For a long time, Canada has been a multicultural country and, as a result, our citizens are more aware of society and the world. But Canada hasn't always been so multicultural. The Great Migration, a period of heavy immigration to Canada from 1815 to 1850, helped Canada become what it is today. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay In 1815, British North America experienced a significant demographic shift as waves of people began to leave their homeland. originally in search of a better life. People left for many reasons, but most were related to economic problems. They wanted to escape difficulties, find work or escape wars. Most people who emigrated during this period were of British origin and came to Canada hoping to settle there permanently. One group of peoples consisted of veterans of the Napoleonic and American wars. Many were soldiers who were looking for work and thought they could find it if they went to the fledgling colony of British North America. In addition to unemployment, wars also caused periods of dramatic economic recession and poverty quickly became a widespread problem. Another cause of high immigration was the Irish potato famine. The Irish left because disease had devastated the potato crops, leaving millions without food. The Potato Famine killed more than a million people in five years and caused more than 1.5 million adults and children to flee Ireland for America. Job loss due to increased mechanization has also become a significant factor in Canada's population growth. The industrial revolution and the use of steam power replaced people with machines in their work, making it easier for entrepreneurs. But it also meant that many citizens were left without jobs. In Britain, jobs became limited and it is estimated that around 66,000 people immigrated to Canada for the sole purpose of finding employment or better paying employment. Many people also came to Canada for the advertised lands. They were promised low prices, or even free, and the immigrants left Britain with high hopes. Most of their countries were burdened with overpopulation problems and immigrating to Canada would allow them to own land on which they could live and farm. In Scotland during this period there was widespread misery caused by the disappearance of traditional jobs and the introduction of more modern farming methods. Faced with the choice between employment in manufacturing and emigration, many Scots opted for a new life in Canada and therefore immigrated. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get Custom EssayDespite the difficulties, many immigrants managed to start their lives in Canada and the British settlers have since had a profound impact on the culture and development of our country. The English language is the national language, thanks to British immigrants, and many place names, traditions, principles and even religions were introduced with the settlers during the Great Migration..