The Impact of The Great Migration on Canada

For a long time, Canada has been a multicultural country, and because of this, our citizens are more socially and globally aware. But Canada was not always so multicultural. The Great Migration, a period of high immigration to Canada from 1815 to 1850, helped Canada to develop into what it is today.

In 1815, British North America underwent an important demographic change as waves of people began to leave their home countries seeking better lives. People left for many reasons but most of them were related to economic issues. They wanted to escape hardships, find jobs or escape wars. Most of the people who migrated during this time period were of British origin, and came to Canada in hopes of settling there permanently.

One group of peoples were veterans from the Napoleonic and American Wars. Many were soldiers who were seeking work, and thought they could find it if they traveled to the budding colony of British North America. As well as unemployment, the wars also brought about periods of dramatic economic slump and destitution soon also became a widespread problem.

Another cause of high immigration was the Potato Famine in Ireland. The Irish left because disease had devastated Ireland’s potato crops, leaving millions without food. The Potato Famine killed more than 1 million people in five years, and caused more than 1.5 million adults and children to flee Ireland for America.

Job loss due to increased mechanization also became one big factor in the growth in the population of Canada. The Industrial Revolution and the use of steam power meant that people could be replaced machines in their jobs, which made things easier for entrepreneurs. But this also meant that many citizens were out out of a job. In Britain, jobs became limited and it is estimated that around over 66,000 people immigrated to Canada for the sole purpose of finding a job or a better-paying job.

Many people also came to Canada for the land that was advertised. It was promised to them for cheap, or even for free and immigrants left Britain with high hopes. Most of their countries were burdened by overpopulation issues and immigrating to Canada would serve as a chance to own land on which they could live and farm.

In Scotland during that period, there was widespread destitution caused by the demise of traditional jobs and the introduction of more modern farming methods. Faced with a choice between a job in the manufacturing business and emigrating, many Scots opted for a new life in Canada, and so they immigrated.

In spite of the struggles, many immigrants did succeed in starting their life in Canada and the British settlers have since made a profound impact on the culture and development of our country. The English language is the national tongue, thanks to the British immigrants, and many place names and traditions, principles, and even religions were brought in with the settlers during the Great Migration.