A Historical Analysis: Immigration to Canada and its Impact on Society

This assignment explores the history of immigration to Canada through the lens of three different perspectives: a European immigrant seeking work as a stonemason and farmer, a Loyalist slave escaping the United States, and a British immigrant working in manufacturing. The assignment delves into their motivations for immigrating, their living situations, the challenges they faced, and their hopes and fears for the future. The analysis highlights the diverse experiences of immigrants, including issues of language barriers, the desire for a better life, the impact of slavery, and the challenges of family separation. The assignment also touches upon the broader context of government policies, industrialization, and the transatlantic trade that shaped immigration patterns. It provides a comprehensive overview of the historical context and the multifaceted nature of the immigrant experience in Canada during the 18th century.

Running head: IMMIGRATION TO CANADA
IMMIGRATION TO CANADA
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1IMMIGRATION TO CANADA
Answer 1
Who are you and what do you do for a living?
I am a white skinned immigrant from Europe, from the United Kingdom who has arrived
to Upper Canada in search of livelihood options. I have arrived at Upper Canada ti earn my
livelihood as a stone mason and also to find an occupation as a farmer in New Lanark. That is
what I do in Canada for earning my living1.
Why do you live where you do?
I live in New Lanark as it is situated in Upper Canada. It used to be a region which was at
some point of time ruled by English speaking Europeans and the population there is also
dominated by English speakers hence the issue of language barrier would not be there. I could
have also settled in Lower Canada but that was a French stronghold and the population which
resided there was overwhelmingly populated by the French speakers. The language barrier would
have been a serious issue and leading a comfortable life at a place where there was hardly
anyone who could speak in English would have been extremely difficult2.
Were you born here, or have you emigrated from somewhere else, and if so, why did you
come?
I was not born here as I am an immigrant to the region of Upper Canada. I had arrived to
Canada in search of a better life as the government of Great Britain has provided me with a land
in Canada as a measure of relocating people to the new land and populating the area with people
from Europe. It had political motives as the intention was to ensure that the motive of capturing
land from the indigenous people could have been made successful. The easiest and the best
1 Whitefield, Harvey Amani. "The American Background of Loyalist Slaves." Left History 14, no. 1 (2009).
2 Whitefield, Harvey Amani. "The American Background of Loyalist Slaves." Left History 14, no. 1 (2009).

2IMMIGRATION TO CANADA
method which involved less of war and tension was to encourage mass immigration from
Europe3.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your community?
The major issue which was faced by my community comprising of people from Europe
living in Europe is emotional problem. There were enough problems back at home in Europe
when we had left our home nation for Canada and our absence from Europe has made things
difficult for both of us. Here in Canada we are struggling to settle with a comfortable life so that
we could even call our families to stay with us in Canada , and on the other hand our families in
Europe are facing problems due to our absence. We also felt homesick in Canada and we longed
for our families. Basically we immigrants have been estranged from our families, and that is an
issue4.
What are your hopes and fears for the future?
We hope for reuniting with our families one day, in Canada itself. We hope of bringing
them here to Canada to live with us but we fear when shall we be able to set up a comfortable
life so that we can bring our families as well5.
3 Whitefield, Harvey Amani. "The American Background of Loyalist Slaves." Left History 14, no. 1 (2009).
4 Wardhaugh, Robert A., and Alan MacEachern, Origins: Canadian History to Confederation, 8th ed. Toronto:
Nelson Education, 2017.
5 Whitefield, Harvey Amani. "The American Background of Loyalist Slaves." Left History 14, no. 1 (2009).

3IMMIGRATION TO CANADA
Answer 2
Who are you and what do you do for a living?
In this context I am a Loyalist Slave who had left the modern day United States of
America and have settled in the maritime region of Canada in the cities comprising of Nova
Scoia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton et cetera. I have escape the United
States of America for maritime Canada and I am still a slave in Canada working for a master in
his ship6.
Why do you live where you do?
I have chosen to live in Maritime Canada as I had like most other companions belonging
to the non white race have escaped the United States of America to cherish more freedom in
Canada. It was the wish of my American master to shift me to Canada to escape the perils of the
American Revolution against the British7.
Were you born here, or have you emigrated from somewhere else, and if so, why did you come?
I was not born in maritime Canada, but I was shifted to the place as I am a slave and I am
supposed to follow the dictates of my master who wanted to escape the United States of America
during the period of war8.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your community?
6 Cowan, Helen I. British Immigration Before Confederation. Canadian Historical Association, 1968.
7 Wardhaugh, Robert A., and Alan MacEachern, Origins: Canadian History to Confederation, 8th ed. Toronto:
Nelson Education, 2017.
8 Cowan, Helen I. British Immigration Before Confederation. Canadian Historical Association, 1968.

4IMMIGRATION TO CANADA
The most pressing issue being faced in our community who shares a bonding with each
other on the basis of our similarity is that we are a ghettoized community and we cannot exercise
our free will even in a new land9.
What are your hopes and fears for the future?
We hope for a better future in Canada, but we fear that we shall remain slaves forever as
our loyalty for our American masters have not fetched us anything good at all. Rising above the
level of being slaves is almost impossible for us10.
9 Francis, R. Douglas, Richard Jones, and Donald B. Smith. Origins: Canadian history to confederation. Harcourt
Canada, 2000.
10 Francis, R. Douglas, Richard Jones, and Donald B. Smith. Origins: Canadian history to confederation. Harcourt
Canada, 2000.

5IMMIGRATION TO CANADA
Answer 3
Who are you and what do you do for a living?
I am a British immigrant to Canada from Europe. I work in one of the manufacturing
units of Canada which produces goods out of raw materials derived from the nation so that it
could be utilized by the industries in England where industrial revolution has already begun and
the industries are in need of materials to boost productivity. Ship building is a lucrative affair in
Canada as the cargo ships travel across the Atlantic with goods for trade purposes11.
Why do you live where you do?
I live in Canada as the rate of unemployment in industrialized Britain has gone up by
leaps and bounds and there are hardly much prospects in Britain to secure a happy and
comfortable life. Hence more Europeans are choosing Canada as a destination for earning
livelihood. There in Canada one could pursue agriculture or could work in the industries as per
their choice. There was plenty of livelihood options in Canada and also the freedom to choose12.
Were you born here, or have you emigrated from somewhere else, and if so, why did you
come?
I was born in Europe but I have immigrated to Canada in search of livelihood as England
offers less opportunities in the post industrial age which is a problem. I have arrived at Canada
with government assistance.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your community?
11 Errington, Elizabeth. "Webs of affection and obligation: Glimpse into families and nineteenth century transatlantic
communities." Journal of the Canadian Historical Association/Revue de la Société historique du Canada 19, no. 1
(2008): 1-26.
12 Errington, Elizabeth. "Webs of affection and obligation: Glimpse into families and nineteenth century transatlantic
communities." Journal of the Canadian Historical Association/Revue de la Société historique du Canada 19, no. 1
(2008): 1-26.

6IMMIGRATION TO CANADA
The most pressing issue is that people from the home country in Europe are emigrating in
13large numbers to Canada. The government could make conditions better in Europe rather than
sending people to Canada.
What are your hopes and fears for the future?
We hope of returning back to our nation but we fear that we might never return back to
Europe ever14.
13
14 Cowan, Helen I. British Immigration Before Confederation. Canadian Historical Association, 1968.

7IMMIGRATION TO CANADA
References
Cowan, Helen I. British Immigration Before Confederation. Canadian Historical Association,
1968.
Errington, Elizabeth. "Webs of affection and obligation: Glimpse into families and nineteenth
century transatlantic communities." Journal of the Canadian Historical Association/Revue de la
Société historique du Canada 19, no. 1 (2008): 1-26.
Francis, R. Douglas, Richard Jones, and Donald B. Smith. Origins: Canadian history to
confederation. Harcourt Canada, 2000.
Whitefield, Harvey Amani. "The American Background of Loyalist Slaves." Left History 14, no.
1 (2009).
Wardhaugh, Robert A., and Alan MacEachern, Origins: Canadian History to Confederation, 8th
ed. Toronto: Nelson Education, 2017.