Historiography of Canada

The historiography of Canada looks at how people have talked about and understood Canada's past. It includes not just what historians write in books, but also how ordinary people remember important events, leaders, and ideas. You can see these memories in museums, monuments, plays, and special events at historic places.

In the 1800s, most writers about Canada's past were not professional historians but enthusiastic people who loved stories about Canada’s early days. They focused on big topics like exploration and the long rivalry between Britain and France for control of the land. Today, professional historians, trained in universities, study many new areas. They still talk about exploration and how Canada was settled, but they also look at how different groups, like Quebec culture, developed their own identities.

Modern historians also study Canada’s part in big wars, such as the two world wars, and important political moments like Confederation, when Canada became a country. They explore how Canada acted on the world stage as a middle power, and how its economy grew because of key trade routes like the St. Lawrence transportation system. New areas of study include the experiences of Indigenous peoples, women, and how Canada has become a home to many cultures. Recently, historians have also begun to look at Canada’s relationship with the environment and how it can teach us about taking care of the Earth.

Amateur historians

Amateur historians, who studied history on their own, were the main writers of history books until the early 1900s. One of the most famous was François-Xavier Garneau, who grew up poor but taught himself history. His book about Quebec shaped how people thought about the region for many years. Another well-known writer was William Kingsford, whose book about Canada was popular, even though it was not very well organized.

People who love history started local groups and museums to keep old documents and objects safe. Even today, amateur historians are important, especially when journalists write about leaders and big events in politics. The most popular amateur historian was Francis Parkman, whose books about France and England in North America are still read today for their beautiful writing.

Organizations of professional historians

Main article: Canadian Historical Association

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, history became a serious study at universities. Teachers started sending students to places like Britain to learn more. In 1896, a teacher named George McKinnon Wrong began teaching Canadian history at the University of Toronto and started a magazine about Canada's past. By 1922, the Canadian Historical Association was created, making history studies more scientific and careful.

Today, the Canadian Historical Association holds meetings and gives awards for the best history books. It also has many groups that focus on different topics, like business history, digital history, and the history of women and children. These groups help people learn more about specific parts of Canada's past.

The Conquest

The Conquest of New France has always been an important and debated part of Canada’s history. In 2009, for example, re-enactors were not allowed to perform the key battles of 1759 in Québec. Some French-Canadian historians find the Conquest hard to discuss because it can seem like it caused big problems, or it can seem like it helped Canadians keep their language and religion under British rule. For most Anglophone historians, it was a win for British strength in the military, government, and economy, which would help the people who were taken over.

In the 1950s, some historians said the Conquest hurt French-Canadians by breaking up their society and leaving the Church in charge. They also said that British merchants took control of business, so French-Canadians focused more on farming. On the other hand, some French-speaking historians see good things from the Conquest, like keeping their language, religion, and customs alive under British rule. Some scholars point to the legal system as a success because French laws continued and new ideas were added. These debates grew bigger starting in the 1960s, especially as people in Québec talked more about their identity. One historian even said that the events of 1759 are still important today and for the future.

"The Monument des Braves," started in Québec in 1863, remembered the Battle of Sainte-Foy, the last win for the French in Canada during the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War). This began many events across Canada from 1850 to 1930, meant to build shared memories and bring English and French speakers closer together, even while leaving out some hard parts of the British conquest. Anglophone historians often celebrated the Conquest as a long-term win for British power.

Loyalists

Main article: United Empire Loyalist

The Loyalists were very proud of their history. In 1898, a writer named Henry Coyne said they were among the best people from the Thirteen Colonies, bringing strong values and a love for British traditions to Canada.

Historians Margaret Conrad and Alvin Finkel note that while some Loyalists were from wealthy families and showed great loyalty to the British Crown, many stories about them are exaggerated. In fact, some Loyalists returned to the United States or even supported the United States later on. These historians suggest that using Loyalist history to claim special status can sometimes misrepresent the full story.

War of 1812

Main articles: Origins of the War of 1812 and war of 1812

The War of 1812 is remembered differently by various groups. Many Canadians view it as a proud moment when their ancestors defended the land against an invasion. In the United States, some see it as a victory for their country. After the 200th anniversary in 2012, many new studies about the war were written. These studies look more closely at the roles of people from France, Spain, Native American tribes, and African Americans. They also explore topics like gender and race.

In a vote in 2012, 25% of Canadians said the War of 1812 was very important to their national identity. The Canadian government spent a lot of money on events to celebrate the bicentennial. These events aimed to teach people that without this war, Canada might not exist today, and that it helped shape the country we know now. Different places in Canada remember the war in different ways. For example, Toronto holds big celebrations, while Québec does not focus on it as much.

Economic history

Economic history became very important after 1900. Economists and historians worked together, using Canada's past to understand its economy.

Staples thesis

Main articles: Staples thesis and Harold Innis and the cod fishery

Harold Innis and William Archibald Mackintosh created the Staples thesis. They said Canada's economy grew mainly by selling natural resources like fish, fur, timber, wheat, and minerals to Britain and the British Empire. Factories and big industries came much later. Innis thought these resources shaped Canada's regions. For example, Atlantic Canada relied on cod fishing, which was a shared effort. In western Canada, wheat farming was more independent, leading to a distrust of big companies and governments. In central Canada, the fur trade was controlled by big firms like the Hudson's Bay Company, creating more organized cities like Montreal and Toronto.

Donald Creighton expanded on this idea. He showed how merchants in Canada controlled trade along the St-Lawrence River, making Montreal the country's business center. He also wrote about John A. McDonald and how building the transcontinental railway helped shape Canada's politics and economy.

Core-periphery model

See also: Metropolitan-hinterland thesis

Innis described Canada as having a "core" and a "periphery." The core, like big cities, depended on resources from the periphery, such as rural areas, to keep the economy going. This idea is still used today to explain how some areas, like Vancouver in British Columbia, control smaller areas that mainly produce goods for export. However, some historians think this doesn't fully explain the ties between the Maritime Provinces and Central Canada.

Keynesian version

In the 1950s, Mackintosh updated the Staples thesis using ideas from economics. He said government spending on roads and other projects for resource exports helped boost the economy. At the University of Saskatchewan, economists like Mabel Timlin studied how government policies helped big companies, not always the farmers themselves.

Whig history: Political history with a definite goal

Historian Allan Greer says that Whig history was a common way of studying history in the past. This style assumed that history moved toward a clear goal, like building a big country or creating better government. People thought events that didn’t fit this plan, like the rebels in 1837, were simply wrong.

Since the late 20th century, scholars have focused more on detailed studies instead of big themes. They look closely at things like army movements, how leaders made decisions, and how everyday people lived during tough times. This has given us more facts and corrected old myths. However, some feel that this detailed focus has made it harder to see the bigger picture of history.

Confederation

Historians have had many different ideas about why Canada came together as a country, called Confederation. In the past, many thought it was just a practical decision with no big ideas behind it. But later, some said it was driven by new political beliefs, like in America and France.

Some historians say it was about protecting individual rights and freedoms, inspired by thinkers from the past. Others believe it was about how the government should manage the economy, with some wanting more government control and others wanting less. All these ideas show how people have tried to understand the meaning behind Canada’s formation.

Ethnic history

Roberto Perin studied how people write about the history of different groups in Canada. He found two main ways people look at this topic. One way focuses on how immigrant groups kept their old traditions from their home countries. The other way looks at how these groups became part of Canadian life and culture, mixing with everyone else.

Historians change their perspective

Since the 1980s, historians have changed how they look at Canada's past. Before, most focused on political events, leaders, and big national issues. But by 2000, more attention turned to social history, studying everyday people and their lives. This shift led to debates among historians. Some believed this new focus ignored important leaders and events, while others thought it gave a fuller picture of the past.

The history of women in Canada also grew as a field of study, especially starting in the 1970s. Researchers began looking more closely at women's roles and experiences, especially in Québec. They studied how women's lives were shaped by family, work, and society. Environmental history, too, became more important, with historians exploring how people and nature interacted over time.

Main article: History of Canadian women

Publications

Many journals share scholarly articles and reviews about Canada's history. Some focus on specific areas, like Atlantic Canada or British Columbia. Others cover topics such as politics in Quebec, medical history, or cultural studies. Popular magazines like Canada's History also share shorter essays for everyone to enjoy.