Chapter 9: Growth in the West Pages: 197-212

Canada’s peoples Episode 10 NWMP – 6:34 – 14:59 Railway – 33:40 - 40:02

Chapter Overview Examine how the Government of Canada secured the land in it’s newest provinces/territories in the west. Examine how the Government of Canada planned to use the land wisely via the National Policy.

Key Concepts 1. How did the Government of Canada secure the land in the West? 2. Discuss the numbered treaties; what they are and how the goals were different for each party. 3. Assimilation Policy and Residential Schools. 4. How were the North West Mounted Police established? What was their role? 5. What were the three parts of the National Policy? Explain each one. 6. Discuss how immigration was influenced by the railroad and vice versa.

Key Terms Dominion’s Land Act Protective Tariff Residential School Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP) The National Policy Railway Immigration Section Three-Pronged Policy Townships Quarter section Diverse Whoop-Up Country Transcontinental

Natural Resources Natural resources have played a huge part in the development of Canada. It influenced where first nations people live. Europeans wound up there in search for China (for trade). Europeans stayed because of furs and fish. Once Canada became a country, one of it’s biggest resources was it’s land. The government wanted to control the land and make it safe for newcomers to the west (unlike USA’s west at the time). Goal of Government: Secure Land

Securing the Land Marking the Border 2) Signing Treaties with First Nations 3) Creating the Police Force

1) Marking the Border Surveyors planted an iron post every mile along the 49th parallel. Every 5 miles they built a mound of dirt.

2) Signing Treaties with First Nations Newcomers to the west brought big changes for First Nations people; decreasing buffalo, increasing population and increasing exposure to disease (and sometimes violence). Treaties were agreements signed between the Government of Canada and First Nations people. Goal of Government: Get control of land so as to increase immigration. Goal of First Nations: Protect rights to natural resources and land. Both groups signed, both having different understandings of what it was they signed. Read “Treaty Number 7”, page 270

There were different promises associated with each treaty…

The Treaties The treaties created 2300 reserves on which many First Nations people still live. Many challenges, including unemployment and lack of medical facilities, still plague reserves today. (Where are there reserves in this region?) Misunderstandings about treaty agreements are also still prevalent today. Land claims court cases are ongoing as First Nations people struggle to receive promises that they believe were made to them.

Assimilation: The Hidden Policy The Government did not share their goal of assimilation with First Nations people. Thousands of first nations children were taken from their homes and placed in residential schools. Here they were encouraged to become more like the European immigrants/descendents. Many children lost connection with their culture and family. Many children were exposed to various types of abuse. The Canadian government offered an official apology to Residential school survivors in 2010.

3) Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP) In America, First Nations people were killed for their land. Canada developed this police force to keep peace in the west. 36 First Nations people were killed by Americans in the Cypress Hill Massacre. PM MacDonald was convinced that the NWMP were necessary and were quickly sent there as well.

Role of NWMP Stop the illegal whisky trade Arrest lawbreakers Deliver mail Fight fires Assist farmers (They fought in the 2nd Metis Uprising in 1885) Examine perspectives on page: 201

Three Pronged Approach: The National Policy Now that the land in the west was secured, the government needed to use it effectively. Make a poster that represents the National Policy. Developed “The National Policy” A transportation policy – to build a railway across the continent An immigration policy – to encourage farmers to populate Western Canada An economic policy – to build a strong national economy for Canadians

1. A transportation policy Transcontinental railway: a railway that stretches across a continent

1. A transportation policy By building the railway, Canadians believed that: British Columbia would join Confederation The presence of a railroad would keep Americans out. See page 203 in your text. This map shows where the railroad was originally built.

1. A Transportation policy Building the Line A private company was hired to build the railroad Each kilometer cost about $500,000. The workers lived in poor conditions (they had to work through the summer heat with mosquitoes and flies buzzing around their heads and the cold, Canadian winter) Read about the role of Chinese Immigrants in the railway on page 204.

“Without the Chinese, there would be no railway” John A MacDonald

Answer the following questions in your notes while we view this site together: 1. How did the population changes in Canada correspond to the development of the railroad? 2. How did the Aboriginal population change with the railroad? 3. What connection did the numbered treaties have to the railroad? 4. What was Canada’s population when the construction on the railroad began? When was it once the railroad was completed? When the prairies became provinces in 1905, the population quickly increased, why? http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ssric/index.html

2. An Immigration Policy Needed immigrants to farm the land. 1872 – Dominions Land Act Any head of a family could apply for land (Any male 21 years and older) Each received a quarter of a section (160 acres) called a homestead A homestead cost $10 After 1882, women could apply too Each homesteader had to promise three things: To live on the land for at least six months of the year To build a house To start farming

3. An Economic Policy Government wanted to develop manufacturing in the East and farming in the West. Implemented a protective tariff Taxes on products crossing the border. American products would be more expensive, so the government hoped Canadians would spend their money on Canadian products. This would strengthen Canada’s economy.

EXAM April 9, 2014 DURING SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS 