Religion Religion, Politics & State
The Belfast Riot of 1847
- Publisher
- Island Studies Press
- Initial publish date
- Mar 2025
- Category
- Religion, Politics & State, Atlantic Provinces (NB, NL, NS, PE), Pre-Confederation (to 1867)
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781988692760
- Publish Date
- Mar 2025
- List Price
- $29.95
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
On March 1, 1847, Prince Edward Island experienced the second worst election riot in Canadian history. About 200 Scottish Protestants and 300 Irish Catholics spent the day beating each other with sticks, resulting in at least three men dead and up to 100 others injured. This event set the stage for the hardening of the sectarian conflict between Protestants and Catholics on the Island for the next 125 years.
The Belfast Riot of 1847 lays out the social and political conditions that led to the riot on the Island, introduces us to the major players on both sides, provides a detailed account of its unfolding, and takes a nuanced look at who was to blame.
About the author
Callum Beck was born and raised in Charlottetown, PEI. He completed a BA in Philosophy at UPEI, a Master of Arts in Religion at Emmanuel School of Religion in Tennessee, and a PhD at Open University in the UK. Professionally he has served as a pastor and sessional faculty at UPEI. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Lorraine Beck, and they have three children and six grandchildren.