The British in Atlantic Canada

A New Found Land

John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) reached the waters off of Newfoundland in 1497

When he returned to England, he reported seeing waters teeming with fish

This news spread quickly among fishing fleets in Europe

Fish was an important food source, especially in Catholic countries

Soon hundreds of ships were fishing off the coast of this “new found land”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=261-NYB7Sko

Not a Colony? Cabot claimed

Newfoundland for Britain, but they did not want it as a colony

The climate was too harsh and the soil was not prime for farming

They just wanted fish! Most fishermen stayed on

their ships and would only go on land to dry their catch

They would return home before winter storms occurred

Competition As the fishing business grew,

there was competition between the fleets to secure the best harbour for drying stations

Some even began staying behind in winter to guard the sites

Over time, the number of British newcomers grew and King George II granted captains permission to build fishing villages on land

As the villages grew, Britain could no longer ignore the island

In 1729, the king appointed a governor – Newfoundland was evolving into a colony

Extinction of a Nation

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Events in Europe

Britain and France often fought each other in Europe

Sometimes this affected their colonies

In 1713, they signed the Treaty of Utrecht to create peace in Europe

It allowed France to keep control of Fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton, while Acadia was given to Britain

Acadia was renamed Nova Scotia Life pretty much stayed the same

for the Colonists

The Creation of Halifax Over time, Britain became concerned about

the strong French presence in Nova Scotia and the Fortress of Louisbourg

As a result, in 1749 Britain decided to show its sovereignty over Nova Scotia

It was going to tighten its control on the colony

They planned to build a fort and town at a place called Chebucto or “the biggest harbour”

It would be a base for British troops and ships

16 ships with 2600 soldiers sailed in to do the job

They named the settlement Halifax

Houses and buildings were on the waterfront, while the fort was built at the top of the hill

Active Citizenship in Halifax The government in Halifax included a

governor, a council of advisors and an elected assembly

For many years though, the governor put off elections

They worked with the advisors to govern on their own without input from citizens

In 1758 Britain insisted that an election was to be held

Citizens could now participate in their government

It was the first elected assembly in British North America

Citizens also contributed to their society by working, paying taxes, volunteering and following the laws of their colony

Mi'kmaq Perspective The Mi'kmaq were concerned about the

British newcomers

The site Halifax was built on was one of their preferred coastal campsites

Their French allies urged the Mi'kmaq to make life difficult for the British

In response, Lord Cornwallis gave the order to “annoy, distress, take or destroy the Mi'kmaq people wherever they are found.”

Because of this hostility, the British decided not to build farms outside of Halifax

Most of the good farmland was already taken, anyway

This increased the tension between the French (Acadians) and British (Halifax) colonists

Mi'kmaq Declaration of War, 1749

“The place where you stand, where you build your houses, where you build a fort, where you wish, as it were, to enthrone yourself,

this land of which you now wish to make yourselves absolute masters, this same land belongs to me. I have grown up on it like

the grass, and it is the very place of my birth and my residence . . .

Show me where I, a Native, will lodge? You chase me away, and where do you want me to take refuge? You have seized nearly all of this land in all its vastness . . . At the present time, you force me

to speak out because of the considerable theft you inflict upon me.”

Q: What is this speech saying? Summarize it.

Q: Who do you agree with – the Mi'kmaq or the British? Why?