One of the reasons that persons loyal to the Crown accepted the chance to settle in given areas of North America such as Canada and the different states of the United States is the economic potential of the regions. Despite the people who had declared loyalty to the crown having the chance to be leaders in the regions they were attached in, resettling in areas with more potential than others was always an endearing for settlers to move to the different parts of the colony. The Upper Canada region is one of the areas in which most poor people from other areas of the British colony such as Lower Canada were sent to and hence most of them were poor. Considering the regions of Upper Canada were suitable for agriculture, I would have accepted the option of being settled in the area with good provision of land and capital.
One of the opportunities that were available in the Upper Canada region in the 1770s was the large tracks of land for agriculture. Wheat and flour were the most important export commodities in the region and some of the most important commodities in the British colonies. The ability to produce wheat in large scale in the region was an opportunity that few people would wish to ignore especially when they are offered the chance to do so (McCalla, 304). Most of the poor people residing in the Upper Canada were either poor or did not have the necessary skills required to produce wheat in bulk to make profits from it. Considering that the crown would offer financial aid and lands in which one could practice agriculture was a way of improving the economic conditions of the settlers, and I would not have let the chance slip by.
Another important aspect in the region is the presence of forests where logging could be practiced. There are also rivers in the Ontario region which were important means of transporting logs downstream. Timber was one of the economic commodities in the region that raked money for logging merchants as building was still done by wood (Robertson, 37). Considering that the upper region of Canada is named so based on the topography of the place, the slope made it easy to transport logs downwards to Lower Canada and other regions in the lower settlements via rivers. Regions of the Upper Canada had trees, and if the crown offered lands in areas with trees and capital, the settlers had the chance to improve their economic situation by investing their money in the logging business.
Another economic consideration in settling in a region in the period of 1770s was the availability of cheap labor to work in the logging business and the wheat farms. Most of the people living in the Upper Canada had been taken to the region after they were considered as surplus to requirement in the other industries in different parts of the country. The poverty of the people meant they were willing to work even for less pay to earn a living (Wilton, 111). A large number of willing employees in comparison with the few employers in the region meant that there was less demand for labor and high supply of the same, and hence, the employers could dictate the terms of employment and hence earning massive profits. Considering that the wheat production in the region at the time was less mechanized, large production meant more labor was required for farming (Hodgins, 7). The large population of poor people in the region meant that one of the most important factors of production in the period which is labor was available.
Logging and Farming were intertwined in the region, and both were profitable ventures if one had land and capital. Logging was an essential activity in the Americas as it allowed the settlers to clear virgin lands for crop production and other activities. The logs were converted into timber which was in high demand for building and also worked as fuel mainly in the winter periods. Te cleared lands were used for planting wheat, and they were rich in minerals essential for plants growth due to the humus from rotting leaves of the vegetation and trees (Wilton, 111). The decomposition of plants and other materials in the forests is a long process that aids in fertilizing the soil and therefore, the productivity of virgin lands is high compared to lands where farming has been conducted for several years.
Growing wheat and timber industry in the Upper Canada region in the period of 1770s led to the growth of end-user industries which also had economic value, and hence the settlers settled in the region could engage in. Due to farming and logging in the region, more people were attracted to the region and hence the need for them to have amenities such as food, clothing, and housing became a source of business (Robertson, 124). Establishment of dinners, shops and even provision of other services such as entertainment were expected to come up as a result of the rising populations and their increasing spending power due to the finances they got from the farming and logging business. Shop-keeping business was one of the businesses that arose from the continued settlements in the region.
Selling of Fur for making clothing was another business upon which the economic base of the Upper Canada relied on. Settling in the region, therefore, gave the settlers a chance to start rearing fur producing sheep to sell fur in the famous industry (Wilton, 111). The fur business required finances to establish and run as money was required to buy sheep and ensure they were well grazed and protected from being stolen and wild animals. Fur was one of the exports of the Upper Canada region and hence the money made from the trade could be used to purchase other commodities that the region did not produce.
One of the challenges identified in conducting economic activities in the Upper Canada in the period between 1770 and 1790 was the struggle for dominance between the Americans who had sworn allegiance to the crown and the royalist already living in the region. The royalists living in the region felt threatened by the influx of royalists from America and hence the conflict. At sometimes, the American settlers outnumbered the previous settlers in the region by a ratio of one is to ten, leading to political tensions and occurrence of the crisis dubbed “Alien Question” .in the early 1800s(Wilton, 111). A good observer of the occurrences and the settlement of royalists into the region would have anticipated occurrence of such political confrontations in the future. Political instability and conflicts are not good for business as they not only create lawlessness but also they can lead to loss of lives and loss of properties.
The poverty of the people living in Upper Canada was one of the problems that threatened the establishment of new settlers in the region in the period. Most of the people living in the area were poor and even finding enough to eat was a challenge (Robertson, 1233). Therefore, some resulted to stealing from the settlers and other people who were well off than them. Therefore by agreeing to move to the Upper Canada region, one would be exposing himself to the possibility of attacks from the majority poor living in the region.
However, it is worth noting that most of the challenges such as political struggles and security were also present in other regions of the British colonies and therefore, the threats limiting business in the Upper Canada region were similar to those in other regions. The probability of being offered land and finances to establish farms in the region of Upper Canada were not offered in other parts of the colony such as Wales and Scotland because the land was already occupied by people who had sworn allegiance to the crown (Robertson, 123). The chance to move to the Upper Canada, a region that was still shaping its economic and social path was a good chance for the ambitious chance and not one for the faint-hearted. The British kingdom always got a way of restoring security and order in the regions where lawlessness was experienced.
In conclusion, the Region of Upper Canada provided a chance for economic investment during the 1770s and a chance to venture in the region given capital and land was an important chance. Among the chances for economic venturing in the region were logging, wheat farming, fur farming and investment in the end-user businesses such as restaurants and shops. There are challenges that businesses in the region faced, but it is clear that other regions in the different colonies were faced with similar challenges. I, therefore, conclude that if I were offered the chance to settle in the region and be provided with money and land, I would take the offer.
Works Cited
Hodgins, J. George. The Documentary History Of Education In Upper Canada From The Passing Of The Constitutional Act Of 1791 To The Close Of The Reverend Doctor Ryerson's Administration Of The Education Department In 1876. Toronto: [publisher not identified], 1897. Print.
McCalla, D. "Book Review: Steamboat Connections: Montreal To Upper Canada, 1816-1843". International Journal of Maritime History 13.1 (2001): 304-305. Web.
Robertson, J. Ross. The History Of Freemasonry In Canada From Its Introduction In 1749. Toronto: Hunter, Rose, 1899. Print.
Wilton, Carol. ""Lawless Law": Conservative Political Violence In Upper Canada, 1818-41". Law and History Review 13.1 (1995): 111. Web.
