What were the conditions like on the ships?

The ships that took people to Canada in the 1800's were no were not like the cruise ships that you would take to go somewhere now a days. These ships didn't have individual rooms, and people were crammed into the hold of the ship, like sardines in a can.Most of the immigrants were seasick for the first few weeks , and if one person got sick you would usually get sick too, just from the smell or sound. But by the second week most of the immigrants had their sea legs. Most of the people who went on these ships had spent most of there money for the voyage itself , and had very little money left for food. Many people didn't get the chance to see Canada, or even land again for that matter. People died of things like starvation , and diseases. Many times if one person got sick than everyone around that person would become ill as well. The hold was where the people slept and spent most of their time. The hold consisted of many wooden bunk beds that slept three to a bed, if you were a child then four. Down in the hold there was no such thing as privacy, what was your business was everybody else as well. The bathroom was a small bucket that was usually beside the bed. People went through all this trouble because to them going to Canada was worth it. Having their children and grandchildren safe and free in their own country meant more to them then their own lives.

By: Jessica Haugen ♥