low and it made the necessity of recognizing the
white laborer even more apparent. The great
democratic movement which took place during the
reign of Andrew Jackson from 1829-1837 was
caused in no small degree by the persistent striving
of the Negroes. They began their meeting together in conventions in 1830, they organized migration to Canada.[1] In the trouble with Canada in 1837 and 1838 Negro refugees from America helped to defend the frontiers. Bishop Loguen
says: “The colored population of Canada at that
time was small compared to what it now is; nevertheless, it was sufficiently large to attract the
attention of the government. They were almost
to a man fugitives from the States. They could not, therefore, be passive when the success of the
invaders would break the only arm interposed for
their security, and destroy the only asylum for
African freedom in North America. The promptness with which several companies of blacks were
organized and equipped, and the desperate valor
they displayed in this brief conflict, are an earnest
of what may be expected from the welling thousands of colored fugitives collecting there, in the
event of a war between the two countries.”[2]
In America during this time they sought to
