Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T19:01:33.037Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Economic Expansion and the Moral Order

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

S. D. Clark
S. D. Clark*
Affiliation:
The University of Toronto
Get access

Extract

The purpose of this paper is to suggest the close relationship between economic development and movements of moral reform in Canada. From the beginning of Canadian history, organized attempts have been made to control such problems as intemperance, crime, gambling, juvenile delinquency, sexual promiscuity, and prostitution. These movements were indicative of a condition of disintegration of the mores, and their role was that of establishing a new moral code to govern behaviour. But disturbances which resulted in the breakdown of moral standards extended throughout the range of society, and affected the organization of economic and political life as well. Movements of moral reform, like those of an economic or political (or purely religious or cultural) character, were products of economic expansion.

This fact becomes evident if consideration is given to the broad features of the social development of Canada. Beginning with the establishment of the fishing industry in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canadian development may be represented in terms of a series of stages marked by the emergence of new areas or forms of economic exploitation. The expansion of economic life involved new accommodations in economic, political, and social institutions, and the points of greatest social disturbance were to be found where the impacts of the new techniques of production were most felt. It was within these interstitial areas of social organization, where the traditional culture came in conflict with new economic developments, that movements of reform took their rise.

Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science/Revue canadienne de economiques et science politique , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , May 1940 , pp. 203 - 225
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association 1940

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 See Innis, H. A., “Unused Capacity as a Factor in Canadian Economic History,” (Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science, Feb., 1936, pp. 1–15)CrossRefGoogle Scholar; F. W. Burton, “Wheat in Canadian History” (Ibid., May, 1937, pp. 210-17); S. D. Clark, “Sociology and Canadian Social History” (Ibid., Aug. 1939, pp. 348-57). References throughout this paper, whether to general works or documentary material, are inserted to indicate the nature of the sources rather than to provide full documentation.

2 Innis, H. A., The Fur Trade in Canada (New Haven, 1930).Google Scholar

3 Innis, H. A., The Cod Fisheries: The History of an International Economy (Toronto, 1940).Google Scholar

4 Brebner, J. B., The Neutral Yankees of Nova Scotia (New York, 1937)Google Scholar; Mackinnon, I. F., Settlements and Churches in Nova Scotia (Halifax, 1930).Google Scholar

5 Lower, A. R. M. and Innis, H. A., Settlement and the Forest and Mining Frontiers (Toronto, 1936).Google Scholar

6 Creighton, D. G., The Commercial Empire of the St. Lawrence (Toronto and New Haven, 1937).Google Scholar

7 Cowan, Helen I., British Immigration to British North America, 1783-1837 (Toronto, 1928).Google Scholar

8 Whitelaw, W. M., The Maritimes and Canada before Confederation (Toronto, 1934)Google Scholar; Dunham, A., Political Unrest in Upper Canada, 1815-1836 (London, 1927).Google Scholar

9 Morton, A. S. and Martin, Chester, History of Prairie Settlement and Dominion Lands Policy (Toronto, 1939).Google Scholar

10 Clark, S. D., The Canadian Manufacturers' Association: A Study in Political Pressure and Collective Bargaining (Toronto, 1939)Google Scholar; Logan, H. A., The History of Trade-Union Organization in Canada (Chicago, 1928)Google Scholar; “Labour,” Encyclopedia of Canada, ed. Wallace, W. S., vol. III, pp. 353–64Google Scholar; Wood, L. A., A History of Farmers' Movements in Canada (Toronto, 1924).Google Scholar

11 Innis, H. A., Problems of Staple Production in Canada (Toronto, 1933)Google Scholar; Britnell, G. E., The Wheat Economy (Toronto, 1939).Google Scholar

12 Hughes, E. C., “Industry and the Rural System in Quebec” (Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science, Aug., 1938, pp. 341–9).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

13 The system of land granting provided an additional check to rapid settlement. See Macdonald, Norman, Canada, 1763-1841, Immigration and Settlement (London, 1939)Google Scholar; Hedges, J. B., Building the Canadian West: The Land and Colonization Policies of the Canadian Pacific Railway (New York, 1939).Google Scholar

14 Lower and Innis, Settlement and the Forest and Mining Frontiers; Lower, A. R. M., The North American Assault on the Canadian Forest (Toronto, 1938).Google Scholar

15 Howay, F. W., The Making of a Province (Toronto, 1928)Google Scholar; Lower and Innis, Settlement and the Forest and Mining Frontiers; Sage, W. N., Sir James Douglas and British Columbia (Toronto, 1930).Google Scholar

16 Hughes, “Industry and the Rural System in Quebec.”

17 Faris, R. E. L., “Interrelated Problems of the Expanding Metropolis” (Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science, Aug., 1939, pp. 341–7).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

18 Riddell, W. A., The Rise of Ecclesiastical Control in Quebec (New York, 1916).Google Scholar

19 Dawson, C. A., Group Settlement: Ethnic Communities in Western Canada (Toronto, 1936)Google Scholar; England, Robert, The Colonization of Western Canada (London, 1936).Google Scholar

20 MacFie, Matthew, Vancouver Island and British Columbia (London, 1865).Google Scholar

21 Reynolds, L. G., The British Immigrant: His Social and Economic Adjustment in Canada (Toronto, 1935).Google Scholar

22 Six Years in the Bush; or Extracts from the Journal of a Settler in Upper Canada (London, 1838), pp. 20–1Google Scholar; Johnstone, Walter, Travels in Prince Edward Island in the Years 1820-21 (Edinburgh, 1823), pp. 87–8Google Scholar; Johnstone, W., A Series of Letters Descriptive of Prince Edward Island (Dumfries, 1822), pp. 53–4Google Scholar; McGregor, J., Historical and Descriptive Sketches of the Maritime Colonies (London, 1828), p. 73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

23 Bailey, A. G., The Conflict of European and Eastern Algonkian Cultures (Saint John, N.B., 1937)Google Scholar; Thwaites, (ed.), Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents (Cleveland, 1900), vol. LXV, pp. 189–253 Google Scholar; Mandements, Lettres Pastorales et Circulatres des Evêques de Québec (Quebec, 1887), vol. I, pp. 106-8, 267-70, 300-2, 492–4.Google Scholar A great deal of interesting material bearing upon social conditions in New France is to be found in Public Archives of Canada, Series C11 and Collection Moreau St. Méry. Space prohibits giving specific references.

24 McGregor, , Historical and Descriptive Sketches, pp. 167–8Google Scholar; Patterson, George, Memoir of the Rev. James MacGregor (Philadelphia, 1859), pp. 317-19, 369–70.Google Scholar

25 Bonnycastle, R. H., The Canadas in 1841 (London, 1841), vol. I, pp. 95–6Google Scholar; Buckingham, J. S., Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick (London, 1843), p. 231.Google Scholar

26 Reports of Jury, Grand, Daily British Colonist (Victoria, 1859-62)Google Scholar; MacFie, , Vancouver Island and British Columbia, pp. 65–76 Google Scholar; Macdonald, D. G. F., British Columbia and Vancouver Island (London, 1862), pp. 328–30Google Scholar; Public Archives of Canada, S.P.G. in F.P., 1860-67, various reports; Tollemache, S., Reminiscences of the Yukon (Toronto, 1912), pp. 4-5, 53–4Google Scholar; Armstrong, M. A. D., Yukon Yesterdays (London, 1936), pp. 47–59.Google Scholar

27 Faris, “Interrelated Problems of the Expanding Metropolis.” For early references to the problem of prostitution in Canadian urban communities, see Public Archives of Canada, Upper Canada Sundries, W. L. McKenzie to Secretary of the Lieutenant-Governor, Nov. 23, 1834; Everest, Robert, A Journey through the United States and Part of Canada (London, 1855), p. 5.Google Scholar

28 Bailey, The Conflict of European and Eastern Algonkian Cultures; Eastman, Mack, Church and State in Early Canada (Edinburgh, 1915)Google Scholar; Mandements, Lettres Pastorales et Circulaires des Evêques de Québec, vol. I; Public Archives of Canada, Series C11 , particularly correspondence of Frontenac; Riddell, The Rise of Ecclesiastical Control in Quebec.

29 Patterson, Memoir of the Rev. James MacGregor; Spedon, A. L., Rambles Among the Blue-Noses (Montreal, 1863), pp. 197–8Google Scholar; Diary of the Rev. Proudfoot, William in Transactions of the London and Middlesex Historical Society, 1915, 1917, 1922 Google Scholar, and Records of the Ontario Historical Society, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1936; Gregg, William, History of the Presbyterian Church in Canada (Toronto, 1885).Google Scholar

30 Moorsom, W. S., Letters From Nova Scotia (London, 1830), pp. 256–60.Google Scholar

31 Saunders, E. M., History of the Baptists of the Maritime Provinces (Halifax, 1902)Google Scholar; The Life and Journal of the Rev. Henry Alline (Boston, 1806).Google Scholar

32 Public Archives of Canada, N.S.A., vol. 83, July 11, 1768, Franklin to Secretary of State; Ibid., vol. 89, Oct. 23, 1773, Legge to Secretary of State; Ibid., vol. 133, July 27, 1801, Wentworth to Secretary of State; Public Archives of Canada, S.P.G., B25, 1760-86, Oct. 23, 1767, the Rev. J. Breyton to Secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.

33 Bishop Inglis in Nova Scotia was constantly writing to England urging the necessity of sending clergymen more suited to colonial conditions, Public Archives of Canada, The Correspondence of Bishop Inglis. See also Gourlay, Robert, Statistical Account of Upper Canada (London, 1822), vol. I, pp. 432–3Google Scholar; Bigsby, J. J., The Shoe and Canoe or Pictures of Travel in the Canadas (London, 1850), vol. I, pp. 28, 343–5.Google Scholar

34 Public Archives of Canada, Correspondence of Bishop Inglis; S.P.G., B2$, 1760-86.

35 Patterson, , Memoir of the Rev. James MacGregor, pp. 95-9, 104, 123-6, 317-19, 350-1, 369–70Google Scholar; Bell, W., Hints to Emigrants (Edinburgh, 1824), pp. 89, 103–4Google Scholar; Brown, J. B., Views of Canada and the Colonists (Edinburgh, 1844), pp. 243–4Google Scholar; Talbot, E. A., Five Years Residence in the Canadas (London, 1824), vol. II, p. 125 Google Scholar; Howison, John, Sketches of Upper Canada (Edinburgh, 1825), pp. 157–8Google Scholar; M'Donald, John, Narrative of a Voyage to Quebec, and a Journey from thence to New Lanarck (London, 1826), p. 25 Google Scholar; Claims of the Churchmen and Dissenters of Upper Canada Brought to the Test (Kingston, 1828).Google Scholar

36 Moodie, Susanna, Life in the Clearings versus the Bush (London, 1853), pp. 63–4Google Scholar; Jameson, Anna, Winter Studies and Summer Rambles (Toronto, 1923), pp. 40–1Google Scholar; Howison, , Sketches of Upper Canada, pp. 151-2, 184-91, 225 Google Scholar; Talbot, , Five Years Residence, vol. II, pp. 57–8.Google Scholar See Garland, M. A. and Talman, J. J., “Pioneer Drinking Habits, and the Rise of the Temperance Agitation in Upper Canada” (Papers and Records of the Ontario Historical Society, vol. XXVII, p. 345).Google Scholar

37 The Life and Journal of the Rev. Henry Alline; Public Archives of Canada, S.P.G., B25, 1760-86; Davis, J., Life and Times of the Rev. Harris Harding (Charlottetown, 1866)Google Scholar; Richey, Matthew, A Memoir of the Late Rev. William Black, Wesleyan Minister (Halifax, 1839)Google Scholar; Marsden, Joshua, The Narrative of a Mission to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Somers Islands (London, 1827)Google Scholar; Saunders, History of the Baptists of the Maritime Provinces; Smith, T. Watson, History of the Methodist Church of Eastern British America (Halifax, 1877), 2 vols.Google Scholar For an account of the Evangelical Awakening in the United States see Clevalend, C. C., The Great Revival in the West, 1797-1805 (Chicago, 1916).Google Scholar

38 Carroll, John, Case and His Contemporaries (Toronto, 1867-), 5 vols.Google Scholar; Playter, G. F., History of Methodism in Canada (Toronto, 1862)Google Scholar; The Life and Times of the Rev. Anson Green, Written by Himself (Toronto, 1877)Google Scholar; Sissons, C. B., Egerton Ryerson, His Life and Letters (Toronto, 1937).Google Scholar

39 Churchill, C., Memorials of a Missionary Life in Nova Scotia (London, 1845), pp. 68-9, 74–82 Google Scholar; Stuart, C., The Emigrants' Guide to Upper Canada (London, 1820), pp. 110–14Google Scholar; Jameson, , Winter Studies and Summer Rambles, pp. 183–4Google Scholar; Magrath, T. W., Authentic Letters from Upper Canada, ed. by Radcliffe, T. (Dublin, 1833), pp. 190–205 Google Scholar; Thoughts on the Present State and Future Prospects of the Church of England in Canada (1836), pp. 3-5; Taylor, Henry, Journal of a Tour from Montreal to the Eastern Townships (Quebec, 1840), pp. 35–6Google Scholar; Ryerson, Egerton, Wesleyan Methodism in Canada (Toronto, 1837), pp. 9–14 Google Scholar; Waddilove, W. J. D. (ed.), The Stewart Missions (London, 1838)Google Scholar, passim.

40 Preliminary Report of the Board of Inspectors of Asylums, Prisons, &c. (Quebec, 1860), p. 50 Google Scholar, Canada, Sessional Papers, 1860, no. 32.

41 Carroll, , Case and His Contemporaries, vol. I, pp. 181–6Google Scholar; Playter, , History of Methodism in Canada, pp. 158–63.Google Scholar

42 Brown, G. W., “The Early Methodist Church and the Canadian Point of View” (Report of the Canadian Historical Association, 1938).Google Scholar

43 McLaurin, C. C., Pioneering in Western Canada: A Story of the Baptists (1939)Google Scholar; Oliver, E. H., The Winning of the Frontier (Toronto, 1930)Google Scholar; Woodsworth, James, Thirty Years in the Canadian North-West (Toronto, 1917)Google Scholar; Public Archives of Canada, S.P.G. in F.P., Canada, 1860-7.

44 Munro, W. B., The Seigniorial System in Canada (New York, 1907)Google Scholar; Public Archives of Canada, Series C11 ; Parkman, Francis, The Old Régime in Canada (Boston, 1909)Google Scholar; Public Archives of Canada, Series Q, vol. 85, Lt. Gov. Milnes to Duke of Portland, Nov. 1, 1800.

45 Moorsom, , Letters from Nova Scotia, pp. 280–1Google Scholar; Talbot, , Five Years Residence, vol. II, pp. 9–11 Google Scholar; Howison, , Sketches of Upper Canada, pp. 188–90Google Scholar; Bell, , Hints to Emigrants, pp. 144–5Google Scholar; Moodie, , Life in the Clearings, pp. xii–xiii Google Scholar; Traill, C. P., The Backwoods of Canada (London, 1836), pp. 101-2, 268–72Google Scholar; Six Years in the Bush; or Extracts from the Journal of a Settler in Upper Canada, 1832-1838, pp. 16-17; Taylor, James, Narrative of a Voyage to, and Travels in Upper Canada (London, 1850), vol. I, pp. 130–1.Google Scholar

46 Raymond, W. O. (ed.), Winslow Papers (Saint John, N.B., 1901), p. 288 Google Scholar; Gesner, A., New Brunswick (London, 1847), pp. 161, 322, 328–9Google Scholar; The Englishwoman in America (London, 1856), p. 44 Google Scholar; Jameson, , Winter Studies and Summer Rambles, pp. 50–1Google Scholar; Preston, T. R., Three Years Residence in Canada (London, 1840), vol. II, pp. 46–8Google Scholar; Bonnycastle, , The Canadas in 1841, vol. I, pp. 168–70.Google Scholar

47 Files of the Daily British Colonist, Victoria.

48 The Life and Journal of the Rev. Henry Alline, pp. 36-46.

49 Public Archives of Canada, Correspondence of Bishop Inglis; Saunders, , History of the Baptists, pp. 112-13, 176, 184–5Google Scholar; Scott, William, Letters on Superior Education (1860), pp. 44–5.Google Scholar

50 Carroll, , Case and His Contemporaries, vol. I.Google Scholar

51 Saunders, , History of the Baptists, p. 116 Google Scholar; Marsden, , Narrative of a Mission, p. 188.Google Scholar

52 Gesner, , New Brunswick, p. 327 Google Scholar; Buckingham, , Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, p. 26 Google Scholar; Bonnycastle, , The Canadas in 1841, vol. I, pp. 128–9.Google Scholar

53 Thomas, W. I. and Znaniecki, F., The Polish Peasant in Europe and America (Boston, 1920), vol. IV, p. 2.Google Scholar

54 Innis, The Fur Trade in Canada.

55 Martin, Chester, “British Policy in Canadian Confederation” (Canadian Historical Review, March, 1932, pp. 3–19).Google Scholar

56 MacInnes, C. M., In the Shadow of the Rockies (London, 1930).Google Scholar