Pre Confederation Canada History Analysis

The portrayal of women in Canadian histories from two sources
Keough and Morgan’s article both examine the importance of female historical figures during pre-confederation Canada, however, their methods differ in the historical sources they use as well as the overall theme of independence portrayed. This essay will give a brief description of both articles and attempt to compare and contrast the essay while critiquing the different methodologies they used, the socioeconomic situations these women were in, and the outcomes of their movements.
In Morgan’s article, “’Of Slender Frame and Delicate Appearance’: The Placing of Laura Secord in the Narratives of Canadian Loyalist History”, she writes about a war heroine by the name of Laura Secord who walked 20 miles from an American controlled area to warn the British about an imminent attack. Secord’s noble deed allowed her to become a legendary figure in Canadian history, often as the narrative of a dutiful loyalist and a proper lady. Keough’s article, on the other hand, talks about the unruly Irish women that desperately crawled their way into Canada and was able to establish a future for themselves as well as for their family.

The articles recognized the importance of studying the literature behind historical women and used the new information to create a more accurate picture of the past. The inspiration that came from the brave tale of Laura and the picture painted by the rough and tough Irish women are both examples of demonstrating the importance of a much-needed perspective of history. However, the resemblance ends at that idea, and the differences