Slavery In Canada

Slavery in NEW FRANCE For approximately one hundred years (1663 - 1763), Canada was called New France. The country of France had claimed Canada as its colony (a settlement that is part of its country). At that time, there were no cities like there are today. Much of the land consisted of natural forest The First Nations people lived there.

1628 A six year old slave from Madagascar, Africa came to Canada. He was brought to Canada by David Kirke, a sailor. He was the first person of African origins to live in Canada. He was sold to many different people. He became the property of Father Paul Lejeune, who baptised him and gave him the name of Olivier Lejeune.

1629 King Louis the fourteenth, the ruler of France, wanted more people to settle in New France. At that time, slavery was forbidden in France. In 1629, the King gave limited permission to the colonists to keep slaves. The colonists began to purchase Black and Aboriginal slaves. The slaves cleared the land, built their homes and worked as servants and in the fields. Slaves were bought from Southern settlers, Aboriginal people and merchants who participated in the Atlantic Slave Trade.

1689 Louis the fourteenth passed the Code Noir, allowing the full use of slaves in the colonies. He allowed slavery for economic reasons.

1709 A law was passed stating that Black slaves could be bought and sold in New France. Fines were charged to anyone who helped a slave to escape.

1734 Marie-Joseph Angelique, a Black slave, set fire to her owner’s house to cover her attempt to escape slavery. The fire spread and destroyed 46 homes. She was caught, tortured and hanged.

1760 Britain took control of New France through the Treaty of Paris. Slavery did not change because the colonists claimed that slaves were an economic necessity.

In 1791, Britain named different parts of the Canada: Upper Canada (now Ontario), Lower Canada (now Quebec) and the Maritimes (Nova Scotia including Prince Edward and Cape Breton Islands and Newfoundland including Labrador). In the 1770s, it became fashionable to own slaves so many store owners, people in the government and church officials had slaves.

Slavery in The MARITIMES 1749 Black slaves, many who were skilled tradesmen, helped to build Halifax, Nova Scotia. They were re-sold in the American Colonies when they were no longer needed.

1783 Black United Empire Loyalists came to the Maritimes and Upper Canada to create a settlement Some were members of the all-Black regiment, The Black Pioneers. The War for Independence (1775-1783) was a war between the thirteen American colonies and Britain. The colonies wanted to have their own government and laws but Britain wanted to keep them as part of their country. The United Empire Loyalists were people who fought for Britain in the war. During the war, Britain promised to give Black slaves freedom, farmland and supplies in Canada, if they joined the War against the colonies. When the war ended, the Black United Empire Loyalists immigrated to Canada. Black Loyalists, who were members of the mixed fighting regiment called Butler's Rangers, settled in Colchester South Township, Essex County, Ontario. Others settled In parts of Ontario and the Maritimes. Upon arrival, many Black Loyalists received no land or help at all. Those who did receive land got smaller pieces than the White loyalists. This land was usually on the outskirts of the White settlement The land was rocky and difficult to farm. The settlers faced many great hardships. Many of the White Loyalists were unhappy with conditions as well so they returned to the United States. The Black Loyalists could not live in the United States for fear of being enslaved.

1792 The First Back to Africa Movement The British Anti-slavery Society offered Black United Empire Loyalists passage on a boat to Sierra Leone, West Africa. Approximately 1200 Black United Empire Loyalists left Nova Scotia to set up a colony in Africa.

1796 Approximately 543 Maroons were exiled from Jamaica and sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia to live.

1800 The Jamaican Maroons who were exiled to Halifax in 1796, sailed for Sierra Leone, West Africa to join the colony established by the Black Loyalists in 1792.

Slavery in UPPER CANADA (Ontario, Canada West) 1790 The Imperial Statute of 1790 allowed settler to bring slaves into the province.  owners were only required to feed and clothe slaves  any child born of slaves in Upper Canada became free at age 25  any owner who set a slave free had to make sure that he/she could support themselves financially

1791 John Graves Simcoe was sent from Britain to Upper Canada to serve as Lieutenant Governor of the colony. He believed that slavery was wrong. He wanted Britain to make laws that would abolish slavery in Upper Canada.

1793 John White, Attorney General of Upper Canada, introduced a bill to abolish slavery. Instead, a law called the Anti-slave Law of Upper Canada passed which limited slavery but did not eliminate it. Those who were slaves remained so until death.

 no new slaves could be brought in to Upper Canada  slaves brought in or who came in to Upper Canada themselves were free upon arrival  present owners could keep their slaves  children of slaves born after 1793 were to be free after age 25, their children would be born free

1819 John Beverley Robinson, Attorney General of Upper Canada ruled that people of African origins who lived in Canada were free with their rights protected by law.

In Lower Canada and the Maritimes there were no laws about slavery. The judges and courts helped to abolish slavery by protecting the rights of slaves. Although slavery was still legal, slaves who left their owners were not afraid of being returned.

Slavery in LOWER CANADA (Quebec, Canada East) 1792 A bill to abolish slavery was introduced in Lower Canada but defeated.

1803 William Osgoode, Chief Justice of Lower Canada ruled that slavery was inconsistent with British Law. Although slavery was not legally abolished, any slave who left his owner could do so without fear of being returned.