Canada in the 20th Century

1867 - Confederation In 1867, the Dominion of Canada was created. The provinces of the Dominion of Canada were Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. John A. MacDonald is Canada's first Prime Minister con·fed·er·a·tion - an organization that consists of a number of parties or groups united in an alliance or league

Why did these four provinces join Confederation? Manifest Destiny is a term for the attitude prevalent during the 19th century period of American expansion that the United States not only could, but was destined to, stretch from coast to coast. This attitude helped fuel Canada’s desire for western settlement. ( The U.S. is coming!) The End of free trade with the United States Canada needed more independence to deal equally with America and get the best trade deals. Building the railway– the promise of railways convinced many provinces to join Confederation. Manifest Destiny was one of the reasons that the settlement of the Canadian West occurred. To understand this one has to first understand what the situation was at that time in history. The Canadian Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald and many other politicians in Canada believed that if the West was not claimed by Canada the Americans would take over it. There were already illegal American traders in what was technically Canadian territory. In fact Macdonnald said that he would not even consider settling the West if it wasn't for the American threat of Manifest Destiny. Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_did_Manifest_Destiny_mean_in_the_settlement_of_Canada_West#ixzz1CwVICTDF

The British North American Act (1867) What is it? The document that created the country of Canada Divided the powers between the provinces and a national government Set up the forms of government, gave Canadians a degree of independence from Britain BUT still very closely tied to Britain The type of government established was a federal system which gave more power to the national level of government. Why would Provincial rights be important? The Provinces involved were all very different, and wanted to sustain their unique identity while still being part of Canada’s Provinces were given powers over education and religion. This was particularly important to the province of Quebec

1870 Canada purchases Rupert's Land (made up of Manitoba and North West Territories) from the Hudson’s Bay Company Metis uprising in Manitoba led by Louis Riel – Riel Rebellion, results in Manitoba Act, brings Manitoba into Confederation and guaranteed rights of language and religion. However, execution of Thomas Scott results in Riel fleeing to the United States. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5YrtvO7FDs http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPCONTENTSE1EP9CH2PA4LE.html

Marching towards the Twentieth Century – Timeline 1871 - BC becomes a province – Why? Because of the promise of a Railway 1872 - John A . MacDonald envisions a Canada that is connected from east to west (sea to sea) Transcontinental railway started 1873 - MacDonald defeated at polls amid cries of scandal over railroad contract. Alexander Mackenzie is first Liberal Prime Minister PEI becomes a province

1876 - The Native Treaties and the Indian Act In order to “settle the native question” the Canadian Government signed The Numbered Treaties which gave the natives certain concessions in exchange for taking all their land The Indian Act of 1876 denied Natives the right to vote, practice religious ceremonies and own property if they identified themselves as Status Natives. Residential Schools were established in 1890 to assimilate Native Children. Run by churches and/or the government, they stripped the Natives of their language, religion, customs and culture Assimilation – to become part of the dominant culture.

The Rights of the Native Peoples https://www. youtube. com/watch

The Rights of the Native Peoples Gord Downey The Secret Path https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGd764YU9yc The Rights of the Native Peoples

1878 MacDonald was re-elected Prime Minister on the basis of his National Policy which included: protective tariffs (tax added to American goods) completion of the railway Large-scale immigration to the west. Dominion Lands Act– For $10, any adult male can purchase 64 hectares of prairie farm land. They must construct a shelter and live on their land at least six months a year for three years.

1885 The CPR railway is completed but at the expense of 1500 Chinese lives. Federal government courted Chinese to come to Canada to perform the most dangerous tasks in the construction. Chinese were paid half the wages and continued to be discriminated against after construction was completed. North West Rebellion, quashed by MacDonald, Riel hung as traitor

Marching towards the Twentieth Century – Timeline Con’t 1896 - Wilfred Laurier became Canada’s 7th Prime Minister 1900 - Seven provinces, population of 5,200,000 most people were farmers, involved in logging fishing, and construction (new cities, sewer systems, railways)

Life at the Turn of the 20th Century Urbanization, New Technologies, Education, Discrimination, Mass Culture, Consumerism

What was Canada Like? In 1900 Canada only consisted of 7 provinces The population was 5,200,000 Toronto, Montreal and Halifax were the biggest cities The West was comprised of small pioneer cities like Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver

Canada at the Turn of the 20th Century 63% of the population lived in Rural areas Farming was the main occupation Logging, Fishing and Construction were also popular jobs Women worked as teachers, store clerks, in factories or on the farm

Community focused life… Lives were usually centered around family and the local community There was little entertainment outside the local sports teams and the church Travel was often limited to a horse and buggy

The Political Scene… The elections of 1896, which made Liberal Wilfrid Laurier prime minister On October 10, 1911, Sir Robert Borden became the 8th Prime Minister of Canada He was a Conservative who led Canada into WWI

The Economy Construction of railways fuelled the economic boom Under Laurier large-scale settlement of the West began The increasing demand for Canadian natural resources was a major reason for Canada's prosperity

The Immigration Wave Development of the West depended on increased immigration Laurier's government, worked continuously to promote Canadian immigration in both Europe and the United States by advertising “Free Land” Of the 2 million people who arrived in Canada between 1896-1911, approximately one million moved to the West New immigrants transformed the ethnic composition of the country

The “Last Best West” Thousands of British Children were being sent to Canada. Many come from orphanages, or were unwanted children of poor parents. Others were just sent away by the authorities without choice of the parents. It was believed that the farms would be a good place for the children to eat well, and learn life skills. Some took the children in and adopted them, but others used it as a cheap source of labor. They were to be cared for and sent to school through the winter, but many did not see the basic necessities of life. Some were beaten and force to live in barns and stables.

The “Last Best West”

The “Last Best West”

Adjusting to Life on the Prairies

Adjusting to Life on the Prairies

Urbanization Immigration also had great effects on industrial centers like Montreal and Toronto Cities across the country grew rapidly creating more and more jobs The working and living conditions of the laboring class was often poor City councils struggled to keep up with the growth i.e. transportation, housing and sanitation

 

Newcomers in the Cities

Urbanization con’t… Slums were created in many cities, with poverty, overcrowding and unsanitary conditions The Catholic Church saw the drawbacks of city life and felt that cities were “breeding grounds for disease and death”

Women’s Suffrage and Social Reform

Women’s Suffrage and Social Reform Nellie McClung At the turn of the century, women , Native Canadians, immigrants of Asian descent, and other newcomers to Canada, did not have many rights. None of the above had the right to vote, and there was very little equality. Before the invention of such things as the washing machine, housework and child rearing consumed much of the average women’s day. Large families were common, and the risk of death or disability at child birth was high. Educational expectations were low because most women did not work outside the home after marriage. Women were banned from professions like law, and they were not eligible for scholarships.

Women’s Suffrage and Social Reform Women’s suffrage came to the forefront in the Laurier era. Women's goal, the right to vote.

Women’s Suffrage and Social Reform Suffragist were also known as “maternal feminists” because they believed that female influence could change laws to improve the lives of women and children. The suffragist movement was a worldwide movement, but Canadian women generally were a bit more peaceful. The campaign was led by the Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association, which was supported by the National Council of Women of Canada, founded by Lady Aberdeen.

Women’s Suffrage and Social Reform The earliest successes for the suffragist movement came on the prairies. Some believe was a result of the hardships women went through in the west being right beside the men when settling and beginning a homestead. The west was the first to grant women’s suffrage.

Women’s Suffrage and Social Reform Nellie McClung was a well known suffragist. Campaigned for women’s rights. Was instrumental in the famous ‘Person's Case’ which saw Canadian women declared persons in 1929. She helped put on a play called ‘The Women's Parliament,’ a satire which turned the tables and poked fun at the dangers of giving men the right to vote. This was instrumental in getting women the right to vote in Manitoba first. Canada had the group know as the “famous five”. Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, Henrietta Edwards, Louise McKinney, and Irene Parlby.

Women’s Suffrage and Social Reform

Canadian Life 100 Years Ago

The Arrival of the Car 1901, automobiles appeared on the cover of the Eaton's catalogue for the first time. Within the next few years, automobiles become more affordable, and more were now being seen on Canadian streets. The profits to be made in the automobile industry were huge.

The Arrival of the Car Not everyone was happy about the coming of the car. 1908, P.E.I. banned the automobile on a claim that they tore up roads, and they frightened children and livestock. In BC the response was positive. Soon most Canadians realized that the car was a useful and reliable thing. 1908, Canada opened its first gas station in Vancouver as a result of the popular growth of the use of automobiles.

The Arrival of the Car

Soaring Through the Air The use of airplanes in Canada took much longer to catch on than the use of the automobile. Crashes were frequent, and most pilots did their own repairs and maintenance. The first successful flight in Canada was in 1909 in Baddeck, Nova Scotia. J.A.D. McCurdy was the pilot, and he flew a plane called the Silver Dart 10 meters above the ground for almost a kilometre at 30 km/hr.

Soaring Through the Air https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFQ6uK0TUoE

A Communications Revolution At the turn of the century, Canada was the world leader in telephone use. 1901 census counted over 300,000 phone lines. This was nearly twice as many per person as the US.

A Communications Revolution 1901, Canada received the first wireless telegraph from England on Signal Hill in Newfoundland. 1902, the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company was set up in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. 1907, Canadian inventor Frederick Fessenden transmitted the worlds first radio broadcast of music and voice.

A Communications Revolution Superior reception over water increased the use of wireless radio in shipping. 1912, the use of radios was increasing with the publicity surrounding the role they played in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSGeskFzE0s It was around this same time that new moving picture shows were coming out. The first public screening in Canada was in 1896. The viewers paid 10 cents to crowd into a hall in Ottawa to see several one-minute films showing people doing everyday things.

Arts and Leisure As a result of rapid industrialization and urbanization, spectator sports and outdoor recreation began to grow. 1909, first Grey Cup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6DDc3yYHpQ 1912, first Calgary Stampede. People watched Babe Ruth hit his first home run at Hanlan’s Point, Toronto. The emergence of the automobile also helped with the development of other outdoor activities like hiking and camping.

Arts and Leisure

Arts and Leisure

Arts and Leisure With the invention of the refrigerated rail car, a wider variety of foods were now available across the country. Taste in food began to change. 1910, processed foods like Heinz ketchup were common, and 5-cent chocolate bars went on sale. Soft drinks began to sweep across the nation much like they did in the US.

Arts and Leisure Coca Cola was now being marketed as a soft drink and not a medicine. John McLaughlin, a Toronto pharmacist, developed Canada Dry Ginger Ale. It seemed as though Canada was truly coming of age!