Canada 1896-1911Canada 1896-1911

Domestic PoliciesDomestic Policies

CLIFFORD SIFTONCLIFFORD SIFTON

Was appointed Minister Was appointed Minister of Interior in Laurier’s of Interior in Laurier’s Cabinet.Cabinet.

Accelerated agricultural Accelerated agricultural development in the west. development in the west. This gave full meaning to This gave full meaning to an east-west market. an east-west market.

He made land more He made land more accessible and simplified accessible and simplified regulations for farmers.regulations for farmers.

Much of this was done Much of this was done through immigration.through immigration.

IMMIGRATIONIMMIGRATIONWantedWanted EnglishEnglish

French French white American farmerswhite American farmers

Acceptable Acceptable Belgians, Dutch, Scandinavians,Belgians, Dutch, Scandinavians,Swiss, Finns, Russians, Germans,Swiss, Finns, Russians, Germans,Austro-Hungarians, Ukrainians,Austro-Hungarians, Ukrainians,Poles Poles

Need Not Need Not ApplyApply

Italians, South Slavs, Greeks,Italians, South Slavs, Greeks,Syrians, Jews, Blacks, Asians, Syrians, Jews, Blacks, Asians, Gypsies Gypsies

ATTRACTING ATTRACTING IMMIGRANTSIMMIGRANTS

Promotional campaign, featuring the slogan "Canada: The Last Promotional campaign, featuring the slogan "Canada: The Last Best West.“Best West.“

Reorganizing the immigration department Reorganizing the immigration department Increasing immigration agents and support personnel aboardIncreasing immigration agents and support personnel aboard Offering "free" land to settlers. Offering "free" land to settlers.

IMMIGRATION TO THE IMMIGRATION TO THE WESTWEST

White immigrants from Eastern White immigrants from Eastern Europe are reluctantly accepted Europe are reluctantly accepted in large numbers.in large numbers.

This caused the west to become This caused the west to become a different region compared to a different region compared to the rest of Canada. the rest of Canada.

It was more individualistic, It was more individualistic, cosmopolitan, and competitive cosmopolitan, and competitive then the rest of the country.then the rest of the country.

French immigrants were French immigrants were encouraged to settle in Manitoba. encouraged to settle in Manitoba. However Quebec in general was However Quebec in general was not happy with this policy. The not happy with this policy. The felt their culture was not being felt their culture was not being protected and even being diluted.protected and even being diluted.

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITYRELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

Many religious groups Many religious groups that practiced agriculture that practiced agriculture were attracted to were attracted to Canada. These included:Canada. These included:

Mennonites from EuropeMennonites from Europe Doukhobours from Doukhobours from

RussiaRussia Mormons from the Mormons from the

United StatesUnited States

STOP TO THINKSTOP TO THINK

Does multiculturalism dilute or promote Does multiculturalism dilute or promote and individuals culture?and individuals culture?

Was Sifton justified in rejecting or Was Sifton justified in rejecting or charging certain ethnicities from charging certain ethnicities from immigrating to Canada?immigrating to Canada?

Did the immigration to the west reinforce Did the immigration to the west reinforce or dilute our concept of Canadian or dilute our concept of Canadian Identity?Identity?

THE GOLD RUSH OF1897THE GOLD RUSH OF1897 Prospectors found gold Prospectors found gold

deposits in the Yukon River deposits in the Yukon River Americans and Canadians Americans and Canadians

alike rushed to the Klondike alike rushed to the Klondike hoping to strike rich.hoping to strike rich.

These settlers gave birth to These settlers gave birth to new towns like Dawson, which new towns like Dawson, which swiftly became the biggest swiftly became the biggest urban centers west of urban centers west of Winnipeg and north of Seattle, Winnipeg and north of Seattle, Washington. Washington.

New innovations, like electricity New innovations, like electricity and telephone service were and telephone service were brought to to Canada's North. brought to to Canada's North.

Settlers brought a particularly Settlers brought a particularly rowdy edge to the region, too. rowdy edge to the region, too. Saloons, dance halls and Saloons, dance halls and gambling dens opened to gambling dens opened to provide entertainment to provide entertainment to prospectors. prospectors.

ALASKAN BOUNDRY ALASKAN BOUNDRY DISPUTDISPUT

America buys Alaska from Russia in 1867America buys Alaska from Russia in 1867 1897 Gold rush in the Yukon Territory1897 Gold rush in the Yukon Territory Quickest way to get there was by steam shipQuickest way to get there was by steam ship Travel to the region became complicated for Canadian citizens because Travel to the region became complicated for Canadian citizens because

they would have to go through the U.S.they would have to go through the U.S. Canadians were afraid that Americans were over-asserting their authority Canadians were afraid that Americans were over-asserting their authority

over who could enter the Yukon. over who could enter the Yukon.

BOUNDRY TRIBUNALBOUNDRY TRIBUNAL 1903 Tribunal involving 3 1903 Tribunal involving 3

Americans, 2 Canadians, and Americans, 2 Canadians, and a British chief justice named a British chief justice named Lord Alverstone.Lord Alverstone.

Alverstone suggested a Alverstone suggested a compromise rather then anger compromise rather then anger the Americansthe Americans

The united states was able to The united states was able to keep most of the disputed land keep most of the disputed land in exchange for four islands in exchange for four islands that would now belong to that would now belong to Canada. Canada.

Canada also received slightly Canada also received slightly more territory just beyond the more territory just beyond the coastal edge of the deep coastal edge of the deep inland bays inland bays

Canada didn't get any land Canada didn't get any land along the coast itself along the coast itself

CANADA’S REACTIONCANADA’S REACTION

Canadians were angry, because they now felt Canadians were angry, because they now felt Britain was asserting its treaty rights over Britain was asserting its treaty rights over Canada. Canada.

Laurier responded by saying that there was Laurier responded by saying that there was little that Canada could do, since Britain still little that Canada could do, since Britain still exerted a great deal of parliamentary and exerted a great deal of parliamentary and judicial power over the country. judicial power over the country.

Because the gold rush ended in 1903 the Because the gold rush ended in 1903 the Canadian government didn't act to appeal this Canadian government didn't act to appeal this decision. decision.

STOP TO THINKSTOP TO THINK

What are your thoughts on the 1903 What are your thoughts on the 1903 tribunal? Was their final decision ‘fair’?tribunal? Was their final decision ‘fair’?

In this situation did compromise hurt or In this situation did compromise hurt or aid Canada and the development of the aid Canada and the development of the west? How come?west? How come?

THE WHEAT BOOMTHE WHEAT BOOM The west quickly became The west quickly became

the most dynamic the most dynamic element in economic element in economic growth.growth.

By 1903 the west By 1903 the west produced up to 80% of produced up to 80% of entire output of wheat.entire output of wheat.

This brought capital to the This brought capital to the region encouraging region encouraging urbanization.urbanization.

Increased Increased industrialisation in industrialisation in eastern Canada.eastern Canada.

URBANIZATIONURBANIZATION

Despite general attempts to get people to settle Despite general attempts to get people to settle in rural areas in Canada's West, about 50 per in rural areas in Canada's West, about 50 per cent of people actually settled in Canadian cent of people actually settled in Canadian cities (including Winnipeg, Edmonton, Montréal cities (including Winnipeg, Edmonton, Montréal and Toronto) where they took labour industry and Toronto) where they took labour industry jobs. Another 30 per cent went to rural farms in jobs. Another 30 per cent went to rural farms in the Prairies and the remaining 20 per cent or the Prairies and the remaining 20 per cent or so took remote jobs in mines, lumber camps or so took remote jobs in mines, lumber camps or on the railways. on the railways.

PROBLEMS LOOMINGPROBLEMS LOOMING

The Conservatives The Conservatives under Robert Borden under Robert Borden began to point out began to point out problems in the west.problems in the west.

These included: These included: corruption and social corruption and social problems connected problems connected with immigration with immigration (Integration). (Integration).

A NEW RAILROAD 1903A NEW RAILROAD 1903

The increase in industrialization and immigration The increase in industrialization and immigration revealed the limitations of the CPR.revealed the limitations of the CPR.

CPR could not transport everything produced by CPR could not transport everything produced by farmers.farmers.

CPR could not transport all immigrants to their CPR could not transport all immigrants to their destinations.destinations.

The western section (Winnipeg to the Pacific) would be The western section (Winnipeg to the Pacific) would be built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. (With Gov’t built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. (With Gov’t assistance.)assistance.)

The eastern section (Winnipeg to the Moncton) would The eastern section (Winnipeg to the Moncton) would be built by the federal gov’t and called the National be built by the federal gov’t and called the National Transcontinental railway.Transcontinental railway.

TWO MORE PROVINCESTWO MORE PROVINCES

Between 1897 and 1911, two million people Between 1897 and 1911, two million people came to Canada. By 1905, enough people came to Canada. By 1905, enough people were living in the Northwest Territories that the were living in the Northwest Territories that the federal government decided to create two new federal government decided to create two new provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan. provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

These provinces were given authority over These provinces were given authority over denominational schools, which caused the denominational schools, which caused the resignation of Sir Clifford Sifton as Minister of resignation of Sir Clifford Sifton as Minister of Immigration.Immigration.

EXIT CARDEXIT CARD

What were the cause and consequences of What were the cause and consequences of immigration in the west?immigration in the west?

What issues were faced with immigration in the What issues were faced with immigration in the west. Do you believe we are still faced today?west. Do you believe we are still faced today?

Which do you think is most significant event for Which do you think is most significant event for Canada at this time: immigration to the west, Canada at this time: immigration to the west, 1897 Gold Rush, Alaskan Boundary Dispute, 1897 Gold Rush, Alaskan Boundary Dispute, the Wheat Boom, the building of a new railroad the Wheat Boom, the building of a new railroad or two more provinces joining confederation? or two more provinces joining confederation? Justify your response.Justify your response.