The Canadian Pacific Railway The Chinese Workers

Building the CPR When the railway was being built in the 1800s, many Chinese men were hired to do the work.

Building the CPR

Building the CPR By 1885 there were 15,000 Chinese railway workers. They were paid $1.00 a day which was less than other workers. They had originally built railways in the USA. Emigrants from China hoping to make money to send home to their family. The Chinese workers faced more explosions, rock slides, cave-ins and disease than other workers. More than 600 Chinese workers died while building the BC section of the railway.

After the Railway After the railway was built, Chinese Canadians were treated with discrimination. They were charged a “head tax” of $50 per person which many couldn’t afford

After the Railway

Racist Policy The “Chinese Exclusion Act” was a government law which prevented them from bringing their wives and children to Canada

After the Railway

Your Task Chinese labourers who worked on the CPR were victims of unjust and racist policies and practices. Prove or disprove this statement in a PARAGRAPH… Use evidence from today’s notes and primary sources Minimum 5-7 sentences.