Fierce Fifth Graders
New France in 1745 and Canadian Society around 1820
There were great changes that happened in society between 1745 and 1820. You have to know what the changes were and be able to explain why they occurred.
Changes Reasons
1745 1820
French King was in charge
There was a war between France and Great Britain. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham was part of that war. The English won the war and gained power.
In 1745, agriculture and fur trade were very important economic activities.
Britain could no longer get wood from Europe, because of the war in Europe.
In 1745, the people spoke French and their religion was Catholicism.
Many people who arrived (including the Loyalists and British immigrants) spoke English and practiced different religions.
The land that was organized in seigneuries
The British wanted to divide the land the way it is done in Britain because they had the power. However, they allowed the French to continue to live the way they used to and that included seigneuries.
The King of France had all the power in 1745
The loyalists who arrived in Canada after the War of Independence in the United States wanted a British-style government.
There were few newspapers and most of them were anglophone.
The people needed to be informed of what was happening in Parliament
French English
Catholicism Many religions
The territory became the propety of the King of Great Britain.
In 1820, English and French were spoken and there were many religions, including Catholicism and Protestantism.
In 1820, the main economic activities were timber trade and agriculture.
The land that was developed was organized in townships (the British way to do it), but the seigneuries that were already in place continued to exist.
In 1820, the House of Assembly had the power and was made up of members elected by the people. So the people gained some power.
Newspaper became more and more important and new newspapers were created
The territory was called New France
The territory was divided in two parts: Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Each of the two Canadas had a different parliament.
The loyalists were not happy with the government in place in Québec, but the Canadians seemed to be happy with the situation. The loyalists wanted a British-style parliament. To make everybody happy, the territory was divided in two parts.
You need to names people and groups that played a role in the changes
- Murray (a British soldier who also became governor of the Province of Quebec)
- Loyalists (People from the Thirteen Colonies who wanted to stay loyal to the King of England. When the United States were created, they moved to Canada. )
You have to be able to indicates events that marked this period
- The Conquest of New France by Great Britain
- The arrival of the loyalists after the creation of the United States
- The Treaty of Paris
- The creation of a parliamentary government
Here is a review of what we discussed in class
In 1754, a war began between France and Great Britain. This war was going on in Europe but also in the colonies. One of the battles that took place during that war was the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Great Britain won that battle that took place on 1759. The British took control of the city of Québec. One year after, the British took control of Montreal. New France ceased to exist.
Even if the British won in New France, the war continued in Europe until 1763. This is when both countries signed an agreement called the Treaty of Paris to determined which territories would be given to Great Britain. France kept Guadeloupe and Martinique because they were rich in sugar, coffee and rum. They also kept the Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon Island as a shelter for French fishermen. The English acquired New France, Grenada and Grenadines.
In 1783, the thirteen colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. Some of the inhabitants did not want the King of England to rule them anymore. This is why they created their own country called the United States of America. However, not everyone wanted to be independent from the King of Great Britain. Some people, who were called the loyalists, wanted to stay loyal to the king of Great Britain and wanted to live in a country where he had power. This is why the loyalists decided to move to Canada, more precisely, in certain places south of the St. Lawrence River (North of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario). The loyalists were not happy with the government in place in Québec, but the Canadians seemed to be happy with the situation. The loyalists wanted a British-style parliament. To make everybody happy, the territory was divided in two parts: Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Each of the two Canadas had a different parliament.
