Ethnic Groups and Marital Choices: Ethnic History and Marital Assimilation, Canada 1871 and 1971

Comparing ethno-religious intermarriage, this book provides the background for understanding the dynamics of intermarriage in a culturally pluralistic society such as Canada. Since the late-19th century, the rate of intermarriage between members of different European ethnic and cultural groups in Canada has increased and resulted in a gradual blending of these communities. Using data from the 1871 census of Canada for the first time in conjunction with data from the 1971 census, Madeline Richard delineates the general patterns of ethnic intermarriage in 1871 and 1971 and specifically considers the trends for the English, Irish, Scots, French and Germans. The book is not only about marital patterns, but also the ethnic groups themselves. It gives detailed descriptions of the English, Irish, Scots, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Scandinavian, Ukrainian, and other groups - their immigration history, settlement patterns, and socio-demographic characteristics - as these all have some bearing on patterns of marriage.