The push and pull of French Canadiens

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The Push and Pull of French Canadiens
French Canadiens are an ethnic group that traces its roots to French colonists from the 17th century, especially the ones who settled in Canada. The expansion of the French Canadian colonies in North America in the mid-18th century saw them colonize many regions and towns, a factor that explains the high number of French Canadians in North America today (Bélanger 2). Hundreds of thousands French Canadiens settled in the U.S., especially in the New England region between 1840 to the beginning of the 20th century (Bélanger 2). The New England region comprised of cities such as Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire. The immigrants predominantly worked in farmlands and industrial shops that were common in Vermont (Lamarre et al. 16). Even so, the period between the 1870s and 1880s experienced a massive migration of the French Canadiens to Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, with some of them moving to Connecticut. Industrialization and railway ties in North Eastern U.S. catalyzed the migration as well as the emerging textile towns (Lamarre et al. 17). In view of the foregoing, it is important to highlight the push and pull factors of French migration into America.
The migration from Quebec to New England involved both short- and long-distance migration in the southern part of Northern England. One of the reasons for this massive migration was the pull of industrialization in the southern New England regions. This transition meant that the French-Canadiens were influenced by the nature of the labor markets because they were moving from an agrarian society to an industrialized economy (Bélanger 3).

Agricultural activities and timber trade, which traced back to the post-Civil War era, had been the principal commercial activities in the Quebec region. Even so, the emergence of industrial capital and textile-intensive labor in the regions of the New England, especially Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and southern New Hampshire created a dynamic market for the French Canadiens (Lamarre et al. 36). For instance, mills in Rhode Island and Maine had wages that were several times higher compared to factories in Quebec and Montreal. Managers in American factories were also obliged to employ the immigrants because they were less demanding, skillful, and manageable. The immigrants were also paid weekly wages in the factories, which they considered more favorable compared to the uncertainty of farm yields.
The push factors of French immigration to America included France’s political problems. In 1848, the French Revolution erupted, leading to King Louis- Philippe abdicating the throne for Napoleon Bonaparte as the first president. The political situation worsened following an attempted coup of the president Napoleon Bonaparte. The coup made the president a dictator and resulted in thousands of French immigrants arriving in America in 1851. There were also challenges of the demographic explosion that was synonymous with high birth rates among households, with little or no farmland to distribute to children. The demographic explosion was also characteristic of population increase. Lack of scientific and better methods of farming such as manure and crop rotation also resulted in Quebec immigration. Excessive dependence on staples such as wheat led to challenges of adopting alternatives such as dairy farming, and when the famine hit hard, they had no option but to immigrate to America, a place that offered better and dynamic opportunities of survival (Lamarre et al. 20). Similarly, the farming season was short, and farmers did not have alternative employments. Insufficient industrial employment in Quebec and Montreal meant that the majority of the people were unemployed. Additionally, farmers struggled to get credit and loans.
It is also important to note that the majority of the French Canadiens who crossed to the New England states were young adults with solid family lives, although some were single. The French Canadiens had a strong sense of family ties and community. They had strong personal ties, loyalty to one another, and a common feeling just as it was in Quebec. Their community was based on a parish school and church, as well as a nuclear and extended family that helped them solidify their influence and presence, especially in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire (Lamarre et al. 26). There were also cultural differences and similarities in the new area they settled. For instance, the French Canadiens shared a common Catholic religion with Irish Americans (Lamarre et al. 80). Similarly, both ethnic groups shared a common sense of family relationships, which meant that they could come together and take part in games and other social activities. They also celebrated holidays such as Christmas and held feats in the New Year. The matriarchal influence was also common in French Canadiens and Irish Americans.
The differences in culture that the French Canadiens encountered mainly related to the languages, a factor that remained a barrier for a very long time. The language difference was so severe to the extent that the French Canadiens reacted to the Irish Americans because church sermons were done in English, which they did not understand (Lamarre et al. 84). Their dressing and costumes were also different. The French Canadiens wore loose pants held by broad belts or suspenders. These clothes were common because they were the main dress codes by farmers. Women made their materials and wore moccasins and woolen stockings as well as flannel skirts (Bélanger 4). Overall, the immigration of the French Canadiens to America, especially the New England states, was a historic moment in their culture. Even though they experienced differences in culture and traditions in their new home, there were a number of common features, including religion and the celebration of certain holidays, such as Christmas.

Works Cited
Bélanger, Claude. ”French Canadian Emigration to the United States 1840-1930.” Department of History, Marianopolis College, 4(2003): 2-4. Print.
Lamarre, Jean, Hermione Jack, and Howard Keillor. The French Canadians of Michigan: Their Contribution to the Development of the Saginaw Valley and the Keweenaw Peninsula, 1840-1914. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2003. Print.