Unit Overview: Introductory Unit

This unit will focus on two key societal relationships - the relationship between the peoples and the "land," and the relationship between the members of a society and the decision-making processes that govern their society. The unit will investigate the assumptions and practices held by the major population groups from precolonial times to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Those populations included the First Nations, the European colonizers, and the peoples residing in the colonies. The assumptions and beliefs held by each of the groups influenced how the various peoples interacted, and shaped the history of the Canadian nation.

The encounter and sustained contact between these peoples produced change, conflict and accommodation. A "distinct" Canadian experience was a "product" of that interaction.

Precontact North America was not an empty land. The First Nations had successfully adapted to the continent's varied geography, its resources and climates. They had developed beliefs and practices that defined their relationship with the land, and provided structure to their societies.

The European explorers and colonizers encountered some First Nations societies that possessed societal attributes equal to those present in Europe at that time. One of those societies, the Iroquois Confederacy, possessed a "constitution" that governed decision making, individual rights and the parameters of government.

The Europeans challenged the beliefs, practices and sovereignty of the First Nations.

European military and political supremacy allowed them to impose European paradigms and practices throughout North America. The "agendas" and well-being of the First Nations were not of paramount concern to most Europeans. For generations, the decisions and policies that greatly influenced the lives of the First Nations peoples were aligned with the agendas of the European colonizers.

The First Nations and the Europeans held different paradigms and beliefs concerning the land and its resources. The belief that the land and its resources should be at the disposal of those willing to expend the energy and costs of exploiting those resources, was to define how the Europeans saw North America. North America was viewed as a resource hinterland existing to serve the economic and political agendas of the colonizing power.

The European colonizers replicated the existing European system of governance and decision-making practices in the European colonies. Colonial political and economic decision making were largely the prerogative of the colonial power and its appointed officials. The majority of the European populace in the colonies and the First Nations were excluded from meaningful participation in colonial decision making.

With the end of the Seven Years' War and the fall of New France in 1763, Britain assumed control of virtually all of North America. The former New France was a colony unlike Britain's other North American colonies. This colony was home to a society of 60,000 francophone Catholics. Britain was faced with the issue of how to "deal" with that population. British policies towards that population fluctuated between attempts at assimilation and attempts at accommodation.

Following 1763, colonial politics was dominated by a struggle between Britain and the Thirteen Colonies, for control over colonial decision making. The population of the Thirteen Colonies was mainly of British ancestry, and expected the same rights enjoyed by citizens in the British Isles. As the colonies acquired political sophistication through the operation of elected assemblies, they demanded a greater say in the decisions that affected their lives. They challenged the authority and powers of the British-appointed governors and non-elected Councils. Continued conflict led to the American Revolution.

The creation of the United States had geographic, economic and political consequences for the peoples of British North America, and later, Canada. The Loyalists, who arrived following the American Revolution, were particularly "fearful" of the intentions of the new Republic. They particularly feared the danger of the U.S. annexing British North America. Their fears were not without some basis. Within the U.S., the concept of "manifest destiny" was heralded by American politicians who called for political and military action, to fulfil that "destiny."

In the early 19th century there was a struggle for control over political decision making in British North America between entrenched "oligarchies" and reformers, who advocated "responsible government." A lengthy struggle between the oligarchies and the elected assemblies, in both Upper and Lower Canada, culminated in the Rebellions of 1837. Although not successful, the rebellions led to implementation of responsible government throughout the colonies of British North America.

Economic uncertainties and political instability characterized British North American life during the first half of the 19th century. Those conditions "forced" British North Americans into seeking new political and economic solutions. Confederation and the National Policy were the consequences of seeking those new "solutions."

Core Material for Unit One

Time available to teach optional concepts, to enrich or reinforce, or to modify the pacing and timing factors through the use of the Adaptive Dimension.	3 hours
Total Class Time	15 hours

Core material appears in bold type on the pages that follow. The remainder of the material in this unit is not core material; teachers may choose to work through all, some, or none of this material. This material should be seen as an opportunity to individualize instruction for students with different levels of intellectual ability and motivation. Teachers may also choose to substitute locally-developed material in optional areas where it is appropriate. Such material should reflect community interests and must also meet the skills, values, and concept objectives of the course.

Unit One: Foundational Objectives

Foundational Objective 1

Know that the organization of a society and its behaviour is influenced by a number of assumptions that surround certain relationships.

Core Concepts

Worldview

Know that within each society, there exists a divergence of views concerning key societal relationships, including:

° whether relations between peoples within the society should be governed by the principles of accommodation or assimilation;
• whether all members of the society are entitled to "meaningfully" participate and influence societal decision making processes; and,
• whether society has established a balance between group rights and the rights of the collective society.