Minds On
Citizenship
What does the word citizenship mean to you? What does it mean to be a Canadian citizen? Brainstorm a list of ideas using a method of your choice.
Press Citizen to access the definition for this word.
Canada
Do you think Canada is a welcoming nation? Does it open its arms to people immigrating to Canada? Is it a country of tolerance, respect, and diversity, free from racism and prejudice? Why or why not?
Record your thoughts using a method of your choice and use the following carousel to help spark ideas!
Action
Canadian immigration
From 1800 to 1850, Canada’s population changed frequently as waves of settlers arrived. The story of Canadian immigration is not one of orderly population growth, rather one about economic development and Canadian attitudes and values. Immigration has also contributed to dispossessing Indigenous Peoples of their ancestral lands.
In this learning activity, you will explore the social and economic impacts, as well as experiences of, different groups arriving to Canada. It is important to note that during this time Canada was referred to as “British North America.”
Press the following tabs to access and review some definitions.
Groups coming to Canada
Next, you will investigate a few groups that immigrated to Canada between 1800 and 1850. You will be exploring Irish settlers, British settlers, and Black refugees.
Before you begin, record your predictions using the following fillable and printable document or another method of your choice.
Irish settlers
Press the following tabs to access and review some definitions for this section.
In the 1800s, Irish farmers came in vast numbers to Canada to escape a famine that swept Ireland. For many years, the potato crops failed Ireland, which left peasants unable to pay rent and led to their eviction by their landlords. When the potato crops began to fail, the British government imposed tariffs on grains, which made food incredibly expensive.
With many tenant farmers unable to produce crops, and the cost of other foods and supplies rising, thousands died from starvation and disease caused by malnutrition. In hope of a new life, many Irish refugees came to Canada in overcrowded, unsanitary ships. Many of these ships were plagued with disease and forced to dock at a quarantine station called Grosse Ile, downriver from Quebec City. Many Irish settlers died of typhus before they had a chance to see the new lands.
Knowledge check
Now let's check our understanding with the following questions about Irish immigration. Select the best answer, and press Check Answer to find out how you did.
Choose the best answer.
Brainstorm
Reflect
Do you believe Irish refugees were welcomed in Canada during this time? Why or why not? Use specific examples from your learning to support your answer.
Press Hint to access a prompt if you need help getting started.
British settlers
After the War of 1812, living conditions in Britain began to deteriorate to an intolerable life. Many people in Britain had lost their jobs during the Industrial Revolution, as machines replaced their jobs, and many people lost their farms.
This economic depression in Britain caused high unemployment rates and the British government began to make efforts to encourage emigration to Canada to relieve its economic crisis and reinforce loyalty to its British colonies. Canada’s colonies provided places for people to move and start over.
The influx of British settlers into Canada in the first half of the 1800s was known as "The Great Migration." This wave of newcomers created new pressures in Canada as settlers began to clear land for farming.
Source: Caouette, R., & Rees, D. (2006). In Our Canada: origins, peoples, perspectives, teaching resource (Chapter 7, pp. 199–204). Thomson Nelson.
Black Refugees
Nova Scotia had been home to Black individuals for over 300 years. Following the War of 1812, approximately 2,000 formerly enslaved people arrived in Nova Scotia, after attaining freedom during the conflict. Roughly 400 of these individuals continued their journey to New Brunswick and collectively, the group became known as the Black Refugees.
The following document is a report of Black Refugees brought from Virginia by the HMS Mariner. What do you notice about the names and occupations listed in the document?
Please note: This source includes outdated language and perspectives and are presented for historical context only.
Press the Description button for a transcript of this document.
Page 1: Report of six American Slaves brought from the Chesapeake in H. M. A. Ship Mariner
Names / Ages / Occupations
Moses Smith / 20 years / House carpenter
Edward Plummer / 24 / Sawyer
Aaron Butler / 27 / Do
Joseph Gloucester / 27 / Labourer
William Weaver / 24 / Do
Peter Clayton / 26 / Do
Note: The abbreviation "Do" means ditto (i.e., same as the line above).
Page 2: Report of American Slaves in the Mariner
When the Black Refugees arrived in Nova Scotia, they faced many challenges. Although they had been promised land grants by the British government, most never received any. The land they did get was often difficult to access, develop, and farm.
“A series of devastating natural events made efforts to cultivate the land even more difficult. In 1815, entire fields were destroyed by hordes of mice that swept across Nova Scotia’s countryside. The following year became known as the “Year without a Summer,” as the ground stayed frozen until June and ten inches of snow fell that same month. Even when the Black Refugees did achieve some success in producing crops, the long, cold winter seasons generally depleted their resources.”
Source:
Van Dyk, L. (2020). Shaping a Community: Black Refugees in Nova Scotia | Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Pier21.Ca. https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/shaping-a-community-black-refugees-in-ns#fn-13-ref
Beyond agricultural challenges, economic conditions also created struggles for the Black Refugees. The large influx of immigrants from Europe made jobs scarce and highly competitive. Many families lived in poverty and endured racism from white settlers who continued to view them as enslaved people. Despite these systemic barriers and environmental challenges, the Black Refugees demonstrated resilience by building strong communities and important places like churches and schools.
The following map illustrates the Surveyor General’s plan showing the land parcels where Black Refugees settled in Preston, near Halifax, Nova Scotia. Examine the map. What do you notice about the way the plots of land are organized? How might this have impacted the settlement and daily life of the Black Refugees who lived there?
A hand-drawn map divided into tracts of land, each labeled with a number and/or a name . Most of the tracts are small, long, and narrow and grouped closely together. In contrast, there are a few very large tracts of land. The groups of small land tracts tend to be isolated from each other and often separated by lakes, rivers, and large areas of land.
Press the Hint button to reveal observations about the map that may you answer the previous questions.
The map shows long, narrow pieces of land arranged in organized rows. The strips of land are clustered together, but the groups of land strips are distant from each other, sometimes separated by lakes, rivers, and large areas of land.
The strips of land often stretch from the road to the river, or back into the countryside. This style allowed each plot of land to have access to important resources.
The map also shows lots that are uneven, spread out, or in difficult terrain, such as rocky or swampy areas, which are challenging to work or develop.
The white Nova Scotians resented the Black Refugees and did not accept them as equal members of society. The general poverty of these individuals was regarded as “evidence” that they were not equal to the white population. The British authorities tried to convince Black Refugees to relocate to The United States or Trinidad, but most refused to go, as enslavement was still legal.
The Black Refugees built strong communities where people supported one another through church, community events, and close-knit relationships. Some Black Refugees later founded Africville, a small, self-sufficient rural community in Halifax, founded in 1848. Despite these systemic barriers, residents of Africville maintained a vibrant community for over a century, establishing their own church, school and community center, until the community was forced to relocate and demolished in the 1960s.
The original Seaview African United Baptist Church was demolished in 1969. This replica was built in 2011 to serve as a church and museum.
Reflect
What impact do you think this emigration had on Indigenous communities?
Press Answer to access a possible response to check your answer.
Impact on First Nations and Métis Peoples
When immigration to Canada is discussed, the focus is often on the people arriving. But what happened to the people who lived there already?
European contact in the earliest days of North America changed the lives of some Indigenous Peoples forever. As newcomers continued to arrive, the impact spread, and many changes were not positive.
Press the following tabs to learn about the impacts immigration had on First Nations and Métis.
Colonial governments wanted land. To do this, they made treaties with Indigenous communities who already lived on the land. These treaties set new rules about how land could be used. The treaties were based on European ideas, such as owning land privately. However, many Indigenous Peoples did not share these ideas and understood land ownership differently. Because of this, they often agreed to treaties that were unfair. The British government took advantage of this misunderstanding and made treaties that benefited themselves.
As settlers demanded more property, they began pressuring the colonial government to take land from Indigenous communities. Indigenous Peoples were increasingly seen as standing in the way of Canada’s growth. By the 1830s, more Indigenous land was taken and turned over for settlement. Only small areas of Indigenous land remained. As a result, many Indigenous communities lost access to important hunting grounds and were forced off their traditional lands, becoming displaced from places they had lived on for generations.
Modern-day connection
As you may know, Canada continues to welcome immigrants and refugees to different areas of the country.
Explore the following video about modern-day immigration in Canada and respond to the reflection question using the following fillable and printable document or using a method of your choice.
Press the Activity button to access the Modern-day Connection Reflection Question.
Activity(Opens in a new tab)“Mohamad Salih: A Refugee Success Story”
Consolidation
Educating your community
Choose one of the following formats from the choice board to educate your community about topics surrounding immigration.
- Blog
- Podcast Clip
- Poster
- Journal Entry
- Website
- Speech
You may choose one of the following topics, or select one of your own:
- the history of immigration in Canada
- the experience of refugees in the 1800s
- The Great Migration
- The Irish Potato Famine
- modern-day immigration experiences
- challenges of immigration
Use evidence from this learning activity to guide your creation.
Exploring your history
Conduct research into your own family's historical background.
- How long have you and your family lived in Canada?
- What about previous generations?
- Are you able to learn more about where your ancestors came from?
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel...
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.