What economic changes took place in Lower Canada from 1800-1840?

Many important economic changes took place in Lower Canada during this period.
  • The Napoleonic wars created a tremendous demand for timber to build British warships (War of 1812); however, a blockade of French ships prevented England from buying wood from the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania). As a result, England turned to Canada, where a seemingly inexhaustible supply of wood was available.
  • The fur trade went into a steep decline. In 1770, over 75% of Quebec's exports to Great Britain were furs. By 1810, furs accounted for only 9% of the exports of Upper and Lower Canada. Timber, helped by preferential British tariffs, accounted for over 70 % of the exports to Great Britain.

Try the following questions on economic changes in Lower Canada.