Social Studies · Grade 6 · Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada, Past and Present · Term 1

Loyalist Migration and Settlement

Students learn about the United Empire Loyalists who fled the American Revolution and settled in what is now Canada, shaping the character of British North America.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada, Past and Present - Grade 6

About This Topic

The expansion of European settlement in the 18th and 19th centuries had profound and often devastating impacts on Indigenous nations. As settlers moved inland, traditional territories were encroached upon, leading to the displacement of communities and the disruption of seasonal migration and hunting patterns. This topic examines the shift from the middle ground of the fur trade to a period of colonial dominance and land dispossession.

Students will investigate the various ways Indigenous peoples responded to these changes, including diplomacy, treaty-making, and resistance. It is essential to frame this history through the lens of Indigenous sovereignty and the ongoing legacy of these early interactions. This topic comes alive when students can analyze primary source documents and maps to see the physical changes to the landscape over time.

Key Questions

1. Explain the motivations behind Loyalist migration to British North America.
2. Analyze how the arrival of Loyalists transformed existing communities.
3. Evaluate the challenges Loyalists faced in establishing new settlements.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the primary motivations for United Empire Loyalist migration to British North America following the American Revolution.
• Analyze the demographic, economic, and social impacts of Loyalist settlement on existing communities in British North America.
• Evaluate the significant challenges faced by Loyalists in establishing new settlements, including land acquisition, resource management, and integration with existing populations.
• Compare the settlement patterns and experiences of different Loyalist groups, such as Black Loyalists, Indigenous Loyalists, and those from various social classes.

Before You Start

Causes of the American Revolution

Why: Students need to understand the context of the conflict to grasp why individuals chose to remain loyal to Britain and migrate.

Early European Settlement in North America

Why: Understanding existing colonial structures and relationships with Indigenous peoples is crucial for analyzing the impact of Loyalist arrival.

Key Vocabulary

United Empire Loyalists	Colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War and subsequently migrated to British North America.
Black Loyalists	Enslaved or free Black individuals who supported the British during the American Revolution, often in exchange for promises of freedom and land.
Land Grants	Parcels of land allocated by the British Crown to Loyalists as compensation for property lost in the American colonies and to encourage settlement.
Regiments	Military units formed by Loyalists who fought alongside the British Army during the American Revolution, often receiving land or provisions after the war.
Treaty of Paris (1783)	The treaty that officially ended the American Revolutionary War, which included provisions regarding the treatment and property of Loyalists.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Indigenous people just moved away when settlers arrived.

What to Teach Instead

Indigenous nations often stayed and fought for their land through legal, diplomatic, and physical means. Analyzing specific instances of resistance helps students understand that Indigenous people were active agents in their own history.

Common Misconception

Treaties were always fair deals.

What to Teach Instead

There were often massive language barriers and different cultural concepts of land ownership. Using a simulation where two groups 'sign' a contract with different rules can surface the unfairness of these historical negotiations.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: Treaty Perspectives

Groups examine a specific treaty from two perspectives: the written English version and the oral Indigenous understanding. They create a T-chart to compare the different interpretations of land 'sharing' versus land 'surrender.'

50 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: Impact on Resources

Students consider how the arrival of fences and farms changed the way Indigenous people hunted or gathered food. They share one specific challenge with a partner and brainstorm how a community might adapt.

20 min·Pairs

Gallery Walk: Resistance and Resilience

The teacher displays images and stories of Indigenous leaders who stood up for their people's rights. Students move through the gallery, noting the different strategies used, such as petitions or alliances.

30 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Genealogists and historical societies in regions like Nova Scotia and Ontario trace Loyalist ancestry, connecting modern families to this period of migration and settlement.
• The establishment of towns and cities, such as Saint John, New Brunswick, and parts of Upper Canada (now Ontario), directly resulted from Loyalist settlement patterns and planning.
• Museums like the Loyalist Collection in Saint John, New Brunswick, preserve artifacts and documents that tell the stories of Loyalist lives, offering tangible links to their experiences.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Ask students to write down two reasons why Loyalists left their homes and one major challenge they faced when arriving in British North America. Collect these at the end of the lesson to gauge understanding of motivations and difficulties.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'How did the arrival of thousands of Loyalists change the communities that were already here?' Facilitate a class discussion, encouraging students to consider impacts on Indigenous peoples and existing European settlements.

Quick Check

Provide students with a short, simplified primary source excerpt (e.g., a letter from a Loyalist settler describing their new home). Ask them to identify one specific detail about the settlement experience mentioned in the text and explain its significance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did settlement affect Indigenous land?

Settlement led to the loss of traditional territories as the British government surveyed land for farms and towns. This often pushed Indigenous communities onto smaller parcels of land (reserves) and restricted their access to traditional hunting and fishing grounds.

What is the difference between land sharing and land surrender?

Many Indigenous nations understood treaties as agreements to share the land and its resources with settlers while maintaining their own sovereignty. However, the British government often interpreted the same treaties as a permanent surrender of the land.

How did Indigenous peoples resist settlement?

Resistance took many forms, including forming confederacies to block expansion, sending petitions to the King, and engaging in armed conflict when necessary. They also worked to preserve their cultures and languages despite colonial pressure.

How can active learning help students understand Indigenous dispossession?

Active learning strategies like document analysis and mapping allow students to see the evidence of land loss for themselves. By comparing oral histories with written colonial records in small groups, students develop critical thinking skills and a deeper empathy for the Indigenous experience of colonization.