The Growth Of A Nation Canada Essay

The Growth Of A Nation: Canada Essay, Research Paper Canada evolved into a nation during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many factors were accountable to this change which includes the Loyalists migration north and of course the Constitutional Acts of 1791and 1867. There were key people and sanctions during this evolution, the Crown, the American Revolution, the Loyalists of Upper Canada, the francophones of Lower Canada and the Radicals responsible for the 1837 rebellions were the most influential. The Crown made many territorial and political changes during the 18th and 19th centuries because of the ever changing and growing population in Canada, everyone from Loyalists to the First Nations were affected. Loyalists and the changes that were made because of their influx to

British North America: Loyalists are defined as American colonists of varied ethnic backgrounds that supported the British cause during the American Revolution1. Because of the Revolution, many British Loyalists from the former 13 Colonies in the United States moved up to present day Canada to maintain their British way of life. The main waves of Loyalists moved north immediately following the American Revolution in 1783 and 1784. Over 30 000 of these people settled the Maritime Provinces. The Loyalists swamped the previous population of 20 000 Americans and French, and in 1784 New Brunswick and Cape Breton were created to deal with the influx. About 2000 moved into present day Quebec and 7500 settled Ontario. The flock of Loyalists gave the region its first substantial

population and led to the creation of a separate province, Upper Canada, in 1791. Loyalists were instrumental in establishing educational, religious, social and governmental institutions. The impact made by the Loyalists has made a lasting impression on modern Canada. Inheriting certain conservatism, we Canadians seem to prefer “evolution” to “revolution” when it comes to government changes and in today’s society in general. The rebellions held in Canada in 1837 never had nearly as big of an impact as the Revolution did in the United States. An example of a specific Loyalist who made an important impact in Canadian history is Egerton Ryerson. Ryerson was a leading figure in 19th century Ontario education and politics. He was born into a well-respected Anglican, Loyalist

family, but was converted and ordained in 1827 in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ryerson first became known in Upper Canadian politics in 1826 when he led an attack on the assumptions and freedoms of the Church of England. The Church of England claimed to be the official church of the colony, and exclusive beneficiary of the clergy reserves. Ryerson emerged as the leading Methodist spokesman and a major figure in the Reform cause.2 During the Rebellions of 1837, Ryerson was in England but used his influence to oppose Mackenzie’s radical philosophy and violent methods. During the 1840s he continued his active role in politics but turned in a different direction. He began to support Govoner Charles Metcalf against Robert Baldwin and Lafontaine in 1844. He appeared to have joined

the Tories, the people he had opposed for nearly 20 years. Also in 1844 he was appointed superintendent of education for Canada West, continuing in this office until retiring in 1876. Ryerson reached a new level of importance in the School Act of 1871, Ontario gained a first-rate primary and secondary school system based on this act. Throughout the course of his career, he wrote many pamphlets and texts, as well as several works on the history of the province an important autobiography. This is only one example of an impact that a Loyalist had on modern and pre-Constitutional Canada. The Constitutional Act of 1791 was the single largest event that took place because of the Loyalists movement. The Bill was prepared by William Wyndham Grenville to ensure the development of British