History Colonial Period (1600-1775)
– From Columbus to Louisbourg
The Colonial Evolution of Atlantic Canada and New England
- Publisher
- New World Publishing
- Initial publish date
- Sep 2019
- Category
- Colonial Period (1600-1775), NON-CLASSIFIABLE, Pre-Confederation (to 1867)
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781989564059
- Publish Date
- Sep 2019
- List Price
- $18.95
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Reading age: 15 to 18
Description
From Columbus to Louisbourg The Colonial Evolution of Atlantic Canada and New England by Peter McCreath 150 pp, 100 photo/sketches, bibliography ISBN 9781989564 --$18.95
This book seeks to tell the interesting story, in a readable way, of how the English and the French established colonies that evolved into what has become New England and Atlantic Canada. The two experienced major differences, in particular the differing colonial approaches by the English and the French. The storyline itself follows the true history. The principal characters were real people who did what this work attributes to them. It is a story culminating in critical events during the mid-18th Century that led in no small measure to the rebellion and revolution that resulted in the American Revolution (American War of Independence), and the establishment of the independent Republic of the United States, and in due course, the establishment of what was originally called the Dominion of Canada. In due course, in 1745, New England leaders led the capture of the presumed unconquerable great French fortress Louisbourg. By so doing, and they demonstrated that American colonists could and would choose to go their own way, and soon thereafter, create their own nation. This was a strategically important event in the evolution of Canada and the United States. The idea of seeking to capture or neutralize the dominant French fortress of Louisbourg was spawned by a handful of visionary and determined business and political leaders in New England. They had decided that they had had enough of the raids on land and privateering at sea from what was, at that time the largest French harbour on the northwest Atlantic Coast; it had just become too close to home for their comfort. If officials and leaders in Britain didn’t see it as enough of a problem to do something about, so the key New England leaders decided that they would deal with it themselves. And during the spring of 1745, they did. As the broadsheets of the day described it: “New England Bravery”: “Boston celebrates the Most Notable Feat of Arms in American Colonial History”! But that is not the end of the story, while these sentiments were growing in New England, the land that is today the Maritime Provinces of Canada remained a battleground involving English, French and aboriginal claimants to the territory, particularly the Mi’kmaq, who spurred on by determined French Catholic priests, to prevent the settlement of settlers from England and the “foreign protestants” from western Europe. The story traces the establishment and development of colonies, by the French and English, in very different ways, and how they interacted with the various longstanding native aboriginal groups, particularly those of the Abenaki Confederacy, especially the Mi’kmaq, who claimed primacy and control of much of the land of these regions. How the European arrivals treated and chose the types of relationships with these First Nation’s people would, to a very large extent, determine the nature of the relationships they would have, and how power would ultimately be determined amongst the various colonies established by the Europeans. Would they become neighbours, allies and friends, or would they be seen as hostile elements and enemies? Would the various native North American cultural groups to be included as friends, neighbours, enemies or otherwise perceived impediments. At times, both sides sought the support or faced the enmity of the various long-standing aboriginal claimants to control of various parts of the territories now comprising the Maritime Provinces of Canada and, to an extent, the State of Maine. They were people not to be ignored; nevertheless, the European arrivals rarely, with but rare exceptions, accepted them as equal members of their new colonial societies. Our story culminates with the outcomes of the wars of the mid-18th century, following a century and one half of local conflicts between both the English and the French sides within the region, with final outcomes often being determined by peace treaties negotiated and finalized in Europe between the powers themselves, with no real input from the aboriginal inhabitants,. Nevertheless, conflicts on North American soil, played a significant part in the how the respective colonies developed, together with the determination of which territories would be French and which, English, and with whom the native North American Nations stood, or became allied. What are now the eastern provinces and states of New England and Atlantic Canada, experienced a variety of raids and battles enduring the period, until the final outcome occurred with the British victory in1763 in what the Americans came to call the French and Indian War and the English referred to as the Seven of the world for literally hundreds of thousands of years. For example, scientists and historians now avow that a variety of ethno-cultural groups or nations of people had occupied portions of the Americas in the far north for perhaps 40,000-60,000 years or more (in what was known as Beringia)... and spread southward into North, Central and South America for more than 15,000 years. But, throughout the world up to the 13th-15th centuries very few of the people of these nations, including their political leaders, were inclined to travel beyond, to see what the world comprised, who else might be out there.
About the authors
Contributor Notes
Biography
The Hon. Peter L McCreath, PC, DCL, MA, is a long-time resident of Hubbards, Nova Scotia, and is a direct descendant of John Cary who arrived in Massachusetts Bay in 1644. His descendant, Rose Cary vacationed with her family in Hubbards, Nova Scotia, in 1909 where she met a local boy, Lionel Shatford, whom she married a decade later, after he returned after five years of service in the Canadian Army in Europe during World War One. Rose Cary Shatford was his maternal grandmother.
Peter has led, to say the least, a remarkably diverse series of careers and a full, interesting life. He is by education an historian and educator: with BA (Hons. History) from the University of Toronto, an MA (History) from Dalhousie University and two degrees in Education from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. He completed the coursework for a PhD in history at Queens University, but a chance to work as the executive assistant to the Rt. Hon. Robert L. Stanfield took him to Ottawa and his connection to political life began. He was also awarded two honorary doctorates – from Saint Mary’s and the Doctoral Faculty of Mexico.
His diverse life has included: naval officer, a teacher and professor, a journalist, broadcaster, small business owner, a banker, a change management consultant, a Member of Parliament and cabinet minister, a world traveller, a human rights commissioner and advocate. After three stints as an executive assistant to prominent political figures, eventually led him to run for office himself: the House of Commons as MP for the South Shore and in the federal cabinet. That was followed by fifteen years in the wine and spirits business, nine of which were as founding Chair of the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation. He was also one of the first recipients of the Citation for Citizenship (Govt of Canada), the Canada 125 Medal, and the Queens Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee medals.
After four books on history for the public-school systems within Canada and many monographs on human rights, Peter turned to writing books for the public. This is his fourth trade book on history, politics and travel – the second in three years by New World.
A multi-generation Nova Scotian, husband and father – and a servant to many cats – he is married to Judy, still lives in Hubbards, and has a grown daughter and son.
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