Canada: A Changing Society Canada at the Turn of the Century

Life at the Turn of the Century Huge inequalities between the rich and the poor. The rich were very rich. Taxes were so low that they were left with most of their money to spend. It went to houses, horses, carriages and luxuries. However, most Canadians used gas or kerosene lamps and cooked on wood burning stoves. Most did not have electricity or running water. Most lived in little wood houses and often 2 to 3 generations lived under the same roof.

Average Canadians

Education Wealthy children could look forward to an education. Children of farming or working class families often had to leave school (if they went to school at all) to work on the farms or in the factories. Farming families needed the extra hands during harvest times. In 1871 Ontario passed a law saying all children must at least get an elementary education. By 1900 all provinces, except Quebec, had laws that required all children between 7 and 12 to attend school

Health Care Drinking water came from unpurified rivers and lakes. There were no sewers to take away waste, people just through it in the streets. Rats and lice infested houses. These conditions led to sickness and high death rates. Most children died because of poor diet and lack of medical attention. Most of the medicines we have today were not invented yet.

Aboriginal Peoples By 1900’s their traditional ways of life were disappearing. Many had been forced to move onto reserves. The Indian Act, introduced in 1876 was designed to eventually assimilate or absorb Aboriginal people into Canadian society. The Aboriginals did not want to give up their traditions or way of life. The government started outlawing them to force the Aboriginals to assimilate.

Residential Schools Aboriginal children were sent to live in special residential schools run by missionaries. They were not allowed to speak their own languages or follow their cultural practices. Rules were strict and punishment was severe. Few children gained a good education and most were ill-treated. The schools broke the connection between children, parents and culture. Aboriginal ways were lost and forgotten.

Industrial Revolution The development of industrial machines was one of the greatest changes in the 1900’s. Electricity brought a source of power that was cheap. Factories could produce goods faster, cheaper and in greater quantities. Inventors developed new machines to increase production. In Canada factories pumped out clothing, shoes, canned foods, tools and farm implements.