Enquête sur la révolte du canal de Beauharnois, 1843: la marginalisation des ouvriers irlandais

The 1843 strike by Irish migrant labourers building the Beauharnois Canal is considered the first major workers' revolt in Canada. During the strike, between five and twenty labourers died, either shot by soldiers called in to break the strike or drowned trying to escape mounted cavalry. The author analyzes the official report of the commission of inquiry into the conflict to highlight the exploitation of the Irish navvies by the contractors overseeing the worksite. Looking at the broader context, the author traces facts from the testimonies as well as recommendations and conclusions from the investigation report to establish what may have exacerbated the tensions between workers and contractors during the construction of the canal.

Bulletin du Regroupement des chercheurs et chercheures en histoire des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec

Vol. 42

no. 2

12-25

Automne 2016

fr