Lower Canada 1791 1840

Translated and adapted by Patricia Claxton Volume VIII of the Canadian Centenary Series Now available as e-books for the first time, the Canadian Centenary Series is a comprehensive nineteen-volume history of the peoples and lands which form Canada. Although the series is designed as a unified whole so that no part of the story is left untold, each volume is complete in itself. Professor Ouellet traces the impact of some of the changes wrought in Lower Canada at the close of the eighteenth century, after thirty years of British rule, to offer an analysis of the historical roots of nationalism and the traditional struggle for social change in the province of Quebec. First published in 1980, Fernand Ouellet’s important contribution to the Canadian Centenary Series is available here as an e-book for the first time.

Cet ouvrage couvre la période qui va de 1758 à nos jours.

In the years following the American Revolution, some forty thousand immigrants from the thirteen colonies came to Canada, many settling in what is now Southern Ontario. These newcomers would add significantly to the region's economic growth, as a ready supply of agricultural labour, knowledge of the trades, and wealth. This period saw expansion in education, changes in land usage, and much agricultural output as land was parceled out to the newcomers. The structure of government expanded to a considerable degree, and transportation and communication were also developed. Other institutions grew to meet the needs of the swelling population, including education and religion. These years also saw considerable political upheaval in the way of agitation for reform, conflict among different groups, and the growth of a local culture. Craig's guide to the changes in Upper Canada is still considered one of the best descriptions of this period of rapid change.

150 years after Confederation, Canada is known around the world for its social diversity and its commitment to principles of multiculturalism. But the road to contemporary Canada is a winding one, a story of division and conflict as well as union and accommodation. In Canada’s Odyssey, renowned scholar Peter H. Russell provides an expansive, accessible account of Canadian history from the pre-Confederation period to the present day. By focusing on what he calls the "three pillars" of English Canada, French Canada, and Aboriginal Canada, Russell advances an important view of our country as one founded on and informed by "incomplete conquests". It is the very incompleteness of these conquests that have made Canada what it is today, not just a multicultural society but a multinational one. Featuring the scope and vivid characterizations of an epic novel, Canada’s Odyssey is a magisterial work by an astute observer of Canadian politics and history, a perfect book to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Confederation.