British North America

British North America

Introduction

History Overall Expectations

British North AmericaExplain the origins of English settlement in British North America after the fall of New France, and describe the migration and settlement experiences of various groups of settlers, and outline the causes, events, and results of the War of 1812Use a variety of resources and tools to gather, process, and communicate information about the beginnings and development of the new British coloniesIdentify some themes and personalities from the period, and explain their relevance to contemporary Canada

Big Ideas

With so many groups of people under the rule of the British, how did Britain meet their needs?

After the Treaty of Paris (1763)

The British took over New France and named it QuebecThe people in Quebec got to keep their language, culture, and religion

The British learned quickly that there were many different groups in the region with many different wants and needs

Canadiens

Wanted to keep their keep their language (French) and religion (Roman Catholic)

Wanted to expand their territory for the fur trade

Merchants and Farmers

English speaking

Wanted to take the fur trade from the FrenchWanted to change the “way of life” from French to EnglishWanted free land in the interior to set up farms

First Nations

Wanted to keep their traditional way of lifeWanted to gain control of the fur tradeWanted to stop more settlers from coming in the areaWanted to keep control of the Ohio Valley region

The Thirteen American Colonies

Wanted to expand their settlements into Quebec and the Ohio ValleyWanted to expand their control of the fur trade

The “Carrot” or the “Stick”

The CarrotPeople who believed this argued that you can gain more followers by being nice to people and listening to their wantsBritish officials in Quebec favoured this approach

The StickPeople who believed this argued that you had to show people who the boss was and rule strictly British officials in England favoured this approach

Rules suggested in each approach

StickRestrict Roman Catholic religionReturn government and church officials to FranceGive British control of fur tradeRestrict Quebec’s territory to a small area

CarrotLet Roman Catholics practise their religion freelyAllow R.C. and Protestants to become involved in government of QuebecLet French continue in fur tradeAllow Canadiens expand into the interior and guarantee some land to the First Nations

Supporters of Each approach

StickEarl of Shelburne, the Colonial Secretary (in charge of all British colonies)

CarrotSir Guy Carleton, governor of Quebec

Dealing with the First Nations

Mineweh, chief of the Ojibwe“Although you have conquered the French you have not yet conquered us! We are not your slaves. These lakes, these woods, and mountains were left us by our ancestors. Our Father, the king of France, employed our young men to make war upon your nation. Many have been killed and it is our custom to retaliate. Your king has not sent us any presents, nor entered into any treaty with us, therefore we are still at war.”

The leader of the Alliance

Pontiac, chief of the Ottawa First Nations, formed an alliance of many native groups to fight against the British

In 1763, the alliance attacked Fort Detroit. The five month battle ended with several smaller forts being captured

The British Response

Germ WarfareThe British gave metal boxes filled with pieces of blankets to the First Nations peoples as a gift.They told them they had “special powers” and were not to be opened until they returned to their villagesThe blankets were infected with smallpox, a disease that the First Nations had no immunity toAs a result, many died

Royal Proclamation of 1763

The first British attempt to make peace with the First NationsIssued by King George IIIKey points

Britain controlled all of France’s territories in the regionBoundaries of Quebec were the St. Lawrence RiverEnglish Civil law replaced French law (no more seigneurial system)The rest of New France (Ohio Valley) was First Nations territoryAll French living in the Ohio Valley had to leaveOnly the British Crown could buy First Nations landFur traders had to have a license

The Thirteen Colonies

The British controlled 13 American colonies on the east coast

The 13 colonies began to cause problems for the British after they tried to pass special taxes on the colonists to help pay for the Seven Years War

Special Taxes

Sugar Act- takes on imports of many popular goods (wine, coffee, sugar, cloth)Stamp Act- government stamps on all documents and printed materialsDeclaratory Act- Colonies were under British controlCoercive Acts- Controlled discussion of issues to public meetings

Response to the British Acts

The Thirteen Colonies had their own governments and felt that the British did not have the power to place these laws/taxes on them

Some colonies resisted the taxes1770, 5 people were killed in Boston by British troops during a protest

The Boston Tea Party

1773- Rebels dressed as First Nations people snuck into Boston Harbor and threw chests of tea into the water in protest

The Quebec Act

With fighting over the Ohio Valley and the issues with the 13 colonies, the British replaced the Royal Proclamation with the Quebec Act in 1774

Enlarged the territory of QuebecCreated a Council of Representatives to pass laws Replaced Civil Law with French Civil Law (seigneurial system back)

Reaction to the Quebec Act

The British North Americans strongly disliked the Quebec Act and the Quebecois loved it

The First Nations did not like having the French in the Ohio Valley, but preferred them to the British North Americans

Declaration of Independence, 1776

As a result of the Quebec Act and the new taxes, the 13 Colonies met in Philadelphia July 4th, 1776 they declared the United States of America an independent nation

The American Revolutionary War also started between USA and Britain

What should Quebec do?

Quebec had to decide what side to take in the Revolutionary War

The Continental Congress recommended that Quebec join the American side, but the people were unsureWhen Quebec did not pledge immediate support, America invaded Quebec City and Montreal (Led by Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold)

What happened during the invasion?

The American invasion of Quebec failed

Why?The defense of the two citiesThe harsh winter conditions that the American army was not prepared for

United Empire Loyalists

The people in the Thirteen Colonies were divided into two distinct groups1. Patriots- Those who favoured independence from Britain2. Loyalists- Those who supported British rule

When it became clear that the Americans were going to win independence, many Loyalists took free land in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and PEI that was offered to them by the BritishAbout 50 000 Loyalists left the Colonies during the war

The Loyalists

Many of those who left the 13 colonies were minorities who felt like they needed protection from the American rebels (Huguenots, Quakers are examples of religious minority groups)Many Black soldiers joined the British side of the war when they were promised free land at the end of their service. However, once the war ended, they were largely ignored and many left to found their own communities (e.g. Shelburne, N.S.)

Loyalists in Ontario

In the 1780s, most of “Ontario” (area around Lake Ontario and Lake Erie) was populated by First Nations people onlyAfter the war ended, many Loyalist regiments disbanded and were given land in this area (Butler’s Rangers founded Niagara-On-The-Lake)

Loyalists in Ontario

Several First Nations groups (Iroquois) helped the British during the war. As a reward, they were relocated to Ontario (from New York)Land was given to various Aboriginal groups in British North America as “Reserves”-which were supposed to be guaranteed to be theirs foreverThe problem was, some land was given to more than one group. Laws and treaties were constantly changing and the British crown was also buying some of the land back from various Native groups to give to other Native groupsBecause these treaties changed often, and were usually poorly recorded (if at all), it was difficult to prove certain treaties existed.Eventually, cities and towns were built over Reserve landToday, less than one-tenth of the land allotted as Reserves in Ontario is still reserve landDisputes over who owns the land occur often (Caledonia- 2006)

The Treaty of Paris, 1783

The American defeated the British in the Thirteen ColoniesThe Second Treaty of Paris (First one gave New France to Britain in 1763) was negotiated by Benjamin Franklin

Britain recognized America as an independent nationThe US got control of the Ohio ValleyAmerica could fish the costal waters of British Colonies (Quebec)All British Troops must leave the USLoyalists could no longer be prosecuted

The War of 1812

Who?- United States of America vs. the British Empire (Great Britain and British North America)What?- A fight over land and power in North AmericaWhere?- Mostly in North America (along the east coast and waterways)Why?- 1) trade restrictions 2) forced enrollment into Royal Navy 3) British support for First Nations peoplesWhen?- 1812-1815How?-

Causes of the War of 1812

Long-Term Causes in EuropeIn the late 18th Century (1700s), France and Britain were are war to become the world’s leading military power

-Napoleonic Wars (1799-1812)

-Earlier, Britain defeated France in the Seven Year’s War (1756-1763) so France got revenge by helping the 13 colonies gain independence from Britain

-France and Britain tried to weaken each other by restricting their trade (Blockades, searches)

Causes of the War of 1812

Immediate Causes in North AmericaSince they shared a common “enemy”, France and America had been helping each other Britain tried to harm France by stopping American merchant ships going to France to harm their tradeDuring these inspections, the British often found British citizens on board, so they captured them and forced them to work on British warships (Impressment)

Impressment was legal if the sailors were British citizens, but some were not and the Americans protested

More immediate causes

Battle for expansionIn the Treaty of Paris (1783), Britain gave America the Ohio Valley BUT they also had to respect the treaties that had already been signed with the First Nations peoples thereAmerica wanted to settle the Ohio Valley, so when people started moving into the area, First Nations peoples protestedBritain was worried that America would get stronger if they did not step in

More immediate causes

Fur TradeThe Americans were arguing that the First Nations were making fake claims about settlers in the Ohio Valley to keep control of the fur tradeAmerica was also accusing the British of providing the First Nations with guns to attack American settlersAmerica demanded this stopped, or there would be a war between settlers and the First Nations peoples

More immediate causes

Jingoism“Aggressive talk and opinions that justify military action”America is extremely confident after gaining their independenceMany politicians are trying to convince America they need to expand further (into Upper and Lower Canada) to protect their new countryThey claimed that America would be welcomed in these areas because UC and LC needed to be freed from the BritishThomas Jefferson- Capturing BNA would be “a mere matter of marching”

Major Battles

June 1812, US declares war on BritainUS had larger army, Britain had larger navy (but most of it was in Europe)Britain had a large amount of territory to defend (only 10 000 troops for 2000 km)

British Leaders

Sir Isaac Brock Tecumseh

Important Battles

DetroitBrock and Tecumseh attacked a fort at DetroitThey were outnumbered but marched their soldiers in a circle so they passed in front of the Americans over and over againThinking he was outnumbered, General Hull surrendered The victory secured the west and allowed the defenses to move to other parts of Upper and Lower Canada

Important Battles

Queenston HeightsFought at Niagara-on-the-Lake (Oct. 1812)American troops crossed the Niagara River from New York into Upper Canada and captured the high ground (where the British were firing down at the river)The British were able to push the Americans back over the river, but Brock was shot and killed

Important Battles

York (Toronto)American ships sailed across Lake Ontario and defeated the British at YorkThey stayed a few days, burned down the town and went homeAn important battle because it showed the Americans could successfully attack “the heart of Upper Canada”

Important Battles

Stoney CreekThe British attacked the Americans in Upper Canada at nightThey got lost, missed the main camp, and many died (from both sides) in the confusionThe Americans retreated to their side of the Niagara River

Important Battles

Beaver DamsAmericans were staying at an inn owned by Laura SecordShe overheard their plans for attackShe travelled by foot to tell Colonel Fitzgibbon so he could be prepared for the attackThe First Nations surrounded the Americans, and Fitzgibbons offered to protect them if they surrendered

Important Battles

Crysler’s FarmA failed attack on Montreal

Lundy’s LaneHeaviest casualities of any battle in Canadian history on Canadian soilWashington and Baltimore

– In retaliation of attacks on Upper Canada, the British attacked and destroyed many gorvernment buildings (Including the White House)

The end of the War

The Treaty of GhentBritain and America met in Belgium to reach a peace agreementDecember 1814, the treaty was signed ending the warThe boarder remained the sameThe war was declared a stalemate, but it was a major development for British North America

Effects of the War of 1812 on BNA

Agriculture declined because farmers were called to fightFood supply droppedAn increased demand for war materials (importers made lots of money)Politicians and religious figures banded together to fight for a common goal (and militia volunteers)Canadiens say the Americans as “anti-french” so their support for the British increased

Key Figures

Sir Isaac BrockSent by the British to Lower Canada (Quebec) in 1802 to build up the city’s defenses1810, he was promoted to major-general (in charge of all the defenses of LC and UC)Got the First Nations to join the British in defending against the Americans

Key Figures

TecumsehA Shawnee Chief who lived in the Ohio ValleyWas opposed to First Nations people selling their land to AmericansHelped organize the First Nations people and helped set up the alliance with the BritishKilled in 1813 in battle (near Chatham)

Key Figures

Laura SecordAfter being forced to take care of Americans at her inn, Secord heard about the plans of an American attackSecord walked over 20 kms (longer because she had to avoid American troops) through rough terrain to warn the British of the attackWas one of the first female spies

Key Figures

Lieutenant- Colonel John ByAn engineer who designed canals and fortificationsDesigned the Rideau Canal, which provided a waterway from Kingston to Ottawa that was north of the St. Lawrence River and safe from American attack