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1500
Land Bridge
The Russians and Asians ended up across the Atlantic Ocean in North America since, during the ice age, the bearing sea retracted when it froze, creating a path of land/bridge from Russia to Alaska. Animals walked across this surface and since humans at the time were nomade, followed them into North America. -
1500
The First Occupants
-The Algonquins, Iroquois, and Inuits.
-North Amerindian occupation started 30 000 years BC.
-The didn't have more or less than what was necessary for survival. Private land did not exist, they shared everything.
-The Algonquin nation was a patriarchal society and was nomade. They occupied the North (Canadian Shield). They followed and hunted animals instead.
-The Iroquois Nation was a matriarchal society and were semi-sedentary. They occupied the fertile Lowlands for farming. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
population and settlement
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1534
Jacques Cartier Voyages
Jacques Cartier went on 3 voyages to find riches for the King of France (gold, silver, spices...), more territory for the king to possess, and another route to Asia since the Autumn trucks blocked Constantinople (their main trade root).
During his 3 voyages (1534,1565,1541), nothing major was discovered. He ended up in North America, where they found furs, fish and the Natives who taught them how to survive winters. He brought some of them to Europe where they all got sick. -
Samuel de Champlain
After his failed settlement in Port Royale, Champlain created a trading post in Stradacona (now Quebec City) which became the first permanent settlement in New France. This settlement succeeded thanks to its high land, proximity with the natives, and the high demand for beaver hats in Europe. -
Creation of towns and villages
The first 3 towns in New France were each placed along the St. Laurent River. Quebec was created in 1608 and placed where the river narrows, next to it was Trois-Rivieres, created in 1634 and then Montreal, created in 1642. Trois-Rivieres got its name from its geographic location (its 3 rivers made trades much easier. New france was pretty much all rural with some small towns. -
Europeans and Natives influences
Positive and negative influences between the Europeans and Natives:
-The Natives learned how to use weapons and iron tools, and were introduced to new foods like salt and bread. They also suffered because of alcohol and diseases.
-The Natives taught the Europeans general survival tips and how to survive winters, where to travel and what to wear during the freezing temperatures. They were introduced to canoes, snowshoes, and sleds as well as new foods such as corn, pumpkins and maple syrup. -
Relations with the Native peoples
-At first, the Europeans and the Natives a give and take relationship. Their trades were fair, but eventually, the Europeans started taking advantage of the natives, but the French and English knew they needed the natives.
-The arrival of the Europeans took a great impact on the natives: The native population diminished. Millions died from disease, war, and chemical warfare.
-Creation of Métissages.
-The Europeans settled on Native territory and didn't care if the Natives were okay with that. -
Allies
-The French allied with Algonquins and Hurons.
-British allied with the Iroquois. Hurons are very similar to Iroquois. They tried wiping out their own.
-Europeans took advantage of the Native’s lack of immunity by using chemical warfare.
-Algonquins had a military advantage since Iroquois were sedentary. The Algonquins knew at all times where the Iroquois are since they were sedentary. The Iroquois didn't know where the Algonquins were since they were always moving and following animals. -
The seigneurial Regime
The King of France gave big pieces of land to Seigneurs, who provided to peasants portions of their land in which they can agriculturally develop and live on. The peasants/censitaires had to pay rent to their seigneur by giving him a portion of their crops. The seigneur had to provide the mill but the pesant had to pay each time they used it. The censitaires had to give their seigneur 3 days of free labor a year. This system was a way of bringing new settlers New France and keep them organized. -
The Population of New France
-The population of New France was growing thanks to Jean Talon, but also the Catholic Church. The church discourages divorce, so all couples stayed together and had many babies, consequently increasing the Catholic population in New France.
-Another method to increase natality was to pay young married couples, fine men over 21 had as well as fathers of unmarried women.
-The population increased from 3 000 people to 70 000 people from 1663-1760 (97 years). -
Intendant Jean talon
-Hired by King of France to increase immigration
-He opened up immigration to New France to anybody except protestants and major criminals. Even thieves had the right to move to New France instead of serving a prison sentence.
-Jean Talon got soldiers to live without a fine in New France. They had the choice to return home or stay in New France for free after their contract.
-He brought protestant orphans from France (Filles du Roi) to marry the men in New France to increase natality. -
Slavery
-Around 4000 slaves during French régime.
-Slavery was great for the economy
-The first slaves were the Natives (able to escape because they knew the territory and had survival skills)
-The black slaves didn't know how to survive in the foreign territory. They were owned by the British and kept in Canada during the 17th and 18th centuries.
-Loyalist slaves kept in small groups. Their jobs varied from domestic servants, farmhands, to skilled artisans.
-Slavery banned in 1763 (Treaty of Paris) -
Population composition
In New France, there were a lot more men than women. There were 3 social classes that formed the population of Europeans, Natives, Métis, and Slaves;
-The Nobility/Elite group was at the top of the social pyramid. It was composed of rich people that inherited a lot of money who were born into this social class.
-The Middle Class/Bourgeoisie consisted of rich people that worked for their money, for example, seigneurs.
-The Peasants/Habitants were at the bottom of the social pyramid. -
British Immigration
When the British took over New France, the wealthy French businessmen left to France and English ones replaced them. Most people born in New France stayed. The population of Britain's new colony (New France) was 99% French and 1% English, so policies were put into place to encourage English immigration;
-Laws to discourage American immigration.
-There was an office set up in England to encourage people to move to their colony.
-Propaganda to try to attract British to move into the colony. -
Loyalists
-The Loyalists were the third major wave of immigration after the Natives and the Europeans.
-Some Americans were loyal to the King of France, so they moved into the British colony.
-36 000 went to Canada, mostly in the Maritimes, and 6 000 went to Quebec.
-The British population of Quebec went from 1% to 10% thanks to the Loyalists who settled in Townships.
-The seigneuries became overpopulated, leading the colonization of new regions out west and emigration to the States. -
Irish Immigration
-Anglophones were wanted in the colony since they were only 10%, so white anglophones were offered free land in the colony.
-At the same time in Ireland, the potatoes got sick, causing the Irish to starve since potatoes were 80% of their diet.
-The Irish jumped at the opportunity to live in the new British colony
-They had to take a 3-month boat ride with horrible living conditions.
-Many got sick, and the inhabitants of the colony dumped all the sick people on Grosse-Ile to heal. -
Emigration to the United States and the west
Farm life got crowded, forcing many farmers to move to the city get a different employment. Since Urban life got overpopulated as well, the living conditions worsened. 2 solutions were;
-Free land in Outaouais, Témiscamingue and Western Canada (forest regions of Quebec) was given away.
- The living conditions were better in the United States, many departed from urban life to the USA for more job opportunities.
-From 1840-1870, 200 000 people (majority French Canadian) emigrated to the States. -
Relations with the Native population
-The Indian Act of 1876 made agreements to lower tension between the Europeans and the Natives.
-The government took Native territory that had many natural resources.
-The expansion of a golf course onto Native territory (Oka reserve) disturbed the Natives, they made roadblock, The Police and Canadian Army got involved in attempt to calm the natives.
-The James Bay dam was created on Native territory which messed up animal migrations and hunting grounds, but the Natives Benefited as well. -
Colonisation of new regions
-Forests had to be removed in order for people to populate the area.
-Saguenay, Laurentides, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Mauricie, and Outaouais were new areas that were colonised.
-Church encouraged people living in urban areas to move to rural areas since alcohol, drugs, and prostitution were more common in the city. Since these aspects prove unholy, the church didn't want Catholics living there. -
New Policies Promoting immigration
-The BNA let Canada and Quebec share immigration type powers
-The National Policy of 1878 was designed to recruit immigrants to colonize western Canada. Posters were put up in England, free land was given away, especially to rail companies to transport people and goods.
-Waves of immigration followed after International events (World War 1 and 2, economic crises)
-Immigration policies were discriminatory until 1945, then different cultures other than just white protestants were accepted. -
Increase of Urban Population
During the Contemporary Period, the industrial revolution took place, increasing the population in the city, creating suburbs. The effects were:
-Rural exodus (mass movement from country to city).
-Neighborhoods close to the industries were developed. The poor lived together in horrible living conditions, and the rich lived in their own neighborhoods in more sanitary conditions.
-Lands near cities are becoming more and more developed. (houses, stores...) This phenomenon is called Urban sprawl. -
Pt 2 Emigration to the United States and the west
-There were too many people working on the seigneuries.
-People had the opportunity to move from rural life straight to the United States or out west, there were dreadful living conditions in the city.
-The smart people left Canada to wealthier countries such as the USA to find better opportunities. Canada was extracted of a lot of smart people. This phenomenon is called brain drain. -
Composition of the population
-The French Canadians still composed the majority of the population
-Multiculturality in big cities
- Before 1945, the population was not diverse (pretty much only whites, anglophones, and Protestants). After the Second World War, Canada opened up immigration to almost the whole world, consequently diversifying the population. Young and educated people are wanted, immigrants over 85 years old usually not let in, refugees are welcome. -
Societal Effects of New Regions
The society and territory are affected when new regions get colonized:
-New communities are created
-Moving out into regions never before lived in gives the opportunity to exploit its natural resources that we needed, for example, timber, coal, oil, iron... -
Birth Rate
18th and 19th centuries: Before industrialisation, a lot of babies were being born since the Catholic church pushed couples to have many babies.
-With industrialisation, urbanisation develops and living in the city isn't the best for big families. Food was expensive, it became difficult to provide for many children.
-From 1945-1960 was the baby boom due to post war prosperity.
-In 1960, birth rate decreased since mentalities changed, contraceptive mehtods were created, and women got more jobs.
