Railway, Pacific Scandal, Macdonald and Mackenzie The national Dream Railway, Pacific Scandal, Macdonald and Mackenzie

What was The National Dream? John A. Macdonald had a dream to create a single Dominion of Canada stretching from sea to sea connected by the CPR.

American Threat Still Present Macdonald worried about Americans taking over the Canadian prairies This railroad had to be built quickly to halt American expansionism and risk of assimilation of Canada by the US.

British Columbia Entered Confederation 1871 Condition for joining Canada was the promise of a rail line linking BC to the rest of Canada within 10 years

What was Blocking The Dream? Macdonald knew that the Canadian government did not have the resources to complete such a massive project few investors rich enough to finance such a huge project.

Building the railway Macdonald decided that he would have to offer incentives to wealthy business men and railway owners Canadian Pacific Railway Company 1871 American industrialist Jay Cooke Canadian industrialist Sir Hugh Allan Seemed to be Canadian but actually controlled by American industrialist Jay Cooke American control kept secret so the Canadian government would not end the project

Allan’s Railway Plan Allan and his American backers didn’t want to build a transcontinental railway Wanted to build a branch line of the American Northern Pacific Railway to Canada’s Northern Pacific.

Pacific Scandal 1872 In 1872, Macdonald called the first general election since Confederation. But uh oh- the Conservatives realized that they did not have enough money for a campaign

Scandalous Macdonald bribed Canadian industrialist Sir Hugh Allan with the transcontinental contract Allan would finance the election in return for a guaranteed railway contract.

Busted! - result of scandal Macdonald won 1872 election- BUT: 1873 Evidence surfaced of the deal Looked like Macdonald was employed by Allan and his American backers seen as an American puppet backstabbing Canada led to the resignation of Macdonald’s government in 1873.

Alexander Mackenzie Prime Minister under Liberal Party who though railroad a waste of time and money economic depression beginning in Canada Threatened confederation BC threatened to secede if Mackenzie stopped railroad Mackenzie backed down

Return of the King! 1876 Macdonald developed the National Policy Conservative election platform Policy 1. Protective tariffs 2. Increased Immigration 3. CPR- transcontinental railway 1878 Election Macdonald and his Conservatives win!

Protective tariffs Protective tariffs protect Canadian manufacturing, mining and agriculture from American competition Made US goods too expensive for the Canadian market Canadian farmers and manufacturers increase sales and profits

Canadian Pacific Railway The CPR was the cornerstone of the National Policy The railway would transport goods in between Western and Easter Canada Canadian Pacific Railway

The government gave the CPR contract to a syndicate. George Stephen Bank of Montreal Donald Smith HBC James J. Hill Railway Investor The government gave the CPR contract to a syndicate. A group of men who received 25 million dollars, 25 million acres, a 20 year monopoly on railway building in the west, and a tax exemption. In return, they promised to finish the CPR within 10 years.

CPR in the Selkirk Mountains

Laying track on the prairies

Building the CPR through thick BC forest

10 Year Goal Hard to Meet Construction began 1881 construction was extremely challenging very hard rock that took lots of blasting muskeg soil swallowed up the track like quicksand. By years end only 230km built

On November 7, 1885, Donald Smith drove the last spike of the CPR at Craigellachie. A village in British Columbia, located several kilometers to the west of the Eagle Pass summit between Sicamous and Revelstoke

CPR Working Conditions dust from the dynamite blasts shack houses No plumbing Unhealthy diet of beans, porridge, and bacon could not afford fresh fruit and vegetables, so many of the men suffered from scurvy no medical facilities Fired if you got hurt 40 km hikes to next camp site Dangerous work!