Topic 3: Social Changes

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

Many immigrants came from the British Isles (Britain, Scotland, Ireland), to work in the timber industry or to build the canals. Between 1815 and 1850 close to one million immigrants arrived in British North America. The majority settled in Upper Canada, however large numbers also came to Lower Canada.

*Irish Emigrants Embarking*	French Canadians saw the immigrants as a threat since they brought disease, competed for jobs and increased the English population of Lower Canada. A large proportion of the immigrants were from Ireland.
The population of Ireland was very poor, and in the 1840s a disastrous potato blight (disease) caused the Great Famine, sending huge numbers overseas, mainly to the USA, but also to Canada. Conditions for poorer passengers on Atlantic crossings were terrible. They were forced to stay in the lowest parts of the ships, and often got diseases such as cholera on the crossing. In 1832 and in 1834, a cholera epidemic killed thousands of people in Lower Canada.

Lower Canada's society contained two groups that often found themselves in conflict:

French Canadian professionals (Patriotes) consisting of lawyers, notaries and doctors

who defended the interests of the French community and the English commercial class

(Chateau Clique) consisting of bankers, merchants and businessmen who defended

their

commercial interests in the colony.

Try the following questions on the social changes in Lower Canada.