HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

What do you think it was like to live during the conflicts of the early

1800s?

CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE

What caused the conflicts that occurred in Canada

from 1800 to 1850?

CONTINUITY AND CHANGE

How did Canada change between 1800 and 1850?

The 1800s were a period of great change for Canada. As the century

started, people were building and growing communities. Canada soon

found itself in the middle of conflict as the War of 1812 broke out

between Britain and the United States. Following the war, more and

more people moved to Canada, and the colonies quickly faced the

challenges of a rapidly growing population. Social and political tensions

began to rise, leading to conflicts in Upper and Lower Canada. During

this time, many Canadians worked toward social and political change.

This photo shows The Encampment, rows of 200 tents set up at

Fort York in Toronto as part of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Each tent contains an exhibit that tells the story of the many civilians

who were affected by the war. In this unit, you will explore how different

people and groups responded to the many conflicts and challenges of

the time. Did these conflicts and challenges make Canada a better place

to live by the 1850s?

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Which conflicts were the most significant in bringing

about change?

DID CANADA PROGRESS AS A

RESULT OF THE CONFLICTS AND

CHALLENGES FROM 1800 TO 1850?

CONFLICTS AND CHALLENGES IN CANADA: 1800–1850

UNIT2

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UNIT2CHALLENGE

The United States declares war on Britain, beginning the War of 1812.

Conflict between the North West Company and Hudson’s Bay Company erupts in the Battle of Seven Oaks.

Patriotes fight in the Lower Canada Rebellion.

Mackenzie and Reformers launch Upper Canada Rebellion.

18111800 1812 1832

UNIT 2: 1800–1850

Responsible government is established in the Province of Canada.

The Act of Union unites Upper Canada and Lower Canada.

The cholera epidemic causes the death of over 7500 people.

Hudson’s Bay Company merges with the North West Company.

The Treaty of Ghent ends the War of 1812.

Large numbers of immigrants begin arriving in Canada from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Lord Selkirk receives Red River land grant from Hudson’s Bay Company.

CREATE A PROGRESS AND DECLINE TIMELINEIn Unit 2, you will focus on the following Big

Question: Did Canada progress as a result of the

conflicts and challenges from 1800 to 1850? You

will consider progress and its opposite, decline, by

looking at what changed and what stayed the same

during the time period. Then you will decide whether

Canada got better or worse as a result. Historians

call this an investigation of continuity and change.

You will also consider the impact on different groups.

What may be a time of progress for one group may

be a time of decline for another.

As you work through Unit 2, you will create a

timeline of the significant events and developments

that occurred from 1800 to 1850. On your timeline,

you will show whether each event or development

represented progress or decline. As well, you will

include the contributions of key people or groups.

At the end of the unit, you will decide if Canada was

a better place to live by 1850.

What to Consider

Your timeline will have a horizontal axis and a vertical

axis. The dates of events and developments will be

plotted on the horizontal axis. You will determine

criteria to measure how strongly the events or

developments represented progress or decline and

then plot these values on the vertical axis. Positive

changes will be plotted above the timeline and

negative changes below the timeline.

Your timeline should include the following features:

• Purpose: How will you identify significant events

and developments on your timeline? How will

you identify each event or development as either

progress or decline for Canada? How will you

explain the criteria you use to do this?

• Historical thinking: Why are the events and

developments historically significant? What

caused each event or development, and what were

the consequences?

• Research: Which sources will you use to gather

information and evidence? How will you check the

evidence you find?

• Perspective: From whose perspective did the

event or development result in progress? From

whose perspective did it lead to decline? What

evidence will you use to support your judgments?

• Conclusion: What conclusion will you make about

whether Canada was a better place to live by

1850? What evidence will you use to support

your conclusion?

18411821 183718161814 1815 1849

70 718Upper Canada

250 000Lower Canada estimated population in 1806 1815–1850

Estimated number of British immigrants to Canada

650 000average family size in 1.6 children

6.6 children18512011

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