CANADA PRIOR TO WORLD WAR ONE

A Nation TransformsThe Laurier Era

1700’s – Early Exploration and Settlement1608- Samuel De Champlain builds in Quebec - British settle thirteen colonies 1670- HBC owned vast territory – Rupert’s Land1756-69 Seven Years War in Europe – 1763 -Treaty of Paris- New France becomes part of

BNA1770’s-United Empire Loyalist flee to Canada 1778- James Cook lands in Nootka Sound1791- Constitution Act- create Upper and Lower

Canada1792- George Vancouver settles dispute with Spain 1793- Alexander Mackenzie reaches west coast

overland

1600’s and 1700’s

1800 to Confederation- Settlement of the West – NWC and HBC move west-1808 – Simon Fraser reaches Pacific founds Fort

Macleod-1812- War of 1812- two years of war btw US and Br.-1821- HBC takes over NWC-1821 Establishment of Fort Vancouver-1837- Rebellion start to take place in Upper and

Lower Can-1840- Irish potatoes famine causes immigration to

rise-1843- James Douglas establishes Fort Victoria-1854-Reciprocity Agreement signed btw Canada and

US-1860- Caribou gold rush starts-1864- Charlottetown and Quebec Conference-

framework of a constitution laid out1866- Fenian Raids1867-Confederation unites Canada East/West, NB and

NS

Post- Confederation Canada1869- Louis Riel leads Red River Rebellion1870- Manitoba joins Confederation1871-British Columbia joins Confederation1872- Dominion Land Act1873- PEI joins Confederation1873- creation of the North West Mounted Police1873-Macdonald loses election to Alexander

Mackenzie1876- Indian Act- native people placed on reserve1878- Macdonald returns to power with National

Policy1881- Canadian Pacific Railway starts1885- CPR finished1885- Louis Riel leads second rebellion1891- Macdonald dies

Laurier Takes Power

1891- Macdonald dies1891- John Abbott becomes Prime Minister1892- John Thompson becomes Prime

Minister1894- Mackenzie Bowell becomes Prime

Minister1896- Charles Tupper becomes Prime

Minister1896- Wilfred Laurier becomes Prime

Minister

A Review of Canadian Immigration in the 1800’s

1760 New France 1770’s United Empire Loyalist 1791-1812 -Lower Canada 323,000-

333,000 -Upper Canada 14,000-

90,000 - 560,000 British immigrants

-End of Napoleonic Wars

A Review of Canadian Immigration in the 1800’s

-End of Napoleonic Wars -British Industrial Revolution –Unemployment, no soldiers needed, low

wages, poor living/ working conditions -1840’s Irish Potato Famine- 433,000

Before Wilfred Laurier

In the 1850’s 70% of population lives rurally in St. Lawrence area but, in the 1860’s-1880 cities begin to grow in Canada and the Canadian Industrial Revolution begins. Macdonald’s (Conservative) National Policy planned to settle the West when introduced in the late 1870’s but the plan isn’t realized until the 1890’s as Wilfred Laurier begins his rise to power as the leader of a Liberal Government.

Laurier – The Man

Born 1841 Member of Parliament 1871 Cabinet Member 1877 Liberal leader 1887 Prime Minister 1896 Eloquent, charming, charismatic, tall and

handsome Skillful Politician - “Master of

Compromise”

The Transformation of a Nation

Macdonald’s plan called for protective tariffs and the completion of the transcontinental railway to settle the west. As the 1800’s draw to a close, Canada is about to begin a huge social/economic transformation that will see a new prosperous nation emerge.

The Laurier Boom The world economy turns upwards after a

long recession and starts a steady improvement as Laurier comes to power. Canada-U.S. relations are peaceful. Several events contribute to the beginning of the boom: the Klondike Gold Rush, completion of the Northern and Grand Trunk railways (will be CN Railway), the use of the Niagara Falls as a power source for factories being built with investment capital, cities begin to grow because there is a source of power, natural resources (trees, minerals) and cheap labour (production doubles in factories in ten years).

The Last Best West American quality

homesteads are full as the century draws to a close and the Canadian west begins to be marketed by Clifford Sifton (Minister of the Interior) as the “Last Best West”. Sifton’s immigration campaign promoted the sale of cheap land (65ha –160 acres for $10.00) and the need for worker from Scotland, Germany and Scandinavia.

The Cultural Mosaic Begins

1901 -5.1 million -90 % of Canadians are French or British

1911 –7.2 million – over 1 million have settled on the Prairies and Canada’s “cultural mosaic” has been born.

Peasants in Sheepskin Coats

Sifton also marketed Canada in the Ukraine to entice “stalwart peasants in sheepskin coats” because of the need for agricultural skills and ability to deal with the harsh Canadian living conditions (170,000 settlers came to Canada from the Ukraine alone).

Wheat Production Increases

Wheat production will double and triple in this decade because of these new immigrants and the creation of Marquis Wheat (exports 1900 $14 million to $279 million in 1920)

Canada’s Cultural Mosaic or Melting Pot

As Laurier comes to power in 1896 Canada’s English minority set Victorian standards for morals and manners that are very strict and formal. These were the business leaders of the day who also see the need to settle the west and bring in cheap labour for the factories, mines, and logging camps. The year 1896 saw a huge influx of American settlers and fortune hunters to the Klondike Gold Rush. Life in Dawson City was anything but Victorian.

Canadian Immigration Influx

To find cheap labour Sifton carried his campaign to Britain and western Europe and Scandinavia, but soon found that the Eastern Europe and Asia was filled with workers who were prepared to work long hours for less money (in horrible working conditions) to escape their home countries for a chance to get rich in Canada.

Canadian Working Conditions

Most farmers worked dawn to dusk and were subject to severe condition and financial risks. While factory workers worked in sweat shops from 12 to 16 hours a day for wages that wouldn’t meet their basic needs.

Canadian Living Conditions

Men made around $403 and woman $193 annually, when they needed $800 to meet basic family needs. Child labour was common, there was no health care or pensions and major cities had massive slums for the majority of its citizens.

Ethnocentric Backlash

This massive influx of workers result in a huge economic boom in Canada but also created ethnocentric backlash as a British/French population feared competition for jobs and for their way of life. The west saw Asians put to work for wages far less than whites in industries like mining, logging and fishing. French Canada feared assimilation as the percentage of Francophones dropped.

Asiatic Exclusion Leaque

In 1907 a race riot led by the Asiatic Exclusion League broke out in China town in Vancouver and spreads to nearby Japanese neighbourhoods. Laurier apologized to the Japanese Emperor then virtually closes immigration from Asia with a “head tax” and “continuous passage” regulation. Asians are also denied the right to vote and work in the civil service and certain professions. Frank Oliver replaces Sifton in 1907-1910 and closes the doors to non-English speaking immigrants.

Canada’s Growing Problems

The huge wave of immigration Canada experiences during the Laurier brings with it the need for many social reforms. As Canada’s cities grow at an uncontrolled rate filled with hungry new immigrants the country must decide how it will deal with growing slums, exploitation of workers, and the increasing signs of racism.

The Reform Movements

Several reform movements are established during this period including the Women’s suffragist’s movement, the prohibitionist movement, and the labour movement.

Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples and the Twentieth Century

1876-Canada passed the “Indian Act” to open land for settlers. It was hoped that this legislation would promote settlement and avoid the violence seen in the American west. A series of “treaties” were signed (11 in all) between the Aboriginal nations of the west and the Canadian government.

The Treaties

These treaties were signed reluctantly by leaders who were watching their traditional lifestyle disappear due to settlers staking claims on their hunting grounds. The treaties were to involve a transfer of money, land and resources that would allow the aboriginal people to live on “reserves” like the European settlers.

The Reserves

The reserve lands for the most part were unsuitable for farming and the resources and agricultural training ineffective- starvation resulted on many reserves. The result of this treatment on the Aboriginal people of Canada saw nation after nation go deeper into despair from starvation, inadequate diet and housing, alcoholism and disease introduced unknowingly by Europeans (tuberculosis)

Assimilation of Aboriginal People

By the late 1800’s the federal government has taken on responsibility for the “protection and well-being” of these people- this policy openly promotes the “assimilation of aboriginal people” through the reserves, enforced farming and residential schools for children.

The Decline of The Aboriginal Peoples

The disappearance of native languages, lifestyle, belief system and ceremonies was all part of the “enfranchisement” of these people. By 1900 the Aboriginal population has declined significantly. This marks the beginning of a movement that continues today, that hopes to restore Aboriginal rights and lands.

Issues of the Laurier Era Transformation

Around the turn of the century Canada’s transformation towards nationhood is not without its growing pains. Laurier’s government constantly has to work find solutions to issues that will keep the nation united and strong. The relationship Canada will maintain with Britain causes the “imperialist” and “nationalist” factions of Canada to clash on many issues.

Laurier and Compromise

The Alaskan Boundary Dispute, the Boer War, the Naval Service Bill and the Reciprocity Trade Agreement with the United States all bring with them difficult compromises that leaves both factions dissatisfied. Laurier constantly struggles to maintain power while under attack from Henri Bourassa (nationalist leader) and Robert Borden (Conservative leader) for his compromises.

End of the Laurier Era The beginning of the transformation of

Canada from colony to nation between the years 1896-1911 saw many significant changes:

a long economic boom which created an agricultural and industrial strength for the Canadian economy

supported by new technology and cheap labour

creating a Canadian “Industrial Revolution”

creating a foundation for a labour movement

creating racial tension for job security

Results of Immigration Program

a massive wave of immigration from all corners of the world to Canada creating a cultural mosaic

settling the western provinces displacing Canada’s aboriginal peoples increasing tension in Fr-Canada for “La

Survivance” (Survival of french culture) creating signs of ethnic intolerance and

racism

Nationalist vs. Imperialist

a new attitude about our relationship with the British Empire

creation of a “nationalist” movement that supported a strong autonomous Canadian nation (led by Bourassa).

creation of an “Imperialist” movement that supported strong economic and military ties to Britain (led by Borden).

The End