Great Migration of Canada facts for kids

The Great Migration of Canada was a big movement of people to Canada. It happened between 1815 and 1850. Over 800,000 immigrants came, mostly from Britain and Ireland.

Europe was changing a lot during this time. The Industrial Revolution meant new machines were doing jobs. This made it hard for many people to find work. So, they looked to the New World (like Canada and the United States) for new chances. They hoped to find jobs and build better lives there.

Why People Moved to Canada?

The Industrial Revolution and New Jobs

Around the late 1700s and early 1800s, Great Britain started changing. Before, most work was done by hand. But then, machines began to take over. This was called the Industrial Revolution.

Machines started making things like clothes in textile industries. New ways to make iron were also found. People used more refined coal for energy.

More People, Fewer Jobs

At the same time, the number of people in Britain grew very fast. Life was getting a bit better, so more children survived. But machines meant fewer jobs for people.

Many jobs that poor workers used to do were now done by machines. This made it very hard for some people to find work. So, they decided to move to the colonies in the Americas. They hoped to find jobs and a new start there.

Who Came to Canada?

British Immigrants Arrive

As the Industrial Revolution began, many British people moved to Canada. They were the first and largest group in the Great Migration. English and Scottish people made up 60% of Canada's immigrants.

After the War of 1812, Canada wanted more people to settle there. Even British soldiers who fought in the war were encouraged to stay.

Settling New Lands

Canadian leaders were worried about another invasion from the United States. They also wanted to balance the number of French-speaking people in Quebec. So, they encouraged new settlers to move to backcountry areas.

These new areas were mostly in Upper Canada (which is now Ontario). New roads were built to help people get there.

Irish Immigrants and the Famine

Irish immigrants started coming to Canada in the 1820s. Many worked as navvies, building things like canals, working with timber, and building railroads. They mostly settled in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

Between 1846 and 1849, many more Irish people arrived. They were escaping the terrible Great Famine in Ireland. Hundreds of thousands came to Canada's shores. Some stayed, while others moved on to the United States.

Other Immigrants

People from other countries also came to Canada. Some Americans went to British Columbia to look for gold. This was because gold was becoming scarce in California.

Also, Chinese immigrants came to British Columbia. They helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway. Many also came to escape war and famine in their home country.

How the Migration Changed Canada

A New Canadian Identity

The Great Migration had a huge impact on Canada's culture. Before 1815, most English-speaking Canadians were from the American colonies. This meant English Canada had some American cultural influences.

But after the Great Migration, more British people arrived. This helped create a stronger British influence in Canada.

Population Changes

At the start of the Great Migration, Canada had about half a million people. Most of them were French-speaking Canadians. But by the end of this period, the number of English-speaking Canadians had doubled.

The total population grew to 2.4 million. English Canadians also started moving into Lower Canada. This caused some disagreements with the French-speaking people there.

Health Challenges

Life on immigrant ships was often very crowded. This led to outbreaks of diseases like cholera. These diseases spread to cities in Lower Canada.

Because of this, places like Grosse Isle, Quebec and Partridge Island, New Brunswick became important. They were used as quarantine stations to stop the spread of illness.