 Saskatchewan and Alberta were new provinces (1905).  Canada’s population in 1911 was 7.2 million (34 million today).

 Canada’s ethnic composition was English-Canadian (Protestants) and French Canadian (Catholics).  Of course Aboriginal Peoples were around but ignored/forgotten.

 Most Canadians lived on farms or in small villages not in cities = rural; horse and buggy; trains; farmers, fishers, loggers, construction workers.  People influenced by attitudes of Victorian England – moral strictness, prudish, racist.

 Urbanization - Cities were growing = factories, jobs.  The divide between the rich and poor was growing.

 Factory owners got rich - lived in big houses.  Factory workers were poorly paid ( poor ) – lived in slums.

 Timber/Forestry: 1. construction 2. pulp and paper  Minerals/MIning: › copper, iron, nickel  Wheat production + export/Agriculture  Factories/Industry: › Product manufacturing

 Trains: linked Canada coast to coast.  Trade Unions: pressed for better wages, safety conditions, strikes.

 Far fewer government services – e.g. there was no social assistance, Medicare, E.I., etc.  The death penalty existed and was enforced for some crimes (i.e. BC: death by handing for murder; last execution in BC was in 1959 at Oakalla Prison in Burnaby).

 Women had few legal rights ; divorce was rare, could not own property.  Women couldn’t vote – the suffragists (the people – women and men - who fought for the right to vote) struggled to gain this right for women = got the vote in 1918.

 Fight Fire with Fire = Canada: A People’s History (5 mins)  Bad Romance: Women’s Suffrage (USA) (5 mins)  QhRCs9IHM&feature=player_embedd ed QhRCs9IHM&feature=player_embedd ed

 Canada was a country (July 1, 1867) but Britain still controlled our foreign affairs – e.g. the Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903).  Canada was part of the British Empire and most English-Canadians considered themselves British – e.g. support for Britain in the Boer War ( ).

 French-Canadians tended to be nationalists – Canada should be more independent from Britain – e. g. opposition to involvement in Boer War.  Language rights were an issue – rights to French language instruction in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta; Catholic schools were lost/reduced.

 Is a policy of extending control or authority over foreign countries/regions as a means of gaining resources and/or maintenance/expanding of empires.  This is either through direct territorial conquest or settlement, or through indirect methods of exerting control on the politics and/or economy.

 The term is used to describe the policy of a nation's dominance over distant lands, regardless of whether the nation considers itself part of the empire.  The "Age of Imperialism" usually refers to the Old Imperialism period starting from 1860, when major European states started colonizing the other continents.

 Colonization occurs whenever there is a large-scale migration of any one or more groups of people to a colonial area.  The migrants, who can also be called settlers of colonizers, keep "strong links" with their previous country, and thus obtain privileges over other people (Aboriginals) living in the area being colonized.

 Is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture ; the viewpoint that “one’s own group is the center of everything,” against which all other groups are judged.  Today we call it racism / racial discrimination.

 In the United States foreigners or immigrants that are not considered residents are called "aliens" and in the case they do not hold a legal status within the country they are called "illegal aliens".

 Sir Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh PM of Canada from 1896 to  He was a member of the Liberal Party.

 Born on November 20, 1841; died on February 17,  Laurier led Canada during “The Laurier Era” = a period of rapid growth, industrialization, and immigration.

 He was married to Zoe Lafontaine.  He apparently had a “mistress,” Émilie Lavergne.  It is rumoured they had two children together.

 Clifford Sifton: Minister of the Interior (aka Immigration) under Sir Wilfrid Laurier.  He was responsible for encouraging the massive amount of immigration in Canada first decade of the 20th century.

 Under the Laurier government, Clifford Sifton created a new policy: “ The Last Best West.”  Canada’s ethnic composition was about to change, slightly.

 Sifton looked for immigrants that would have what it takes to be a ‘Canadian farmer’ on the Prairies.  Many immigrants came from central and eastern Europe (i.e. Russia, Ukraine, Poland) - they were promised free land and freedom of religion.

 Not everyone was welcomed to Canada.  Many newcomers faced discrimination because of ethnocentrism.  Eastern Europeans were ridiculed and scorned for their customs.

 Other immigrants were outright denied and/or strongly discouraged to settle in Canada.  These groups included the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Indians (East Indians), and Africans.

 Since First Contact Aboriginal Peoples were denied their rights and discriminated against; this continued in the Laurier Era via the government following policies/decisions:

› Indian Act, 1876 › Reserves/loss of traditional territories › Residential Schools › Assimilation/Cultural Genocide

 Residential Schools Impact + Apology (7 mins)  KPE_urY8A KPE_urY8A  Propaganda, 1955 (3 mins)  V4d7sXoqU V4d7sXoqU

 X-rays, rubber gloves, face masks  Bicycles  Telephone  Radio  Automobiles  Electric tram/trolley  Mechanization – factories assembly line  Refrigerated railcars  Gas engines  Magic lantern - slide show projector (movie theatres)  Airplane  Stereoscope – projector (at home)  New greats: Athletes, Novelists, Artists

 Just as Laurier became PM, he was already putting his compromising stamp on Canadian issues.  The question in Manitoba was:  Which was the right language of instruction (English or French) for schools?

 In Manitoba in 1870, there were two provincially funded school systems - the French Roman Catholic school board and the English Protestant school board.

 In 1890, due to a shortage of funds, the Manitoban government passed the Manitoba Schools Act, eliminating the two school systems and replacing them with an English-speaking public school system, since 85% of Manitobans were of English descent.

 French-Canadians felt that the removal of schools teaching their language and cultural values was extremely unfair.

 Prime Minister Sir Charles Tupper, proposed a Remedial Bill to restore the French Catholic school board.  But Tupper was replaced by Sir Wilfred Laurier in the 1896 election.

 Laurier who proposed a compromise: › Roman Catholic instruction would be provided at the end of the day, and instruction in the French language was provided for classes with more than 10 French students.

 French Canadian Majority.  1900 – English Canadian Majority.  Most new immigrants strongly connected to Britain and her empire.  Canadian Flag, 1867

 Great sense of British Nationalism.  French-Canadians feel threatened by British majority – especially in politics.  Laurier: How do you please your French-Canadian supporters while also pleasing the English-Canadian majority?

 British are fighting the Dutch Afrikaners over South Africa – diamonds and gold.  British turn to their empire, and ask Canada to support them.

 Canada divided: › French Canadians –No (Nationalist) › English Canadians – Yes (Imperialists)  Sir Wilfrid Laurier compromises: › Sends only volunteers.

› 1. Shows how French and English Canada is divided. › 2. Shows Canada’s strong ties to Britain and Empire. › 3. Foreshadows Canada’s involvement in WW1.

 The Alaska boundary dispute, took place between Canada and the USA over the boundary of the Alaska Panhandle running south to latitude 54°40' north on the coast of BC.

 Boundary existed when the USA purchased Alaska from Russia in  The US claimed a continuous stretch of coastline, unbroken by the deep fiords of the region = Slogan: 54°40‘ or Fight!

 Canada demanded control of the heads of certain fiords, especially the Lynn Canal, which gave access to the Yukon for the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897.

 In 1903 to an international tribunal (trial), was held.  There were 3 American and 2 Canadian judges = each were obviously committed to their side.

 The sixth judge from England, supported the American claim for a boundary = Canada lost.

 In protest the Canadian judges refused to sign the award, issued 20 October 1903, and violent anti-British feeling erupted in Canada.

 Irritated at the decision, Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier asserted that Canada's lack of treaty- making power made it difficult to maintain its rights internationally.

Dreadnought

 Britain was in an naval arms race with Germany (battleships – dreadnoughts)  Britain turns to her empire, asks Canada to send $$ for more ships.

 Canada divided : › French Canadians – No › English Canadians – Yes  Laurier compromises: › Establishes Canada’s navy = “tin-pot navy.”

› 1. Shows how French and English Canada is divided › 2. Shows Canada’s strong ties to Britain and Empire › 3. Laurier looses the 1911 to Sir Robert Borden and his Conservatives.

 Canada elects the Conservatives and Sir Robert Borden as their Prime Minister in  Sir Robert Borden will lead Canada through WW1.

 Canada’s Immigration Policies  Women’s Rights  Aboriginal Rights