The American Revolution or Canadian EvolutionThe American Revolution or Canadian Evolution

Effects of the American RevolutionEffects of the American Revolution

The American Revolution created two new countries.

The new country of the United StatesThe future nation of Canada.

Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1763, formally ended the Seven Years War between France and Britain.

The lands of New France were transferred to Britain.

The Canadiens kept their religion and language.

American RevolutionAmerican RevolutionPeace for the British empire would be

short lived13 of its North American Colonies

would revolt because they were tired of Britain not looking out for the best interests of the colonies.

Louisbourg given back to the French in 1749Royal Proclamation of 1763 giving Aboriginal Peoples land rightsQuebec Act of 1774 reminded Americans that elected assemblies were not a right

More CausesMore Causes The Americans wanted “no taxation with out

representation”

The British government refused and continued impose high taxes on the American colonies because of the cost of the Seven Years War and to cover the 10 000 standing army to guard forts in the Ohio Valley

What about Canada?What about Canada? The Americans believed that they would

find allies in Quebec, Nova Scotia and some of the First Nations tribes.

The French-Canadians remained neutralThey did not see anything to gain from revolting (The Americans were notoriously anti-French)They enjoyed their life under British rule since it was not harsh (They had religious freedoms not seen elsewhere in the British Empire)

Cont’dCont’d In 1774, George Washington also

denounced French culture and the Roman Catholic religion.

The French-Canadians did not see the point of risking what they had for the unknown.

When Quebec was attacked in 1775, the Habitants would not fight.

British Aboriginal AlliesBritish Aboriginal Allies The Aboriginals of Six Nations fought

alongside the British Thought that the British would protect their

land in the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes regions.

George Washington ordered the destruction of Iroquois villages in retaliation

The Treaties of Versailles and Paris did not protect the land of the Aboriginals when the war ended

Joseph BrantJoseph Brant Mohawk chief who had been educated in English and

served with the British during the Seven Years’ War. Thayendanegea (Mohawk name) was responsible to

rallying the Six Nations to fight against the Americans Felt betrayed by not even a mention of Aboriginals in

the Treaty of Paris of 1783 British relocated Six Nations to 275 000 hectares of

Crown land in 1784. By 1828 only a third of the land remained in the hands

of the Six Nations.

The Aftermath of the RevolutionThe Aftermath of the RevolutionOn July 4th, 1776, the Declaration

of Independence officially created the United States of America

After years of fighting, with the help of the French, finally defeated Britain in 1781

This forced the British to give up control over the American colonies

United Empire LoyalistUnited Empire Loyalist The United Empire Loyalists/Tories

resisted the Rebels/Patriots and fought along side of the British.

The Loyalists were persecuted for their stand, and their property and possessions were stolen from them.

Thousands of Loyalists left the U.S to resettle in territories still controlled by Britain.

The LoyalistsThe Loyalists 50 000 loyalists from all backgrounds

came to British North America. 34 000 arrived in the colony of Nova

Scotia. The most prosperous Loyalist settlement

was located along the banks of the St. John River and the Fundy Shore.

This saw the formation of places names Fredericton, St. Andrew, and Saint John.

Black LoyalistsBlack LoyalistsDuring the Revolution Britain offered

Black slaves freedom if they sided with them.

Both Britain and America at the time still supported slavery

Slavery was abolished in the British Empire (including Canada) in 1833The United States abolished slavery in 1865 after the American Civil War

Black LoyalistsBlack LoyalistsAfter the war Black slaves were

forced with the choice of returning to the life of slavery or run to the British controlled Canada and have freedom, as well as the promise of free land.

If they returned to their Masters they would surely be treated worse than before the war.

Black LoyalistsBlack Loyalists

Over 3000 Black Loyalists would travel to Nova Scotia and settle in towns such as Preston and Shelburne.

However, when they arrived they would quickly find out that the land they were promised was small and not suited to farming.

Black LoyalistsBlack Loyalists They soon found out that freedom did not

necessarily mean equality Often the land they were given was so bad

they had to become indentured servants or tenant farmers.

This meant they had to work another persons land for a wage.

Sometimes they lived on the farm and were basically slaves once again.

After a few years, 1200 left for Sierra Leone.

Loyalist Influence on CanadaLoyalist Influence on Canada

10 000 Loyalists also went to Quebec, where they were given free land grants.

While they only totaled 10 percent of the population, they created huge changes.

They created a huge British influence on a French society.

Constitutional Act of 1791Constitutional Act of 1791 The British brought with them their

English culture. They also brought the Protestant religion and set up the Anglican Church.

They major change occurred with the Constitutional Act of 1791 which split Quebec into Upper Canada (Ontario) and Lower Canada (Quebec) each with its own elected assembly.