Heartland, Hinterland, and the Heartland, Hinterland, and the Staple TradeStaple Trade

What do those products have in common?What do those products have in common? How are they important to Nova Scotia?How are they important to Nova Scotia? What role does each of these items play in What role does each of these items play in

its region’s economy?its region’s economy?

STAPLE: a product that dominates an STAPLE: a product that dominates an economy’s exportseconomy’s exports

STAPLE THESIS: formulated by Harold Innes, STAPLE THESIS: formulated by Harold Innes, it says that exporting fish, furs, timber, and it says that exporting fish, furs, timber, and wheat from Canada to Europe influenced wheat from Canada to Europe influenced Canada’s economic, social and political Canada’s economic, social and political development development

STAPLE THESISSTAPLE THESIS European expansion and colonization European expansion and colonization

motivated by desire to export products to motivated by desire to export products to enrich the homeland.enrich the homeland.

The production of the products that the The production of the products that the homeland desired shaped economic homeland desired shaped economic development and settlement patterns in the development and settlement patterns in the “New World”“New World”

HEARTLAND: a region that is the economic HEARTLAND: a region that is the economic center of a country or empirecenter of a country or empire

HINTERLAND: a region that provides the HINTERLAND: a region that provides the resources needed by the heartlandresources needed by the heartland

Harold Innes felt that there were three ways for a staple Harold Innes felt that there were three ways for a staple based economy to develop:based economy to develop:

1.1. An economy is most successful when in goes An economy is most successful when in goes beyond staples into manufacturing based on the beyond staples into manufacturing based on the same staples. i.e. from fishing to processing cod same staples. i.e. from fishing to processing cod liver oil. When the manufacturing is more liver oil. When the manufacturing is more important than staple production the economy has important than staple production the economy has moved beyond staple production.moved beyond staple production.

2.2. An economy is moderately successful when it can An economy is moderately successful when it can shift from the production of one staple to anothershift from the production of one staple to another

3.3. An economy is not successful if it continues to rely An economy is not successful if it continues to rely on the production of staples, even if it is not on the production of staples, even if it is not enough to produce adequate income. a.k.a enough to produce adequate income. a.k.a “STAPLES TRAP” “STAPLES TRAP”

WHERE IS NOVA SCOTIA TODAY?WHERE IS NOVA SCOTIA TODAY?WHERE IS CANADA TODAY?WHERE IS CANADA TODAY?

MERCANTILISMMERCANTILISMMercantilism: the economic system in place during Mercantilism: the economic system in place during

the European age of exploration (exploitation)the European age of exploration (exploitation)

Acquiring raw materials in colonies, producing Acquiring raw materials in colonies, producing manufactured goods in the home country, and manufactured goods in the home country, and selling them back to the colonists was seen as the selling them back to the colonists was seen as the ideal way for a country to become wealthy.ideal way for a country to become wealthy.

Its success depended on the value of the staple in Its success depended on the value of the staple in the home country. A resource in high demand the home country. A resource in high demand and abundant supply, which required some and abundant supply, which required some processing at the colony brought prosperity to processing at the colony brought prosperity to everyone. everyone.

THE COD FISHERYTHE COD FISHERY

John Cabot was the first documented European to John Cabot was the first documented European to report on the abundance of cod off of Canadareport on the abundance of cod off of Canada

By 1615, more than 250 English and between 200 By 1615, more than 250 English and between 200 and 400 French ships were fishing off of NFLD.and 400 French ships were fishing off of NFLD.

WET FISHING: (aka: green fishing) WET FISHING: (aka: green fishing) Fish caught in nets, brought aboard, cleaned and Fish caught in nets, brought aboard, cleaned and

filleted, preserved in large amounts of salt, filleted, preserved in large amounts of salt, transported to Europe.transported to Europe.

Used by countries with access to large salt Used by countries with access to large salt supplies (France, Portugal, Spain)supplies (France, Portugal, Spain)

DRY FISHING: DRY FISHING:

Fish cleaned, split, and lightly salted onshore, left to Fish cleaned, split, and lightly salted onshore, left to dry “naturally” on wooden racksdry “naturally” on wooden racks

Because fishers had to get off the boat to process Because fishers had to get off the boat to process the fish, this practice eventually led to English the fish, this practice eventually led to English settlements on the coast of NFLD.settlements on the coast of NFLD.

DRY FISHERYDRY FISHERYA 17th century composite picture of an English dry fishery in Newfoundland giving a compressed version of the process, including the landing stage, cleaning and splitting operations, and the laying-out of split cod.

ID #10065Credit: National Archives of Canada / C-3686

IMPACT OF COD FISHERYIMPACT OF COD FISHERY Epitome of Mercantilism: Fish exploited only for Epitome of Mercantilism: Fish exploited only for

home country’s benefitshome country’s benefits

Did little to contribute to European settlementDid little to contribute to European settlement

Cured fish sold in Europe, no need for business to Cured fish sold in Europe, no need for business to develop in Canada.develop in Canada.

Little need for roadsLittle need for roads

Food imported from Europe: no reason to develop Food imported from Europe: no reason to develop agricultureagriculture

THE FUR TRADETHE FUR TRADE By claiming the land around the St. Lawrence River By claiming the land around the St. Lawrence River

for France Jacques Cartier acquired access to an for France Jacques Cartier acquired access to an important trade good: FURimportant trade good: FUR

Fur, especially beaver fur, could be obtained cheaply Fur, especially beaver fur, could be obtained cheaply in Canada and processed and sold in Europein Canada and processed and sold in Europe

The fur trade brought European powers into alliance The fur trade brought European powers into alliance with Aboriginal peoples. with Aboriginal peoples.

The European hunger for fur was used by Aboriginal The European hunger for fur was used by Aboriginal groups to their own advantage. I.e. Champlain and groups to their own advantage. I.e. Champlain and the Huron (Wendat) vs. the Iroquois the Huron (Wendat) vs. the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee)(Haudenosaunee)

Eight beaver hats for Europeans, a lasting market for Canadian fur. ID #10082Credit: National Archives of Canada / C-17338

Coureur de Bois in typical dress. With a new style, these Frenchman became involved in the 1650s in the fur trade and were as much at home in the bush as the Indians. Woodcut by Arthur Heming. ID #20061Credit: Heming, National Archives of Canada, C5746

Hudson’s Bay CompanyHudson’s Bay Company

Early 19th century photograph of Moose Factory, Ontario, established in 1671 and rebuilt in 1730 and remains as one of the oldest Hudson's Bay trading forts in Ontario. ID #20384Acc2210, S1951

A Hudson's Bay Company fur pack. ID #21676Credit: National Archives of Canada, C-4219

Created in 1670 by Royal Charter

Set up to compete with French fur traders

After 1763 (the conquest of New France) HBC began to dominate the fur trade

1780’s Montreal merchants set up North West Company

By 1789, there were 100 North West Company trading posts

IMPACT OF FUR TRADEIMPACT OF FUR TRADE 1821, North West and Hudson’s Bay Company merged1821, North West and Hudson’s Bay Company merged

Fur Trade created great wealth for those who controlled Fur Trade created great wealth for those who controlled itit

Profits stayed in EuropeProfits stayed in Europe

Trade goods were manufactured in EuropeTrade goods were manufactured in Europe

Fur Traders were the first Europeans to see North Fur Traders were the first Europeans to see North AmericaAmerica

Fur Trade was the beginning of business and Fur Trade was the beginning of business and infrastructure in North Americainfrastructure in North America

Aboriginal peoples initially prosperedAboriginal peoples initially prospered

Disease, and increased warfare came with close Disease, and increased warfare came with close contact with Europeanscontact with Europeans

Religious foundations of Aboriginal life attacked Religious foundations of Aboriginal life attacked by missionariesby missionaries

As colonial expansion pushed Aboriginal peoples As colonial expansion pushed Aboriginal peoples away from their traditional lands, their sense of away from their traditional lands, their sense of identity was altered identity was altered

WOODEN SHIPS AND IRON MENWOODEN SHIPS AND IRON MEN England had no forests leftEngland had no forests left

The British depended on timber from the 13 The British depended on timber from the 13 colonies, Russia, Sweden, and other northern colonies, Russia, Sweden, and other northern European countriesEuropean countries

American Revolution and Napoleonic wars cut American Revolution and Napoleonic wars cut these sources offthese sources off

By 1811, Canadian timber trade was more By 1811, Canadian timber trade was more important than the fur tradeimportant than the fur trade

Trade helped by PREFERENTIAL TRADE STATUS Trade helped by PREFERENTIAL TRADE STATUS (1825) from Britain (Tariffs placed on timber (1825) from Britain (Tariffs placed on timber entering Britain from outside the British empire)entering Britain from outside the British empire)

Timber raft on the Ottawa River. From the 19th century onward, huge rafts of square hewed timber were floated down the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers for export to Britain.

ID #20243Credit: National Archives of Canada, PA139334

Early photo of sawn lumber at McLachlin Brothers Lumber Company, Ontario, with the main lumber yard in Arnprior shown.

ID #20343Acc. 3026, S4841

Timber slide, Hull, Lower Canada, carrying timber rafts past the rapids. In 1806 the first raft of heavy beams was taken down the Ottawa River by Philemon Wright. Engraving by J.P. Newell (active c.1855-1878).

ID #20302Credit: J.P. Newell, National Archives of Canada, C41680

Square-hewing the big timbers in the wilds with the broad-axe.

ID #10228Credit: Archives of Ontario / Acc.11778-4 / S-16944

THE IMPACT OF THE TIMBER TRADETHE IMPACT OF THE TIMBER TRADE Timber trade provided opportunity for secondary Timber trade provided opportunity for secondary

industriesindustries

Shipbuilding flourished in the MaritimesShipbuilding flourished in the Maritimes

Wooden ships eventually replaced by steel Wooden ships eventually replaced by steel

WHEATWHEAT

Early 1800’s saw Britain seeking reliable wheat suppliesEarly 1800’s saw Britain seeking reliable wheat supplies

Preferential Trade Status and the 1820 Corn Laws taxed Preferential Trade Status and the 1820 Corn Laws taxed products from outside the empireproducts from outside the empire

For the next 20 years, grain and flour production in Upper For the next 20 years, grain and flour production in Upper Canada flourishedCanada flourished

THE IMPACT OF THE WHEAT TRADETHE IMPACT OF THE WHEAT TRADE

Wheat trade became the foundation of the Upper Wheat trade became the foundation of the Upper Canadian (Ontario) economyCanadian (Ontario) economy

As wheat flourished, population grew, mills were As wheat flourished, population grew, mills were built and new towns were foundedbuilt and new towns were founded

Roads and Canals were built to get wheat to Roads and Canals were built to get wheat to marketmarket

Wheat boom marked the beginning of central Wheat boom marked the beginning of central Canada as the economic heartland of British Canada as the economic heartland of British North AmericaNorth America

PREFERENTIAL TRADE AND PREFERENTIAL TRADE AND RECIPROCITY RECIPROCITY

Since 1796, the British had given special trade Since 1796, the British had given special trade status to its empirestatus to its empire

English merchants felt this stifled trade with other English merchants felt this stifled trade with other countriescountries

Preferential trade status was abandoned in favor Preferential trade status was abandoned in favor of free tradeof free trade

Canadian farmers now had to compete with Canadian farmers now had to compete with European farmers on the open marketEuropean farmers on the open market

1854, Britain and the United States negotiated a 1854, Britain and the United States negotiated a RECIPROCITY TREATY, which allowed free trade RECIPROCITY TREATY, which allowed free trade between US and GBbetween US and GB

Timber, wheat, fish, and coal all experienced a Timber, wheat, fish, and coal all experienced a boom as tariff free trade with the US increasedboom as tariff free trade with the US increased

American Civil War (1861-65) created many American Civil War (1861-65) created many shortages which allowed trade to continue to shortages which allowed trade to continue to flourishflourish

When the war was over, these shortages When the war was over, these shortages disappeared and the mood in the US turned disappeared and the mood in the US turned against free trade. against free trade.