Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Lord Selkirk's Settlement
When you watch the news, there are often stories of refugees. These are people who are forced from their homes. Sometimes it is from war. Other times it is from bad weather or social change.
In the mid 1700's this happened in Scotland. Land owners did not want to rent out their land anymore. They forced the people out so they could raise more sheep.
Thousands of Highlanders were homeless. They had nowhere to live and no jobs.
Lord Selkirk saw what was happening. He wanted to help. His idea was to start a settlement for the people in Canada. The first was in Prince Edward Island. It was successful. A second one in Ontario was not.
Selkirk still wanted to help. When he heard of good land in southern Manitoba, he got it. He made plans for homes and barns to be built. Each farm would be 100 acres. Fields were to be planted and ready for the settlers to harvest.
The plans did not go as he wished. Many of the workmen caused trouble or would not work. Out of the 120 men, only 35 got there and worked. The workers were late arriving. The settlers got there six weeks later.
The fur traders were not happy about people moving in. They wanted the land to be open and wild. That meant more furs for them to trap.
At that time there were two trading companies. One was the Hudson's Bay Company. The other was the North West Company.
