Thirteen Colonies Revolt?
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Vigorous trading economy within the Thirteen Colonies and with European nations – little
economic dependence on Britain
Fall of New France removed the threat of foreign invasion and reduced the need for
British protection
Britain had imposed a series of taxes on the Thirteen Colonies and placed restrictions on
personal and political freedoms through a series of measures called the Intolerable Acts
by the American colonists
Thirteen Colonies were denied access or use of the interior by the restrictions of the
Royal Proclamation
Colonies were angered when Quebec Act gave the Ohio back to the French Canadians
in 1774
Aftermath of Revolution:
1783 – Britain recognizes the sovereignty of the United States in the Treaty of Paris:
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One-third of American colonists – known as the United Empire Loyalists – resisted the
rebels and supported Britain throughout the revolution
Loyalists were persecuted, their property and possessions confiscated or stolen
Thousands left the US to resettle in the remaining British territories
50,000 of various social, economic and cultural backgrounds came to British North
America – 34,000 came to Nova Scotia
concentration along the Saint John River – 14,000 Loyalists, including 1000 African
Americans
Result – creation of New Brunswick in 1784
10,000 Loyalists migrated to Quebec – infused a significant British presence into French
Roman Catholic colony
Loyalists made several demands after they arrived:
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elected legislative assembly
freehold land tenure
establishment of the Anglican Church
Result – passage of the Constitutional Act (1791):
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Separation of Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada
Upper Canada – Loyalist land concentrated along Lake Ontario
Much of native ancestral lands claimed for “white” settlement throughout the 19 th century
American Revolution aftermath:
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More than 3000 formerly enslaved African Americans given their freedom in return for
supporting the British side in the American Revolution
Hundreds of African American slaves who accompanied their owners to British North
America remained enslaved until practice of slavery abolished in Upper Canada in 1793
Many Black Loyalists settled in Nova Scotia – received smaller land grants, poor quality
land
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Mr. Chisholm
Many forced to become indentured servants to earn a living
1200 Nova Scotian Black Loyalists returned to Africa, settling in Sierra Leone
Treaty of Paris – signed in 1783 – contained several concessions designed to ensure peace with
the newly created United States:
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Canada lost some of its colonial sovereignty through treaty compromises
International boundaries set along St. Croix River in the east – undefined through the
remainder of New Brunswick
New England allowed to continue to fish along the shores of Atlantic Canada
Resource-rich lands of the Ohio Valley ceded to the US – land south of the Great Lakes,
west of the Ohio River
1763 – this territory had been reserved for native peoples in the Royal Proclamation
1774 – Quebec Act gave the Ohio Valley back to Quebec’s fur trade traders and
merchants
1783 – Ohio valley lands given to the US for its exclusive use and development – both
native peoples and commercial interests of Lower Canada left out in the cold
First Nations Loyalists:
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More than 2000 First Nations Loyalists
A significant number settled around Grand River in Upper Canada
Most famous group was the Mohawk tribe led by Joseph Brant (Brantford)
British – American Influences on Confederation:
British North America by 1850:
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Some measure of self-government
Little effort had been made to unite the colonies under one central government
1850’s:
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Trade between BNA and the US increasing rapidly as a result of the Reciprocity Treaty of
1854 and the American Civil War (1861-65)
Colonies no longer as dependant economically on Britain
Britain less interested in its North America colonies economically or financially (costs of
defense)
Britain suggesting that colonies assume a greater role in their own defense, trade and
domestic affairs, saving Britain money
Pressure toward colonial union comes from several directions:
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Internal pressure amongst colonies themselves
Changing role between the colonies and Britain within the empire
Developments in the United States
Manifest Destiny and American Imperialism:
During the 1800’s:
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Rise of American belief in its destiny to control all of the North American continent
Belief referred to as “Manifest Destiny’
By the 1860s, American settlement had pushed all of the way to the Pacific Coast
(California gold rush of 1849)
Chapter 3 Canadian History
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Mr. Chisholm
Rise of fear in BNA that US would annex huge, unoccupied western territory of Rupert’s
Land (owned by Hudson’s Bay Co.)
Fear heightened by American purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867
BNA politicians called for plan to increase western settlement and build a railroad to
preserve the west as British territory
Only a strong central government could undertake this plan – an argument in support of
BNA union
The Policy of Annexation:
1864 – 66:
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Annexation of BNA a topic of discussion in American political circles – at the American
Republican Party convention and in the American Congress
Cancellation of Reciprocity (1866) designed to create further pressure on BNA to join the
US
1867:
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Design of the Canadian federal system outlined in the BNA Act influenced by the
American experience
American Civil War (1861-65) blamed on a weak federal government that was unable to
control powerful states
Canadian federal system attempted to create a strong, centralized federal government in
order to prevent this from occurring in our federation
Government system was a combination of the best of the British parliamentary and
American republican/federal systems
Treaty of Washington (1871):
1871 – Britain, US and Canada met in Washington to settle a number of outstanding issues:
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International boundaries, fishing rights and trade all involved in the discussions
Britain seeking to restore good relations with the US after the tensions of the American
Civil War
Removal of British troops from most of BNA (with the exception of Halifax) was a key part
of the treaty’s terms
1899-1902: Alaska Boundary Dispute:
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A three-person panel (Canadian, American and British representatives) appointed to
resolve dispute over boundary between Alaska and British Columbia
British representative sides with American representative, drawing a boundary favorable
to the US
Incident raises awareness of Canada’s need to control its own external affairs
Canada and the British Empire:
1896 – Wilfrid Laurier becomes Canadian PM:
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1897 – Laurier attends an Imperial Conference in London, as part of the celebration of
Queen Victoria’s 60th anniversary celebrations (Diamond Jubilee)
British pressure colonies – particularly Canada – to join in a closer imperial union, a
development that would increase British involvement in Canadian affairs
Laurier resisted the pressure for an Imperial Council and a Canadian contribution to a
larger British military force
Chapter 3 Canadian History
NSVS
Mr. Chisholm
1899 – outbreak of the Boer War in South Africa, between the British and Boers:
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Canada pressured to contribute to British war effort in South Africa
Laurier agrees to recruit, equip and transport 1000 Canadian soldiers who participate in
the war as volunteers as British regular troops
Costs paid by the British government
Volunteer force used, so as not to establish a precedent for future Canadian involvement
in British wars
1908 – Britain pressures Laurier and Canada for help in its naval arms race with Germany:
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1909 – Laurier responds by creating a Canadian Navy that would be available to Britain
in time of war
Creation of Dept. of External Affairs by the Laurier government was another step toward
asserting Canadian independence