Alexander Mackenzie An Actual Nation Builder

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Early Years Born Jan , in Scotland Born Jan , in Scotland Emigrated to Canada in 1842 to follow his sweetheart, Helen Neil Emigrated to Canada in 1842 to follow his sweetheart, Helen Neil Trained as a stone mason Trained as a stone mason Crossed the ice every Saturday night to visit Helen, who was living with her parents in Kingston Crossed the ice every Saturday night to visit Helen, who was living with her parents in Kingston One night, Mackenzie arrived half-frozen and soaking wet, haven fallen through the ice in the darkness One night, Mackenzie arrived half-frozen and soaking wet, haven fallen through the ice in the darkness He continued his visits, but carried a pole to help him out of the lake! He continued his visits, but carried a pole to help him out of the lake!

Early Years Cont… Forced to leave school at age 13 to help his family by working Forced to leave school at age 13 to help his family by working He challenged himself his whole life to make up for his lack of formal schooling He challenged himself his whole life to make up for his lack of formal schooling He read literature, studied history, politics and philosophy He read literature, studied history, politics and philosophy This drive is what eventually led him into politics This drive is what eventually led him into politics He was against the stratified society that existed at the time and wanted equality He was against the stratified society that existed at the time and wanted equality He felt that what a man did was not important merely the pride in how well he performed his duties He felt that what a man did was not important merely the pride in how well he performed his duties

A Nation “Builder” As a stone mason he helped build many places in Canada As a stone mason he helped build many places in Canada A bomb-proof stone arch at Fort Henry in Kingston A bomb-proof stone arch at Fort Henry in Kingston The Beauharnois Canal near Montreal The Beauharnois Canal near Montreal The Welland Canal in Ontario The Welland Canal in Ontario Martello towers at Fort Henry Martello towers at Fort Henry Episcopal Church and bank in Sarnia Episcopal Church and bank in Sarnia Courthouses and jails in Chatham Courthouses and jails in Chatham

Nation Builder Cont… Once as PM he visited Fort Henry and was given a tour Once as PM he visited Fort Henry and was given a tour He asked the tour guide how thick the walls were and the guide was stumped He asked the tour guide how thick the walls were and the guide was stumped Mackenzie answered they were five feet ten inches thick and that he knew that because he built them Mackenzie answered they were five feet ten inches thick and that he knew that because he built them This was the pride that a simple stone mason took in his work This was the pride that a simple stone mason took in his work

A Man of Principles Mackenzie’s Scottish background as a stonemason gave him different political ideals than most of the pro-British politicians in our country at the time Mackenzie’s Scottish background as a stonemason gave him different political ideals than most of the pro-British politicians in our country at the time Believed in the equality of man, and was personally against all titles Believed in the equality of man, and was personally against all titles This is why he was never knighted, while offered knighthood three times he refused each time This is why he was never knighted, while offered knighthood three times he refused each time

Election of 1874 His belief in earning your job was evident when he called an election in 1874 His belief in earning your job was evident when he called an election in 1874 While PM because of Macdonald’s resignation, Mackenzie felt he had not earned the job While PM because of Macdonald’s resignation, Mackenzie felt he had not earned the job So to get his own mandate he called the election of 1874 So to get his own mandate he called the election of 1874

Mackenzie Campaign Mackenzie campaigned with 3 basic promises. Mackenzie campaigned with 3 basic promises. 1.Election Reform: secret ballot, same day voting, enfranchising more than property holders. 2.Constitutional Reform: less dependence on Britain and the beginning of Canadian identity. 3.Fiscal Responsibility: global recession and so the Liberals under Mackenzie promised to cut funding to save money.

Elections of 1874 Also used issue of Pacific Scandal to discredit the opposition Also used issue of Pacific Scandal to discredit the opposition Mackenzie wins and defeats John A. Macdonald’s conservatives Mackenzie wins and defeats John A. Macdonald’s conservatives PEI 6-0, NS 17-4, NB 11-5, QUE 33-32, ONT 64-24, MAN 2-2, BC 0-6 PEI 6-0, NS 17-4, NB 11-5, QUE 33-32, ONT 64-24, MAN 2-2, BC 0-6

Mackenzie’s Reign There was a global recession and Mackenzie wanted to increase trade with the US There was a global recession and Mackenzie wanted to increase trade with the US He sent a delegate to the U.S. seeking reciprocity, but was denied He sent a delegate to the U.S. seeking reciprocity, but was denied This hurt the government because less trade means less income from tariffs This hurt the government because less trade means less income from tariffs

Reign Cont… Mackenzie decides no money to build Pacific Railway Mackenzie decides no money to build Pacific Railway Breaks his promise to begin construction within two years Breaks his promise to begin construction within two years This angers many in B.C. and they begin talks of leaving Canada and possibly joining U.S.A. This angers many in B.C. and they begin talks of leaving Canada and possibly joining U.S.A. The Gov. General goes to calm B.C. down. The Gov. General goes to calm B.C. down. Mackenzie sees this as intrusion into affairs of Canada and now launches attack against the powers of the British Crown in Canada Mackenzie sees this as intrusion into affairs of Canada and now launches attack against the powers of the British Crown in Canada

Cont… Gov General’s powers reduced to ceremonial duties only Gov General’s powers reduced to ceremonial duties only Mackenzie now decides on policy of rail line to B.C. Mackenzie now decides on policy of rail line to B.C. There’s no money to build continuous link, so he will build series of smaller ones then connect to river highway systems. There’s no money to build continuous link, so he will build series of smaller ones then connect to river highway systems. This he feels will be effective, cheaper compromise. This he feels will be effective, cheaper compromise. Now Mackenzie has broken the B.C. Act Now Mackenzie has broken the B.C. Act

Manitoba and the West He now breaks Manitoba Act. He now breaks Manitoba Act. Métis can only keep their land if they show clear title to it. Métis can only keep their land if they show clear title to it. Most cannot since they have no real document to prove this. Most cannot since they have no real document to prove this. HBC never issued deeds so no proof. HBC never issued deeds so no proof.

Manitoba Cont… Also, he says all land must be permanently settled. Also, he says all land must be permanently settled. This goes against their semi-nomadic lifestyle. This goes against their semi-nomadic lifestyle. Most Métis forced to give up their land or choose to rather than live this way. Most Métis forced to give up their land or choose to rather than live this way. They move further west into Saskatchewan. They move further west into Saskatchewan.

Manitoba and the West Cont… Mackenzie also revokes the clause of the Manitoba Act that gave 1.4 million acres of land to the descendants of the Métis. Mackenzie also revokes the clause of the Manitoba Act that gave 1.4 million acres of land to the descendants of the Métis. Thus Mackenzie opens up red river for settlement. Thus Mackenzie opens up red river for settlement. He now works on rest of the west. He now works on rest of the west. At this time smallpox epidemics are wiping out the Natives in Canada’s west. While he did not start them, he does little to help either. At this time smallpox epidemics are wiping out the Natives in Canada’s west. While he did not start them, he does little to help either.

Cont… He also purposely supports the decimation of the buffalo to starve the natives into submission. He also purposely supports the decimation of the buffalo to starve the natives into submission. Eventually in exchange for their land, tribes sign treaties to move to reservations and be taken care of by the government. Eventually in exchange for their land, tribes sign treaties to move to reservations and be taken care of by the government. By 1877 most of Canada’s West is wide open for settlement. By 1877 most of Canada’s West is wide open for settlement.

High Points Not everything he did was bad…far from it Not everything he did was bad…far from it He started the Northwest Mounted Police to patrol the West and keep out the bootleggers from the U.S. He started the Northwest Mounted Police to patrol the West and keep out the bootleggers from the U.S. Canada’s supreme court in 1875 Canada’s supreme court in 1875 The R.M.C. (Canada can have its own military officers) The R.M.C. (Canada can have its own military officers) Elections Act (guarantees freer elections) Elections Act (guarantees freer elections) Auditor General Auditor General

However, t’was not enough Despite all his efforts he could not fix the economy Despite all his efforts he could not fix the economy The global depression is still going strong, and the Liberals are starting to be blamed for this The global depression is still going strong, and the Liberals are starting to be blamed for this Macdonald realized that a lot of people were becoming disenfranchised with the Liberals, and there was an opportunity to develop a new policy Macdonald realized that a lot of people were becoming disenfranchised with the Liberals, and there was an opportunity to develop a new policy

Macdonald’s National Policy Macdonald argued that if the U.S. would not lower their tariffs allowing free trade, then we should raise ours against them allowing our industries to grow Macdonald argued that if the U.S. would not lower their tariffs allowing free trade, then we should raise ours against them allowing our industries to grow This would hurt the farmers of the West, and the Maritimes, but the industries of Ontario and Quebec love the idea This would hurt the farmers of the West, and the Maritimes, but the industries of Ontario and Quebec love the idea Macdonald further realized that a lot of Canadians were becoming alarmed at the amount of anti-British sentiment that seemed to permeate through Mackenzie’s policies. Macdonald further realized that a lot of Canadians were becoming alarmed at the amount of anti-British sentiment that seemed to permeate through Mackenzie’s policies. Macdonald plays on the British attitude to win over these people as well. Macdonald plays on the British attitude to win over these people as well. With these two policies amalgamated together, the National Policy is born. With these two policies amalgamated together, the National Policy is born.

Elections of 1878 As 1878 approaches, Macdonald has his policy to fight the Liberals with As 1878 approaches, Macdonald has his policy to fight the Liberals with BC is anit-Liberal due to the railway fiasco BC is anit-Liberal due to the railway fiasco Manitoba dislikes the Liberal’s treatment of the Manitoba Act, and they want the railway too Manitoba dislikes the Liberal’s treatment of the Manitoba Act, and they want the railway too Ontario and Quebec like the new National Policy because it is good for business Ontario and Quebec like the new National Policy because it is good for business

1878 Election Results Macdonald is back. Macdonald is back. Macdonald seen as the pro-British, pro-industry, pro -Canadian development choice Macdonald seen as the pro-British, pro-industry, pro -Canadian development choice The results of the election were The results of the election were Mackenzie resigns as leader of the liberal party and is replaced by Edward Blake in 1880 Mackenzie resigns as leader of the liberal party and is replaced by Edward Blake in 1880 Mackenzie does remain an MP until his death in 1892 Mackenzie does remain an MP until his death in 1892