​Welcome to a 3-4 week exploration of Our Canada, Chapter 7: The Great Migration Push for Democracy. This is a pivotal era in Canadian history spanning from 1815 to 1850. This unit delves into the foundations of the Canadian Confederation by examining the roles and relationships of British, French, and Aboriginal peoples.

 

My Unit Goals:

Guided by the Grade 7 Social Studies program of studies, students will investigate how mass migration and political upheaval shaped the identity of Upper and Lower Canada. Focusing on two critical historical questions:

1. Confirming British Identity: How did the Great Migration serve as an attempt to solidify British influence within the Province of Canada?

2. The Path to Reform: How did the Act of Union (1840) attempt to resolve the deep-seated grievances that led to the Rebellions of 1837 and 1838?

 

What We Will AchieveBy analyzing historical maps, primary source readings like "Not a Pleasure Cruise," and the impact of the "Coffin Ships," students will develop essential critical and historical thinking skills.

Key learning objectives include:

• Analyzing Cause and Effect: Distinguishing between the short- and long-term factors that led to the Rebellions.

• Geographic Inquiry: Using historical maps to understand population density and waterway importance.

• Deliberative Inquiry: Synthesizing research to provide informed points of view on the "British Blueprint" for engineering a colony. 

 

Through interactive lessons, government structure activities, and visual media, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how these military, economic, and political events forged the Canada we know today.