CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS FOR JUNIOR CLASSES. BY W. J. LARMINIE, B.A. • • • * . » •' m I. » • ^ . • • MONTREAL : PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL &> SON, - , 1900. J i PREFACE. In preparing this little work no attempt has been made to show originality in matter or style. The sole aim of the compiler has been, by simplicity of language and clear- ness of arrangement, to place within reach of young pupils a thorough grasp of the subject. Bryce's '* Short History of the Canadian People "and Clements' " History of the Dominion " have been principally consulted for the facts. ■ • • • • « » Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada, in the year one ,^ thousand nine hundred, by W. J. Larminie, in the office of the ' Minister of Agriculture at Ottawa. CONTENTS. Page L JSSON I. — Early Explorers and the Discovery of America.,.. 5 Lesson 1 1 , — Other Explorers 7 Lesson III. — French Explorers 9 Lesson IV. — Cartier's Second Voyage II Lesson V, — Cartier's Third Voyage .... 13 Lesson VI. — Early Inhabitants 15 Lesson VI I. — The Life of the Indians 17 Lesson VIII. — French Settlements in Acadia 20 Lesson IX. — Champlain at Quebec 22 Lesson X.— Canada from 1G.35 to 1663 26 Lesson XI. — Canada becomes a Royal Government..,. 28 Lesson XII. — French Explorations 31 Lesson XIII.— Frontenac 33 Lesson XIV — From the Death of Frontenac to the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle 36 Lesson XV, — Events which led to the Seven Years' War 38 Lesson X VI. — The Same continued 40 Lesson XVII.— The Seven Years' War 43 Lesson XVI II. — Capture of Quebec and Close of the War.... 46 Lesson XIX. — Conclusion of the French Period 48 Lesson XX. — Canada under British Rule. «...*....... 61 Lesson XXI. — The Quebec Act, and War of American Inde- pendence .....(•«•...•..«. , . . . . 63 4 CONTENTS. Page Lesson XXII.— The United Empire Loyalists, and the Consti- stitutional Act 66 Lesson XXIII.— Affairs in Canada from 1791 to 1812; Further Explorations 59 Lesson XXIV.— The War of 1812 62 Lesson XXV.— Canada from 1814 to 1837 66 Lesson XXVI.— The Rebellion of 1837 and 1838 71 Lesson XXVII. —Canada from 1837 to 1867 74 LESfeON XXVIII.— Fenian Raids and Norlh-West Rebellions. . . 80 Lesson XXIX. — The Dominion of Canada 8i Canadian History Lessons. Lesson I. — Early Explorers and the Discovery OF America. If you look at your map of the world you will see that the broad Allan fie Ocean lies between the continent of America, where we now live, and the continent of Europe, in which are England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany and other countries, the first homes of our fathers, or grand • fathers, or their fathers or ancestors even farther back who came out to settle, and build cities, and form countries in America. When they arrived, they found living here people unlike any they had seen before, with black hair and copper- colored skin, wliom by mistake they called Indians for they thouglit this was Indi i they had come to. You will say they did not know much about Geography if they could not tell that India was a part of Asia, and you are right ; they had not learnt a great deal about the world then, for their ships we're small, and they had no compass to guide their course, so they could not venture to cross mighty unknown oceans. Still there were brave men in those days who could not rest without finding out more about the globe ; and one named Marco Polo sailed off to discover what he could. About the year 1 295 he returned to Europe, bringing stories of rich and splendid lands in the far East, e. . - CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS, which they called the Indies, and telling of the wonderful wealth to be found in Cathay, the old name for China. These accounts made others eager to go too, and set them thinking ; andlo such good purpose that at last an ItaUan named Christopher Columbus made up his mind that it would be easier to sail westward over the Atlantic, than to take the long and troublesome journey over land to the East, and that he would in the end come to the same place. This Christopher Columbus was born in the town of Genoa, and even as a little boy had the idea that there must be other countries and other people across the sea, if we could only get to them. So as soon as he was old enough he became a sailor, and spent his life in visiting the parts of the world that were already known, amongst them perhaps Iceland, where lived some people who had come from Norway and were called Norsemen. About the year loco A.D. one of them named Ericson had sailed off with a crew of bold Norsemen, and after visiting Green- land went across and landed on some unknown coast, probably Labrador or Newfoundland. These were the first Europeans to visit America, and Columbus may have heard their story. At all events he decided to set off in search of new lands across the sea. He was not rich enough • to get ships and men for himself, so he had a great deal of trouble, but at last he obtained some from Ferdinand and Isabella, the King and Queen of Spain, and in 1492 started on his dangerous voyage. A great deal of trouble his men gave him too, for when they had been a long time at sea they became discontented and lost hope and faith in their commander. Sometimes they refused to obey him and OTHER EXPLORERS. ' 7 angrily demanded to return home, but he always persuaded them, and at last they cime to land, — one of the Islands which are now known asi-the West Indies. Notes (To be Memorized.) About 1000 A. D. Ericson with Bjorn and other Norsemen sailed to the coast probably of Labrador and Newfoundland. About 1295, Marco Polo returned to Europe, bringing taKs of Cathay, a country rich in gold and diamonds. 1492 Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa in Italy, discovered America, landing on one of the West Indies, which he called San Sal ador. Thinking that he had reached India, he called the people Indians. ( \.D. stands for Anno Dofnini — '* in the year of the Lord," — that is, so mmy years after the birth of Christ.) The mariner's or sailor's compass was first used in Europe about the year 1250, but the Chinese seem to have known about it before that time. N.B. — Always use your maps to find places mentioned, and trace journeys described. Lesson II. — Other Explorers. So soon as Columbus pointed out the way, others \vere eager to follow; and England, France and Poitugal joined with Spain in the race as to which should gain most profit and glory by discoveries in the New World. Two Italians, John Cabot and his son Sebastian, received ships from Henry VII, King ot England, and crossing the Atlantic, qoagted L,abrador and the United States, This was iq th^ 8 • . CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. 4 year 1497. Sebastian, on a second voyage in 1498, took with him a number of people and tried to found a colony, but failed on account of going loo far nortii. The King (jf Portugal, not to be beaten, shortly afterwards sent out one of his sea captains, Vasco di Gama, who managed to sail round the Cape of Good Hope at the South of Africa and reach Cathay or China. He also sent out Cabral, who dis- covered Brazil in South America. In the yeirs 1500 and 1501 another Portuguese sailor named Cortereal explored part of the coast of North America, to which he gave the name Labrador, and carried some of the natives with him to Europe. Spain, too, although she held the lead, did not retire from the race. In 1497 Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine, went to ihe New World in the interests of Spain, returning the next year wilh a cargo of 200 slaves. He made the same voyage for Spain in r499, ^"ance, taking with him Donnacona, whom he had seized by surprise on the ship. In spite of this the Indians seem to have remained • CARTJF.R'S THIRD VOYAGE. 13 friendly and made tliem presents of fruit as they were leaving, while ihe French on their part gave them such rewards as they could. Notes. 1535- Jacques Cartier's second voynge. He crossed the Atlantic from St. Malo with t!iree ships which met off the iVewfoundiand coast, and sailed up the St. Lawrence past the Island of Bacchus, ;is he called it (now Orleans) to the mouih of ihe St. Croix River (now the St. Charles), just below Quehtc. Here he found the Indian Village of Stadacona, governed by the chief Donna- conn. The In iians were friendly. In October he sailed up the St. Lawrence to Hochelagi. He wintered at Stada- cona, tried by the severe co'd and by scurvy. In the fol- lowing May he returned to Frar ce, taking wiih him Donnacona and a few other Indians who were converted to Christianity, but all died in France excei)t a little girl of ten. Lesson V. — Cartier's Third Vovagf. Fjur years passed before the French king took any more thought of Canada, but then he resolved to found a French colony there, and entrusted the woik to the Sieur — or Lord — of Koberval, with the title of "Governor of Canada and Hochelaga." Cartier, although he seems to have grown tired of voyaging, was ordered to take com- mand of the ships, five in number and set sail on May 23rd, 1541. DeRoberval remained behind to get two moie vessels and supplies, intending to join the others at 14 CANADIAN HISTORY LESSO^fS. i Newfoundland, but he was delayed and did not start till April, 1542. Cartier, hindered by storms and by wailing for Roberval, did not reach the Ste. Croix till August. He then took up new quarters at Cap Rouge, where he spent the winter, sending home two of his ships with letters to the king. When Roberval did at last start he had three ships, considired^large in those days, and two hundred people, both men and women, whom lie was bringing out to settle in the new land. It was no easy matter to get people to leave their homes and risk the dangers of a long voyage and a strange wild country, so that Roberval's colonists were not of the best class, some even being taken from the French gaols. These people afterwards gave him a great deal of trouble, and he could only control them by very severe trea'raent, flogging some and hanging other.i. When in June he reached the harbour of St, John's Newfoundland, he was surprised to meet Cartier on his way back to France, and ordered him to return with him. Cartier, however, sailed out of the harbour by night, and made his way home. Roberval then continued his jour- ney to the Ste. Croix, built a Urge fort, and spent the wit ter there. Scurvy attacked them too, and fifty of them died. Owing to wars in Fiance no help was sent to them and their sufferings were great. We are told that Cartier was again sent out in 1 543 and took back Roberval and all that remained of the colonists, but this does not seem very certain. EARLY INHABITANTS. _ 16 Notes. 1541. Cartier started in May on his third voyage with five ships, reaching the St. Croix in August. 1542. Roberval, *' Governor of Canada and Hoche- laga," sailed to Canada with three mire ships and two hundred people, and attempted to found a colony. Cartier deserted him and returned home. The colony failed, owing to severe weather, iilness, and lack of provisions. 1543. Perhaps a fourth voyage of Cartier to rescue Roberval and the remainder of the colonists. Lesson VI. — Early Inhabitants, After the events described in our last lesson Canada was for many years neglected, so we shall pause here to learn something of the people who dwelt in the land before the Europeans found their way to it. Of the earliest people — as far as we know — who lived in Canada we can tell but little ; they are spoken of as the Mound Builders, for they have left a number of large earthen mounds, where are found the bones of those who were buried in them, and in which they also placed weapons, tools and ornaments, and some pottery such as cups which seem to have been hand- made. These people were not the same as the Indians, for some of the Indians spoke of them as a different race and called them " the very ancient men." The Indians were a very interesting race of savages with copper-coloured skin, high cheek-bones, and black glossy hair. They came probably from the East of Asia, so that ' their name is not so very far wrong after all. 16 CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS: oThey loved war nnd hunting, and these were the only occupations of the men, for the women did all the work of the homes and attended to such few crops as they did sow. In war they were fierce, cruel and cunning, and he was thought the best of the " braves " who could show the greatest number of scalps at his belt. Their weapons were the bow and arrow and the tomahawk or hatchet. Their prisoners they tortured in the most cruel way, delighted if they could wring a groan from them, but the sufferer scorned to show any sign of pain, instead generally sing- ing and mocking his tormentors. The three great families of Indians were the Algonquins, the Hurons and the Iroquois, the Hurons being really a branch of the Iroquois. Cartier found Hurons at Stada- cona and Hochelaga, but they seem to have been de stroyedby the Algonquins who settled in their place. The Algonquins lived on the Atlantic coast, and spread to the- west, north of the great lakes. Their most warlike tribe was the Ojibvvays, of whom the Crees and the Ottawas were branches. The Iroquois consisted of five nations, of whom we may mention the Mohawks and Senecas. These were the most powerful r^nd finest of the Indians — tall, straight and athletic, I'heir warriors were brave and dashing, though cruel, and their women much better look- ing than those of the other tribes. They cuhivated fields of maize, and patches of melons and pumpkins ; they made clearings in the woods ; and knew enough of govern- ment to league their five nations together and thus make thpir tribe the strongest of all. Connected with them are the much-dreaded Sioux of the Western States, who even !: . THE LIFE OF THE INDIANS. 17 still at limes go on ilie " war path," burning and destroying all before them. Notes. Earliest known inhabitants were the iVIound Builders. The Mounds wtre burying places, and are found in large numbers near the Rainy and Souris Rivers, containing bones, weapons, tools, ornaments and pottery. The Indians came probibly from the East of Asia. The three great Indian races were the Algonquins, the Hurons and the Iroquois. The Algonquins included the Ojibways, Crees and Ottawas. The Ircquois were made up of five — some say six — nations, amongst them the Mohawks and Senecas. 'I'he Sioux of the Western States are connected with the tribe of Iroquois. Lesson VII. — The Like of the Indians. The coming of the white taen has made a great change in the condition of the Indian. Before that time he lived in tents of buffalo skins or in round-toi)ped huts covered vvidi birch bark. Kis weapons were made of wood — bows and clubs— or of hard stones, ground with great patience to the required shape. But Europeans came, eager to obtain furs, and in exchange for these the Indian hunter could procure knives and hatchets and guns, which he soon learned to use with skill, and, dearest to his heart, those cheap and poisonous intoxicants, known to him as *' fire water," which have proved such a curse to the whole I / 18 CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. race. When the Indians found how the Europeans were taking possession of the land, and making use of them for their own profit, they banded themselves together to drive the **Pale Faces" into the sea. But the white men came on in an increasing stream, and finally such of the Indians as were not destroyed were reduced to a sulky submission. Lands have been set apart fur them known as *^ Indian Reserves," and here they live in a state nearly as savage as before, though not so fierce and warlike. It is true they have schools and missionaries, but they are still under the control of their medicine men — or magic men — of whom they are much afraid. Some have adopted European dress, and built houses such as are to be seen in the Indian village of Caughna- waga. But on the western reserves they live in wretched tents of blankets, caring for nothing but drink and gambling — savages as ignorant, dirty and lazy as can well be imagined. The Indian language has a strange guttural or throaty sound, and, like Chinese, forms new words by joining together others already in use. The different dialects are many, and members of one tribe often cannot understand the speech of another, though they are so clever in the use of signs that they have no difticulty in making known their meaning. The dress of the Indian was formerly made of skins which were skilfully tanned by the women. From this soft hide moccasins were made with which he could traverse the forest silently as a panther. In winter, when buffalo or deer were floundering in the snow, his snowshoes placed ^ ^ THE LIFE OF THE INDIANS. 19 them at his mercy. Now, his garments are made of cloth obtained from the white men ; ornaments are much ad- mired, and very clever work is done by the squaws with porcupine quills and beads. '1 hey wear bracelets and ear- rings, and the feathers of the hawk and eagle form pan of a brave's decorations. Having so much spare lime on his hands the Indian naturally seeks for some way cf passing it. They are very fond of company, and take pleasure in the '* pow-wow," where they sit together and listen to long speeches from their wisest men. Wrestling and other athletic sports are very popular, while they are devoted to hor^e racing; but the Indian's great passion is for gambling, and he will stake everything he has, even to his horse and his wife. They show great cleverness in inventing games at which they become very skilful. Their dances are connected with their religion, and are conducted to the sound of the tom-tom or drum played by the squaw?. As to their religion — they believe in a Good Spirit or Manitou, and an Evil Spirit, and seem to be more afraid of the latter. They set up in front of their villages a great post called a totem pole carved with all sorts of strange faces, apparently in honour of the several gods whom they worship. Their idea of heaven is a happy hunting-ground, where, followed by their dogs, they enjoy forever the pleasures of the chase. The medicine men or magicians have great power over them, as they are believed to be able to. cast a spell or curse upon any one who offends them. . ^ , 20 ■ CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. • 1 Of the Indians now in Canada the principal are th< Blackfoot, of whom there are some 3,000 in reserves i'l Alberta, the Crees of the Plains and the Athabasca ct DenS in the North. In the Arctic regions we meet with a tribe called Eskimos, who are of a more peaceful nature, and live by huntmg and fishing. They build domes of ice for huts, warmmg themselves by lamps fed with seal blubber or fat. I heir light swift canoes (kayaks-) carry them in pursuit of seal or waluis, which they spe.ir with great skill. Asa hunter or guide, to follow a trail through the forest or steer a canoe down the rapids, the Indian has never been excelled, and the Hudson's Bay Company owes much of Its great wealth to the skins which they obtain at a low price from Indian and Eskimo hunters. Lesson VIU.-French Settlements m Acadia. At the end of the sixteenth century the French were World and in ,603 an expedition was sent out com- J ch a cended the St. Lawrence as far as Hochdaga Tamed IT ''T'' ' '""'^'^^"'' ^^ a nobleman Huguenot, as the French Protestants were then called and was a favourite of Ilpnru r\r 1 1 7 /'"=" '^^"'^''i Huguenot before he became king. In those days kings used to enrich their Cr\fnA^ 1 • ■' "'"S' that is hv H.1 , ^ ^'^"""S 'hem monopolies, hat IS by declaring that they should be the only ones to trade in certain goods. Now, Henry IV. had given FRENCH SETTLEMENTS IN ACADIA, 21 \ De Monts the monopoly of furs in Acadia — Nova Scotia — as we call it, and he, accompanied by Pontgrav(3, Poutrin. court, another nobleman, Champlain to command the ships, and a large number of colonists, workmen and clergymen, both Catholic and Protestmt, set sail with four ' . ships in 1604 to foiind a colony. They crossed the Atlantic and explored the coast of the iiay of Fundy until they reached the fine harbour afterwards called . Anna[)olis Harbour. Here Poutrincourt and some others of the party landed, while the rest sailed on, and at last came to a halt on an island in the St. Croix Rivtr. There they spent the winter, but, being quite unprepared for it, they suffered terribly from the cold. Scurvy at- tacked them, and in the spring only forty-four of them were left alive. These left the island and joined their . friends, and with forty new settleis whom PoTitgrav^ brought out, built dwellings, storehouses and a fort (1605). This settlement they called Port Royal — now Annapolis — . and here they lived very happily. When the colony was firmly settled De Monts and Poutrincjurt returned to France, where ihey found the company of merchants who had borne the expense of the expedition very much discontented at getting no return for their money. Finally, the company was broken up; in 1607 ships were sent out to take the colonists home, and for two years the buildings of Port Royal stood empty. After that, fresh settlers came out and other colonies were founded, but, owing to quarrels with the English colonies further south and disputes among themselves, they made, / no great progress. • ' ' 22 CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. We learn of these facts from the books and charts pul lished by Champlain, which did a great deal to spreads knowledge of Canadi throughout Europe; we also find interesting descriplioiis of life at Port Royal in the writ ings of a lawver nanud Lescarbot, who came out in i6d6, and did much to make the colonists mdre comfortable. Notes. 1603 Champlain with Pontgrav^ and De Munts ascended the St. Lawrence, and found that Stadicona and Hochelaga had disappeared. 1604. Champlain was again «^ent out with Do Monts, Pontgravd and Poutrin-ourt. 1605. A colony was founded at Port Royal, now Annapohs, near the Bay of Fundy. 1607. The settlement at Port Royal was abandoned. The wntmgs of Champlain and Lescarbot are our source of mtormation about these events. I-EssoN IX.— Champlain at Queijec. The later history of Acadia is interesting, but we must proceed now wuh events affecting Canada as a whole. nil n' Q r'' '^''' '^'' '"""^^^ «^ »he River St. a.ar,es heSt. Lawrence flows rapidly through a narrower ha ne between Cn.e Diamond on the north and Point nelis "oh "; * • ''' '"'"" ^^^^^ ^«- '^^-'^ - Chan- a te fo? to? r "n'^ ""^ ^" "^ '°" ^^- ^^-" -tuated Th.s town Champlain founded in ,6n8 by the desire of ClIAMriAlN AT QUEBEC. 23 The first winter was one of great suffering for the col- onists here also, and out of twenty-eight only eight lived [till ihe spring. CliampK;in's whole heart was set on colonizing Canada, Jand he was likewise bent on exploring ail of the couiuiy e could. Hif first journey for this purpose was under- taken in 1609. Wishing for the friendship of the Algon- quin Indians on a trip up the Ottawa, he consented to help them in their war against the Iroquois, and with some ; of his men joined a party of Algonquins and Hurons who ascended the River Richelieu and met the Iroquois on the western shore of the lake which has since Deen called by his name. The Iroquois fought bravely, but the fire-arms used by the Frenchmen, which they then saw for the first time, terrified them so that they were utterly defeated. He then went back to France, and returning next year (1610), made a second successful attack on the Iroquois, afier which he again visited France, where he married a young girl named Hel^ne Boulle, returning to Canada in ! the following year. A young Frenchman, who had spent a winter with some friendly Indians up the Oitawa, soon afterwards came to Champlain with the story that he had arrived by the Upper Ottawa at Hudson's Bay, which had ^ been discovered by Henry Hudson in 1610; and in 1613 Champlain was led by this report to make a voyage up the Oitawa as far as AUurnette Island, where he found that he had been deceived. ; Then followed another visit to France, and on his re- turn in 161 5 he brought with him some monks of the Order of Recollets, a branch of the Franciscans, whose settlement still exirts on the north shore of the island of Montreal. ' 24 CANADIAN HISTORY LFSSONS. In 1 615 Champlain again joined the Hurons against the Iroquois, this time ascending the Ottawa, crossing to Lal dians he quarrelled with the earlier governor , who were recalled when he made complaints against them. He was then allowed to choose a governor hinuelf, and selected De Mesy, who was the first of the governors under royal government. Even he could not endure Laval's in terfer- -, \ CANADA BECOMES A ROYAL GOVERNMENT. 20 ence, and having quarrelled with him about the appoint- ment of members to the council, was re-called to France. Laval's best act was the founding of the seminary or college at Quebec in 1664. Still disputing with the gov- ernors, and especially with Frontenac, who gave him more trouble than the rest, the fiery old 1 ishop seems at last to have grown weary and resigned his office in 1688, though he returned to Canada four years later. He died in 1708, His place was taken by Bishop St. Vallier, who was very charitable and founded the Hotel-Dieu or Hospital at Quebec. De Mesy was succeeded in 1665 by De Courcelles, who in the follov;ing January made a fruitless descent into Iro- quois territory. In 1665 there also arrived in Canada the Intendant Talon, and De Tracy, viceroy of all the French possessions in America, including some of the West Indies. De Tracy brought with him the Carignan regiment, famous in Turkish wars, intending to reduce the Iroquois to sub- mission Three forts, — Sorel, Charnbly and Ste. Therese, — were built on the River Richelieu, and in 1666 De Tracy led his force into the Mohawk valley, burned the Mohawk villages and destroyed their food supplies. This compelled the Iroquois to beg for peace ; in 1667 a treaty was made with them at Montreal, and for twenty years New France was free from their attacks. Though not so in name, the Intendant was really the most important officer in the colony, and may be described as the King's business manager. The best known names amongst the Intendants are those • / - 30 CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. of Talon and Bigot, the first and the last of these officers; the former is noted for the good aid the latter for the harm he did to the colony. Like Colbert, Talon was anxious for an increase in the population, and on his return to Canada in 1669, after a visit to France, he brought with him 700 colonists. Also, after the war against the Iroquois, he induced the officers of the Carignan regiment to remain by giving them grants of land, of which they became the Seigneurs or Lords. Sorel Vercheres, Berthier and many other places on the St. Law- rence and Richelieu rivers bear the names of these officers. Everything was done to encourage early marriages, and shiploads of peasant girls were sent out from France, and very quickly provided with husbands. As a result the populuion rose from 2,000 in 1663 to 10,000 in 1680. Talon also encouraged the people to manufacture cloth- ing and whatever they could for themselves, besides set- ting up a trade with the West Indies by which Canadian limber and fish brougtita return of sugar and other trop. ical products. Notes. 1659-1708 Laval was Bishop of iVew France. 1664- He found-d the seminary of Quebec. 1663. Canada became a Royal Government with De Mesy as Governor. 1665. De Courcelles became Governor. Talon arrived as Intendant and De Tracy as Viceroy or King's repre sentative. 1666. Courcelles made an expedition against the Iro- quois, and later De Tracy compelled them to submit. : 1667. Treaty with the Iroquois made at Montreal. FRENCH EXPLORATIONS. 31 Lesson XII. — French Explorations. Talon and Frontenac encouraged explorers to travel further to the west and south. Missionaries followed the fiir-traders and established posts to the south of Lake Superior, and west of Lake Michigan. Mi hillimackinac, an important fort on the strait between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, was founded about 1670. Furs were being sold by the Indians and coureurs de bois to the English traders in New York ; so, to keep them out of the great western district, Talon sent a large force in 1671 to take possession of it for France. At Sault Ste. Marie, in the presence of a number of Indian chiefs, the French flag was unfurled. The first white man to pass from Lake Huron to Lake Erie was Joiiet, who afterwards crossed over by way of the Grand River to Lake Ontario, where he met the famous Robert de la Salle. In 1673, Joiiet, in company with Father Marquette, crossed from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi — * Father of Waters'- -and went down in their canoes as far as the raoulh of the Arkanbas. La Salle was a French nojleman who came to Canada in 1667, and obtained in 1678 a patent allowing him lo explore towards the Mississippi, provided he built forts to command the interior of the country. He appears to have had an idea that, by ascending the St. Lawrence, he should find a passage to the west and so reach China — in French ia Chine — ; so his enemies in mockery called the village, which he built on his property on Lake St. Louis, Lachine. 32 CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. He was very friendly with Governor Fronleinc and helj>ed him to build Fort Fronlenac, of which i)l:ice he was given ilie command. He also built forts on the Illinois River, and opened up trade with the I'linois Indians. \{i was assisted in all this by his distinguished lieutenant, Tonty. In 1682 La Salle sailed down the Mississipi)i and suc- ceeded in reaching the Gulf of Mexico. He took pos- session of the land on both banks of the river in the ivune of Louis XIV, King of France, giving it the name of Louisiana. It was in 1670 that the Hudson's Bay Company received their charter from the King of England and began to set up trading-posts and to build forts around the shores of the bay. As soon as Talon heard of this, he sent off Father Albaiiel, who in 1672 made his way through from the S ■ Lesson XXIV.— The War of 1812, A great revolution broke out in France in 1789; the people rose against their rulers, beheaded their king and queen, drove out the nobility, and made France a repub- lic. Before long England entered into a war with them, which lasted with slight interruption till 1815, when the famous Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo. To injure England's commerce Napoleon had issued the Berlin and Milan Decrees, forbidding other nations to trade with her, and in reply the British government sent out *• Orders in Council*' declaring that any ships carrying French mer" chandise would be treated as enemies. They also claimed the right to search foreign vessels for deserters from the British navy. The United States made these things an excuse for de- claring war in 1812; really, it was a move of a certain political party to get themselves into power, and did not receive the support of all the States. The Americans despatched three armies against Can- ada ; one under General Hull at the Detroit River, a sec- ond under Van Rensellaer on the Niagara, frontier, and a third under Dearborn to descend the Richelieu and atttack Montreal. Britain could send but few troops as she had all she could do to hold her own in Europe, so the militia were called out and responded nobly. Sir George Prevost was governor, and Sir Isaac Brock commander-in-chief of the forces. The first act of the British was to surprise and capture TI^E WAR OF \^\2, 63 Fort Michillimackinac. On Brock's approach, Hull retired into Detroit, where he was soon obh'ged to surrender. In the centre Van Rensellaer crossed the Niagara River and managed to place a strong body of men on Queenston Heights ; in trying to dislodge ihem Brock was shot, but General Sheaffe took command and sent a force round to attack the Americans in the rear. They were taken by sur- prise and after a brave defence surrendered. Brock was a splendid man, and his loss was greatly felt. A monument on Queenston Heights marks the spot where he fell. In the east Dearborn had to give up his attempt to enter Canada, for he was defeated at LacoUe Mill, near Lake Champlain, by a small body of Canadian militia. Thus the Americans utterly failed by land in the first campaign, but at sea, strange to say, they had rather the best of it. 7 he second year, 1813, was crowded with events. Colonel Proctor, who was in command at Detroit, at- tacked the American General Winchester at Frenchtown, which he had captured, and took him and his men prison- ers. But soon afterwards Captain Barclay, commander of the British fleet on Lake Erie, was defeated by Commodore Perry, and Proctor thought it wise to leave Detroit. He retreated up the River Thames, accompanied by a body of Indians under their brave chief Tecumseh, who had helped Brock to capture Detroit. The Americans overtook them at Moraviantown and a battle was fought. The English had the worst of it and retreated, but the Indians still fought on till Tecumseh was killed. The next success of ths Americans was the capture of 64 :, CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. t t York, after which ihey advanced with a strong force against General Vincent. To get out of a difficult position this general accepted the advice of General Harvey and attacked the enemy by night at Stoney Creek. In the con- fusion, the two American generals were captured and their troops retreated. A remarkable feature of this campaign was Lieutenant Fiizgibbon's capture, with a very small force of 500 Amer- icans at Beaver Dams, near Queenston. He owed this in great part to the heroism of Mrs. Laura Secord, the wife of a Canadian militiaman. She overheard the Americans planning to capture the little British force, and set out to warn Fitzgibbon. After cleverly getting through the Amer- ican lines she walked twenty miles through the bush, and arrived just in time, almost dead with fatigue. Thus pre- pared, Fitzgibbon went in search of the Americans, and found that they were being attacked by some Indians. He boldly went up to them with a flag of truce and called upon them to surrender, which they aid, not knowing the small number of his troops. It was in this year that the Americans, finding themselves obliged to withdraw from the Canadian side of the Niagara River first, were guilty of burning the town of Newark (Ni- agara), on a cold winter night. The British, in revenge, laid waste the opposite shore from Fort Niagara to Buffalo. - The Americans had established a place for supplies at Sackett's Harbour on Lake Ontario, and during the first part of the year 1813 their fleet was the stronger on that lake ; but in September it was defeated by the British and 300 boats laden with supplies were captured. THE WAR Ul' 181 3. 66 At sea the British had regained the upper hand, and the celebrated fight took place off Huston harbour, in which the English frigate Shannon defeated and took the United States ix\%^\.^\Chesapeake, In the east the British arms were successful. O^densburg, on the St. Lawrence, was captured. Hampton, trying to reach the St. Lawrence by the Chateauguay River, was defeated by Colonel DeSalaberry with his Voltigeurs, a regiment of French Canadians which he had organized himself. About the same time, Wilkinson, on the other side of the St. Lawrence, was defeated by the British under Monison in the hard-fought battle of Chrysler's Farm, near Prescott. : In 1814, Governor Prevost planned a great attack on Plattsburg, the American stronghold on Lake Champlain, but the British fleet was defeated on the lake, so he with- drew his forces. The British general Rial! suffered a defeat at Chippewa Creek near the Falls of Niagara, but this was followed by Drummond's victory over the Americans at Lundy's Lane a few miles further north. This year the American fleet was kept shut in at Sack- etl's Harbour and Oswego was captured. The British were now at liberty to attend to affairs in America, and the United States forces were forced to retire from Canada. Some boats from the British fleet made their way up the Potomac, captured Washington, and burned the Capitol or parliament buildings there. Soon afterwards the war was closed by the Treaty of Ghent. 66 CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. \ ■ ^^ This was not known, however, by the forces in the South, and the British suffered severely in an attack on New Orleans in 1815. Notes. 1812- Fort Michillimackinac and Detroit taken by the British. 1812. Battle ofQueenston Heights : death of Brock. " Battle of Lacolle Mill. 1813. Winchester defeated at Frenchtown. ** Battle of Moraviantown : death of Tecumseh, Capture of York by Americans. Battle of Stoney Creek. '* Battle of Beaver Dams ; heroism of Laura Secord. ** Burning of Niagara by Americans. '* Yit^^'dXoi Chesapeake \iy Shannon. *' Capture of Ogdensburg by British. " De Salaberry's victory at Chateauguay. " Battle of Chrysler's Farm. 1814. Failure of Plattsburg expedition. " American victory at Chippewa. " British victory at Lundy's Lane. " Capture of Washington. " Treaty of Ghent. 1815* British defeated at New Orleans. Lesson XXV. — Canada from 18 14 to 1837. The continued wars had given rise to much distress in England, besides which the end of the war had left num- bers of soldiers and others without employment. To pro- CANADA FROM 1814 TO 1837. 67 vide for these and relieve the distress, emigration was greatly encouraged, and thousands of English, Scotch and Irish colonists came out to Canada. Settlement, how- ever, was greatly hindered by the Crown and Clergy Re- serves — lands set apart to support the royal revenues and the clergy. In many cases these lands had been granted to members and friends of the government, and other lands farther from the settlements taken. These wide un- occupied tracts of land of course proved a great hindrance to the opening up of the country and making of roads. The Clergy Reserves also proved a great cause of dispute between the different reh'gious bodies, for the English Church claimed them all, the Presbyterians said that they, as the established church in Scotland, should have a share, and Methodists did not see why they should be left out. This question was afterwards set at rest by the Act of 1854, which decreed that the lands should be sold and the money divided amongst the municipalities or town districts. In 18 1 6, as a result of much quarrelling between the Hudson's Bay and Norlh-VVestern Companies, the Nor'- Westers attacked the Hudson's Bay settlers at Seven Oaks, near the Red River, and in the fight Governor Sempie and twenty others were killed ; the Nor'-Westers then seized Fort Douglas. When news of this was received by the Earl of Selkirk, who was then on his way from Montreal with over a hundred colonists who had been in the army, he seized the Nor'-VVesters' post at Fort William, sent the chief men prisoners to Montreal, and then went on and re- captured Fort Douglas. How all this would have ended 6.8 CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. i it is hard to say ; but the government took the matter in hand and reconciled the rival parlies. The Nor'-Westers became partners in the Hudson's Bay Co., and the two companies were united with Sir George Simpson as gov- ernor. The years 1 815-1837 were full of stormy dispute. The reason was chiefly what is known as the " Family Com- pact," and the desire of the people to obtain responsible government. There was also dissatisfaction in Upper Canada, because by the division of the provinces all con- trol over commerce was given to the French, as all the ports for Atlantic trade were in their hands. The name of" Family Compact " was given to the mem- bers of the Executive and Legislative councils, who held together like members of a family, and kept the power and positions for themselves and their friends. They seem to have behaved very unfairly, seizing land from the reserves and bringing to trial and condemning unjustly those who opposed or spoke against them. The Assembly had no hold on them, for, though they voted all the money to carry on the government, the salaries of the officials were fixed in England, and the English Government refused to grant responsible government in Canada, that is to make the officers answerable to the people for their conduct when in power. Many men tried every means in their power to break down the Family Compact. A Scotchman, named Gourlay, sent round circulars to the townships of Upper Canada, asking opinions as to what would be for the good of the country, and advised the people to send men to England CANADA FROM \^i^ TO \?>n. 09 to e:splain their troubles. For this he was thrown into- prison, kept there seven months awaiting trial, and then condemned to leave the country. The most prominent men of the popular party in Upper Canada were Robert Baldwin, Dr. Rolph and Wm, Lyon Mackenzie. The last named was the publisher of a paper called The Colonial Advocate^ in which he attacked the Family Compact most violently. In return a party of young men entered his printing office and threw the type into Toronto Bay. The majority^ in the Assembly offended him after a time by becoming more friendly to the government. He attacked them and they turned him out of Parliament, but he was five times re-elected and was made mayor of York. We shall hear more of him in the next lesson. On the other side the man of greatest ability was Bishop Strachan, who came to Canada in 1799 and opened a school, afterwards obtaining a charter for King's College, which became the University of Toronto. He was opposed by a distinguished Methodist minister, n^med Egerton Ryerson, who became Superintendent of Education and founded the Ontario school system. In Lower Canada the leaders of the popular j)arty were Papineau, Speaker of the Assembly, and Dr. Wolfred Nelson, who had been an army surgeon. In 1832 and 1834 Canada was visited by the terrible plague of cholera, which was brought to Quebec by an immigrant ship, and swept off numbers of the people. In spite of all these troubles, however, the country prospered, and the population had increased in Upper 70 - CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. : ! and Lower Canada from 300,000 in 181 2 to 1,100,600 111 1841. Shipbuilding flourished in Quebec and in the Mari- time Provinces (the three provinces on the eastern sea- coast). The first steamboat in Canada was the " Accom- modation," used between Montreal and Quebe- in 1809^ The first steamship to cross the Atlantic — the " Royal William " — was built at Quebec in 1830-^^1, while Samuel Cunard, of Nova Scotia, started the Cunard Line in 1S40, with a paddle-wheel steamer called the '' Britannia." The Lachine Canal was built between 1821 and 1824, the Welland 1825-1829, and the Rideau— 1827 to 1S34 — was opened between Kingston and By town, as Ottawa was then called. The first railway in Canada was built in 1837 between Laprairie and Chambly. Notes. 1816. Fight at Seven Oaks between North Western and Hudson's Bay -Companies. 1321. North Western Co. taken into the Hudson's Bay Co. 1809. First steamboat, the " Accommodation," ran be- tween Montreal and Quebec. 1830-31. The *' Royal William," built at Quebec^ .first steamship to cross the Atlantic. 1840. Cunard Line started. 1821-1824. Lachine Canal built. 1825-1829. Welland Canal built. ' » THE REBELLION Or 1837 AND 1S38. -Tl 1827-1834. Rideau Canal built. Chambly Canal for the Richelieu River navigation and some canals in Ontario were o])ened ab^ut the same time. 1837. First locomotive engine used in Canada. 1832-1834. Cholera epidemic broke out. Lesson XXVI. —The Rebellion of 1837 and 1838. The Governors in Upper Canada between t8i8 and 1837 — Mailland, Sir John Colborne and Sir B'rancis Head — were all strongly in favour ol the Family Compact and of keeping the Assembly in subjection. Sir F. B. Head was especially objectionable, and went so far as to influence the elections in his own favour by dishonest means. Of course there were some honest men who really thought that the only way to keep the colonies still united to Britain was to prevent them from having complete self- government. Lord Dalhousie, who was Governor till 1829, tried to bully the Assembly into submission by dismissing them when they resisted him. He was recalled, and succeeded by Sir James Kempt, who was so much more favourable to the popular opmions that quiet reigned for a time. How- ever, on the appointment of Lord Aylmer in 1831, the troubles began afresh. It must be understood that every bill passed in the Assembly must also be passed in the Council and receive the assent of the Governor before it: becomes law, so that when Assembly and Council do not agree business is at a standstil'. Such was the case in Lower Canada from 1832 to 1837, when a " deadlock " of five years existed. The Council threw out all the Assem- 72 CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. bly's bills and no money was granted to carry on the government. Lord Aylmer was recalled in 1835, ^"<^ three commis- sioners were sent out to report on the state of the pro- vince. The result of ihefr report was that responsible government was refused, and then the fire of rebellion was kindled. Papineau and Nelson aroused the people by violent speeches, and when warrants for their arrest were issued they resisted by force of arms. Sir John Colborne had been ordered to return and put down the revolt. He collected the regulars and militia, organized volunteers in Montreal and Quebec, and made all the preparations possible. Nelson and Papineau, with their ^ew badly armed followers, were at St. Charles and St. Denis on the Riche. lieu. Nelson was attacked at St. Denis by Colonel Gore, who, however, was obliged to retire with heavy loss. Here Lieutenant Weir, who had been taken prisoner, was killed by the rebels. Papineau had crossed into the States and left a man named Brown in command at St. Charles. Colonel Wetherell advanced against this place with artillery and it was easily captured. Many of the rebels were killed and Lrown took flight. The rebellion in that part was now broken up and Dr. Nelson was captured, but some sup- porters of Papineau had collected at St. P^ustache and St. Benoit, north of Montreal, under Dr. Chenier. Here for two hours they held out in the church and convent against the strong force and artillery which Colborne had THE REBEI.LIOX 01- 1837 AXD 183S. 73 marched against them, until their leader was killed and then they gave way. St. Eustache, St. Benoit and St. Denis were burned by the government troops. In Upper Canada Governor Head seemed to encourage revolt, and sent away all the regular troops to help Col- borne ; Toronto might easily have been taken but for confusion in the rebels' plans. They had arranged to assemble at Montgomery's Tavern, 1 orth of Toronto, on Dec. 7, but, for some un- known reason, Dr. Rolph changed the date to the 4th. Only a few arrived on that date and they decided to wait till the 7th, especially as Colonel Van Egmond^ an officer who had served under Napoleon and was to command their forces, had not yet arrived. In the meanwhile the militia had arrived under Colonel McNab and marched against them. The fire of artillery was too hot for the rebels and ihey took to flight ; it is reported that one man was killed. Mackenzie, who escaped with difticulty, took refuge in Buffalo, where he was joined by a very low class of American citizens. They called themselves ** Patriots," and took up a position on Navy Island in the Niagara River. A steamer called the "Caroline" was used to carry supplies to them, so Col. McNab sent a party who captured her, set her on fire, and let her float over the Falls. It was found afterwards- that the boat be- longed to the States, and the British Government apolo- gized. This happened in January, 1838. In November of the same year a force collected under a Polish leader named Von Schultz, and crossed from Ogdensburg to a point near Prescott. Here, on the approach of Colonel 74 CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. Dundas with ariilleiy from Kingston, they lODk refuge in a stone windmill, but were soon compelled to surrender after severe losses. Von Schultz was afterwards tried and condenfined to death. At his trial he was defended by a young lawyer named John A. Macdonald, afterwards the famous Premier of Canada. Notes. 1832-1837. Business blocked in the Government of Lower Canada. 1835- Commissioners sent to report on the state o( the Province. 1837. Outbreak of rebellion ; fights at St. Denis, St. Charles and St. Eustache. Hight of Papineau and capture of Nelson. 1837. Dec. ylh, Affair at Montgomery's Tavern. Flight of Mackenzie to Buffalo. 1838. 'Patriots" on Navy Island; burning of the '* Caroline." Von Schultz surrendered at Windmill Point, near Prescott. Lesson XXVIL — Canada from 1837 '^^^ 1867. This rebellion and the victory of the Government were followed by a time of great severity. In Upper Canada, Sir George Arthur, and in Lower Canada, Sir John Col- borne, governors of a very harsh character, were appoint- ed. Numbers were thrown into prison accused of treason, even from among the moderate reformers who had not joined the rebels. This did not last long, however, for in '.- .HL CANADA FROM 18.^7 TO 1867. 75 May, 1838, the Earl of Durham arrived fts Governor- Ceneral of British North America and Lord High Com- missioner, to inquire into the grievances of the Canadas. This nobJeman was of a higli and generous chnracter, be- sides being remarkably talented. He at once appointed his own council and pardoned most of the prisoners, a few of the leaders only being banished from the country and sent to the Bermuda Islands. However, the Imperial (Government would not support his actions, and he resigned after six months. On his homeward voyage he drew up the famous report, which gave a full account '"of all the troubles in Canada, and recommended as the remedy that the people should be left to govern themselves, and the members of the govern- ment should be chosen from persons in favour with the Assembly. The result of this report was that in 1839 a bill was brought forward in the British Parliament for the union of Upper and Lower Canada. At the same time the mem- bers of the executive council in the various provinces were told that they should not hold office for life but might be removed when the good of the country required it, which aimed a very severe blow at the power of the Family Com- pact. To gain the consent of the provinces to the union, the Hon. Charles Poulett Thompson was sent out as governor. He succeeded, easily in Lower Canada, with difficulty in Upper, and was rewarded with the title of Lord Sydenham. In 1840 the Act of Union was passed and Ontario and Quebec— as we must now call them — were united in the single province of Canada. 7G ■ CANADIAN HISTORY UlSSONS. I By tins act there was to be a legislative council of twenty members appointed by the Crown for life, and an assembly of eighty-four members, half from each division of the province, elected by the people. The English lan- gUc^ge only was to be used in the parliamentary records and papers. The amount of £75,000 a year was fixed for the Civil List—that is, to pay the salaries of government officials. The Governor was to chose the capital, and to call a new assembly every fojr years if it had not been dissolved within a shorter period. The people of Quebec found cause of complaint in this act because of the use of the English language only, and because they, who had only a small public debt, were com- pelled to share the large debt which had been contracted by the Upper Canadians. • Lord Sydenham chose Kingston as the capital, and ap- pointed an executive council of eight, containing the chief men of the various parlies. There were four or five dif- ferent parlies in the first assembly. In 1841 the first Municipal Act was passed, which allowed towns and townships to manage their own affairs and so relieve the provincial parliament of much unneces- sary work. Lord Sydenham died in 1841 in consequence of a fall from his horse, and was succeeded by Sir Charles Bagot, who, contrary to the expectations of the Family Compact party, gave his honest support to responsible government, and worked hard in having roads built and other improve- ments to the country. 1642 saw an act passed establishing schools throughout CAyADA /-KOM 1837 TO 1867. 71 the country, but this was very much improved in 1844, when Dr. Ryerson became Superintendent of Education. The year 1842 is noted for the Ashburton Treaty. There had been serious disagreements with the United States ; one was about the Maine boundary, whicl^ liad not been clearly settled in 1783 ; anoiher had to do with the burning of the Caroline and llie arrest by the United States authorities of a Canadian chargt d with the murder of one of her crew ; a third concerned the slave ques- tion, for ships sus[)ected of carrying slaves often Iioisted the " stars and stripes," and fugitive slaves from the States were declared free on reaching Canada. Lord Ashburton was sent out to arrange a treaty with Daniel \Vebster, the United States representative, who was too clever for him, and got for the State of Maine a large slice that should have belonged to New Brunswick. It was by this treaty that tlie boundary between the two countries from Lake Superior to t!ie I'acific was fixed as the 49th parallel. An agreement was also made as to the extradition of criminals — that is, the handing over to the other country's authorities of robbers, murderers, forgers, or others who had taken refuge in one of the countries. The Americans agreed to help the British in putting down the African slave-trade. • • \\\ 1843^ on the death of Bagot, Sir Charles Nfetcalfe became Governor. Ke had been in India, where his word was law, and seems to have expected the same state of things in Canada. At all events on his trying to dictate to them his whole council resigned with the exception of one man. IB CAWIPLIX IIISrORV LESSONS. » The leaders it) ihe AssemMy at this time were Draper, Baldwin and Lafontaine, while John A. Macdonald was becoming prominent. In Nova Scotia the most distin- guished politician was Joseph Howe, who worked so hard, though unsucccssfiilly, in 1850 to found an Interco- lonial Railway. The opening of the Grand Trunk Rail- way was due to his efforts as well as to those of Hincks. Lord Elgin, son-in law to Lord Durham, became Gover- nor in 1847, 3"d was very popular and successful until 1849, "^hich was a year of commercial distress owing to the introduction of free trade in Britain. Before that time colonial goods had 10 pay a much smaller duty than foreign merchandise on entering England ; but when al were admitted free of duty Canadian trade at first suffered severely. In 1849 also the Rebellion Losses Bill was passed, voting money for those whose property had been injured in the rebellion of 1837-38. This so vexed a por- tion of the inhabitants that a mob attacked Lord Elgin after he had signed the bill, and the parliament buildings — then in Montreal on the site of the present St. Ann's Market — were burnt in the confusion. It is said that one of the mob aimed a brick at the Queen's picture, but struck the gasalier instead, and the escaping gas took fire. In the other provinces responsible government was obtained after a hard struggle, but without violence. " Not so much as a pane of glass was broken," they claimed, in their efforts for self-government. The Clergy Reserves Act of 1854 has been already men- tioned. In the same year was passed the Seigneurial Tenure Act, by which the seigneurs gave up their privi- >' •.;■ CAXAD.l rh'OM 1837 10 1867. It- leges in return for a certain sum of money, and French tenants hold their land now just as free as the English. This year was also marked by the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States. It was agreed that the products of farm, forest, sea, and mine could be sent from either country to the other free of duty. Americans also were allowed the right to fish along Canadian shores, and to use Canadian canals, while Canadians were admitted to Lake Michigan. The Americans put an end to this treaty in 1866 afrer their war between North and South, being vexed at the sympathy which liritain showed with the South. A steamship — the Alabama — had been built in England, and, used by the Southerners, had done great damage to the Northerners. Britain afterwards paid $15,000,000 for these " Alabama claims." It should be remarked that after the burning of the par- liament buildings in Montreal the seat of government was removed first to Toronto and then to (Quebec. The Alian Line of steamships was started in 1853 ^^^^^ a vessel named the Canadian. Notes. 1838- Lord Durham became GovernorjGeneral and drew up his report. 1840- Act of Udion passed. " Lord Sydenham Governor. 1841' Municipal Act passed. ; 1842. Ashburton Treaty. 1842-44. Education Acts passed. • - 80 CANADIAN HISTORY LPSSONS. ^ ' 1843* r)eath of Governor Bagot ; Metcalfe succeeded liim. 1847. T^ord Elgin became Governor, 1849. Rebellion Losses Bill passed. Burning of Parliament buildings at Montreal. 1850* Attempts to establish an intercolonial railway. 1851. (irand Trunk Ry. started by Sir Francis Hincks» 1853. Commencement of the .Ulan Line. 1854- Clergy Reserves Act. Seigneurial Tenure Act. Reciprocity Treaty, which lasted till i866. 1855. Suspension bridge built across Niagara River. I860. The Victoria bridge across the St. Lawrence opened by the Prince of Wales, who fitted in the last rivet — a gold one. This bridge, built by Robert Stephenson, has recently been altered and very much improved. Lesson XXVIIL — Fenian Raids and North-West Rebellions. There were in Ireland a number of men who hated Eng- h'sh rule and wished to make Ireland independent. They founded secret societies and called themselves Fenians. Many of them emigrated to the States, or had to flee from justice on account of murders. Li the States these men formed the plan of attacking Canada, and found ready helpers among the rough soldiers, who were left idle at the close ol the war between North and South in 1865. . In June, 1866, some 900 men under *' Gen- eral" O' Neil crossed the Niagara River and took Fort Erie. Troops were sent against them from Toronto and FENIAN RAIDS A\D XORTIl WEST REBELLIOA'S. 81 HamiUon, but by some confusion did not meet as intended. Part of the forces met the Fenians at Ridgeway, and at first drove them back, but afterwards, by a mistaken idea that the enemy had cavalry, they got into difficulties and had to retire. The other division captured Fort Erie and took some Fenian prisoners, but O'Neil retook the place. However, the Fenians had had enough fighting for that time and recrossed the Niagara that night, and the raid was at an end. The second raid took place in 1870, when bands of Fenians entered Missisquoi county (at the head of Lake Champlain) and Huntingdon. There they frightened the farm people and did all tlie harm they could till a few volunteers drove them out, and O'Neil was arrested by the American authorities. Next year, 1871, O'Neil tried a third raid on the Mani- toba bo, Jer. but was arrested at the outset with all his followers: by the United Slates marshal. More serious were the North-West risings, the first of which took place in 1869, and was known as the Red River Rebellion. Canada had bought the Hudson's Bay territory near the Red River and sent out Macdougall as lieutenant governor. His entry was resisted by half- breeds under a French Canadian named Louis Riel. Mac- dougall withdrew, and Riel having seized Fort Garry got a provisional government established with himself as presi- dent. But he abused his power by imprisoning some Eng- lish settlers and ordering one of them, Thomas Scott, to be shot. In consequence a force was sent against him in 1870 under Sir Garnet, now Lord Wolseley, which arrived after 82 ' • CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. " ' ''"■ ' along and trying march, only lo find thiit Riel had Hed to the States. The second rising, known as the North-West rebellion, occurred in 1885. '^''^^ half-breeds seeing government surveyors surveying the lands on the Saskatchewan River became alarmed lest they should lose their farms, and sent for Louis Riel to head a revolt. The rebels defeated a small force of Mounted Police and volunteers at Duck Lake, and some Cree Indians, under their chief Big Bear, murdered a number of persons at Frog Lake. Geperal Middleton, sent west with a strong force, took the half-breed stronghold of Batoche, and de- feated and captured the Indian chiefs Big Bear and Pound- maker, winning battles at Fish Creek and Cut Knife Creek. Riel was taken prisoner, and afterwards hanged at Regina. Notes. 1866' First Fenian Raid ; battle of Padgeway. 1869-70. Red River Rebellion. 1870-71. Second and Third Fenian Raids. 1885. North- West Rebellion. Lesson XXIX. — The Dominion of Canada. The Seigneurial Tenure Act called for a large sum of money from Upper Canada as well as Lower, but the Utter alone received any benefit from it. In consequence there was a loud outcry from the Upper Canadians for represen- tation by population, that is, that each member of Parlia- ment should represent a certain number of people, instead THE DOMINION OF CANADA, .s;? of a certain district of the country. Disputes again arose, and the parties were so evenly balanced that very little work could be done, and old proposals were revived for Confederation, that is the union of all the colonies into one dominion. In 1864, a conference was held at Charlottetown to dis- cuss the subject, and attended amongst others by John A. Macdonald, George Brown and D'Arcy McGee'^ from the Canadas. A bill was drawn up in London in 1866 and came into effect on July ist, 1867, as the l^ritish North America Act. By its provisions Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were united under the name of the T^'omi- nion of Canada. There was to be a Federal or Dommion parliament, now meeting at Ottawa, with an upper house or Senate, and a lower house or House of Commons. The Governor General is appointed by the Sovereign. Each province besides was to have its own Lieutenant- Governor, and legislature consisting of Legislative Council and Assembly. The British Government granted ;^3,ooo,- 000 for the Intercolonial railway. Other provinces were afterwards admitted into the Dominion, Manitoba in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, and Prince Edward Island in 1873. The Governors General since Confederation have been Lord Monck, Lord Lisgar, Lord Dufferin (the most popu- ■* T'.iomas D'Arcy McGee was one of the finest speakers and writers that Canada ever possessed. He was shot at his own door when re- turning from parliament in the early morning, in April, 1868, by some Montreal Fenian. 84 ■■ CANADIAN HISTORY LESSONS. 1 .'• lar and probably the ablest of all), the Marquis of Lome, (married to the Queen's daughter Princess Louise, and founder of the Royal Society and Academy of Arts in Can- nada), Lord Lansdowne, Lord Stanley, Lord Aberdeen, and Lord Minto. The position of premier or parliamentary leader has been held in the following order : Sir John A. Macdonald, Alexander Mackenzie, J. A. Macdonald, Sir John Abbott, Sir John Thompson, Mac- kenzie Bowell, Sir Charles Tupper, and Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Under the last-named premier the Liberal party came into power in 1896, with a promise to introduce free trade. The Conservative party had held control for most of the time pievious, and had supported the National policy of duties for the protection of Canadian manufactures. in 1880 was begun the Canadian Pacific Railway across the continent, whch had been promised to British Colum- bia in 1 87 1. It was completed in 1886. The Govern- ment voted the Railway Company $25,000,000 and 25,- 000,000 acres of land. The Macdonald ministry were so strongly suspected of '' boodling " in this matter that they were thrown out, and the Liberals had five years of author- ity. Lnmigration still continues in a steady stream. The discovery of rich gold fields on the Klondyke, a tributary of the Yukon, in the spring of 1898, led immense numbers to brave the hardships of the journey and make their way to Dawson City it they were so fortunate as to escape the dangers of the-road. A railway has since been opened there. THE DOMIXIOX 01- C AX A DA, S5 The share which Canada has lakeii in the Transvaal War of 1899 ^^^^ 1900 i^ ^^^ ^^'^1 known to need further menliuii. Indeed^ it is the one bright feature of this sad war Lhat it has served to bind the colonies and the Moiher-counlry more closely in one glorious Empire. NuTES, 1867 The British North America Act passed. 1870- Manitoba added to the Dominion. 1871. British Columbia j )ined the Dominion. 1873 l^riuce Edward Island joined the Dominion. 1880-88. Building of Canadian Pacit'ic Railway. 1898 Rush to the Klondyke gold-fields. 1899-1900. Canadian contingents sent to help liriiish forces in South Africa. .... . . . , . ... • « • ^ • < • • ■ • •