Canadian History: Grade 10 Canada and the World Canadian History: Grade 10

Imperialism Imperialism: The policy of having colonies and building an empire Four things the colonies provided for Britain: Raw material Market for manufactured goods Military strength for the empire a great deal of prestige

Immigration to Canada Immigration: The movement of people into a country from other countries. Why: Push Factors (reasons for leaving the country) poor economic conditions/hardships lack of employment lack of land to farm/own religious/political problems Pull Factors (reasons for coming to another country) advertisements of free land job opportunities reunification with family members religious and political stability

Canada’s Immigration Policy In 1896, Sir Clifford Sifton became the minister of the interior in charge of immigration for Laurier’s Liberal government. Sifton launched an aggressive “open door” policy to help bring immigrants into Canada to settle the prairies and help build the nation. He used several methods: Ads – placed in British and U.S. newspapers showing the benefits of settling in the West. Pamphlets and pictures – circulated in East Europe. Agents – sent to Europe to “sell” farmers on the idea of immigrating. Free sight-seeing trips – offered to American farmers showing them the prairies. Free Land – 160 acres of free land to all newcomers.

Sifton Despite his “open door” policy, Sifton did not encourage Asians, Blacks, Jews, and city-dwellers to come to Canada because he believed they would not make successful prairie farmers. This policy was known as selective immigration as some groups were encouraged to come to Canada and others were not. Sifton’s immigration policy was so successful that within ten years two million immigrants came to Canada from 1901-1911 with most coming from the United States, Britain, and Eastern Europe

Other Reasons for Successful Immigration In addition to Sifton’s advertising campaign, a number of other factors helped draw immigrants to Canada. A new strain of wheat called “marquis wheat” was developed that took only 100 days to ripen for harvest. It was well suited for the Canadian growing season because it could withstand the cold and ripen before the frost hit in the fall.

Several new tools were invented that made wheat farming more efficient and profitable The “chilled steel plow” could cut through the tough prairie sod which had been baked by the hot sun. Steam engines replaced horses and oxen in running machines The railway boxcar was developed so that large amounts of grain could be moved in bulk to the great lakes or ocean ports and then shipped worlds-wide. Canada now had a transcontinental railroad system for transporting grain and other farm and factory products for shipping to markets overseas

Laurier had to walk a “tightrope” when it came to imperialism because: French Canadians felt little sense of pride or responsibility in belonging to the British empire. Policies that Laurier created had to be popular with both French and English Canadians.

Sir Wilfred Laurier (1896 – 1911) Mr. Compromise

Manitoba School Question First real challenge to finding an answer to please all sides came when French-speaking and English speaking Manitobans disagreed over funding for Roman Catholic schools. French Canadians were angry because when Manitoba entered Confederation in 1870, they were guaranteed bilingualism and separate Catholic schools and Ottawa would take action if the rights of this minority were threatened. However, in 1890 Manitoba passes the Manitoba Schools Act in the province which made English the only language of instruction. The English majority supported the provincial government because it would be cheaper than a dual system and would help immigrants assimilate. The French minority felt their rights were being violated and that French in general would be a minority in Canada.

The Compromise Before the courts for years, Laurier finally stepped in with an approach referred to as “the sunny way”. Manitobans would not have to support a Catholic separate school board, but the public system would have to offer instruction in French if 10 or more students were enrolled and their parents asked for it. They would also allow for 30 minutes of religious instruction if parent requested it.

French Canadians were left feeling bitter as they felt their rights were only the same as newly arrived immigrants. English Manitobans felt too much had been given to the French minority.

The Boer War The Boers (Dutch colonists) in South Africa discovered gold and diamonds. Soon British settlers rushed to the area to claim the wealth, and fighting broke out between the two groups. The issue for Canada was Imperialism The British sent in soldiers to stop the Boers but needed more troops than they had available. Britain turned to its colonies, including Canada, to send troops as “proof of the unity of the Empire” = Imperialism

South Africa

Reactions: English- Of British descent and loyal to the mother country. They were excited to join in the fight and said yes to the request French- Had no ties to Britain and therefore no loyalty. They did not want to fight in a British war and said no to the request.

Laurier's Compromise Laurier’s solution to the British request was to equip and transport 1000 volunteers who would be part of the British forces when they arrived in Africa. In the end, Canada sent 7,300 troops and spent over 2.8 million in support of the crown!

Reactions: English: Disappointed because not enough men and equipment sent. French: Disappointed because too much was done to help Britain. In spite of the Boer War debate, Laurier was re-elected in the1900 election.

The Alaskan Boundary Dispute The British Columbia/Alaskan boundary in the Alaskan Panhandle had been in dispute since 1825 Americans purchased from Russia in 1867 When gold was discovered in the Yukon Territory in 1898, the Alaskan Panhandle became important because whoever owned these ports could charge customs taxes on all goods going into the area and all gold leaving the area. The situation over ownership became so tense that the Americas were willing to send troops to support their claim of ownership over the Panhandle.

The Decision To settle the dispute, a joint commission was set up in 1903 consisting of: 3 U.S., 2 Canadian, and 1 British judge to determine ownership of the Alaskan Panhandle. Laurier expected the British judge, (Lord Alverstone) to support Canada’s claim, but instead he voted with the US. After one month the vote was 4-2 against Canada. The British judge voted with the Americans because of growing problems with Germany and Britain needed to have a friendly relationship with the U.S. in the event of war in Europe.

Final Boundary

Reaction Canadians saw the British decision to back the American claim as a stab in the back to a loyal colony that supported Britain in the Boer War. Canadians were outraged and angry with Britain. Also, an anti-American feeling spread through Canada as many people saw the U.S. as a conqueror of Canadian territory In 1909 an international Joint Commission was set up to peacefully handle any disputes between Canada and the United States. Canada would become more determined to ensure that Canada must make its own decision-making in the future.

The Naval Crisis In 1909, Britain was facing a possible war with Germany. Both nations were engaged in a Naval race to build the largest navy with the most powerful ships. Britain asked Canada and the other Dominions (former British colonies) to contribute funds to Britain so she could build more ships and not fall behind Germany in the naval race to have the largest most powerful navy. Laurier had two choices: (1) Give money to build the British Navy (2) Build Canada’s own Navy

Naval Service Bill Laurier decided to build a navy for Canada under control of the Canadian government. There would be five cruisers and six destroyers built with naval bases on each coast. If there was an emergency, Canada would place the navy under the control of the British with the consent of Canada’s parliament. All crew on these ships lent to Britain in war would be volunteers. Service in the navy would be voluntary.

Reaction: English Canadians and Conservative Party leader Robert Borden thought that Canada should have given the money to Britain in its time of need, rather than build a “tin-pot Canadian navy”. French Canadians including Henri Bourassa complained that as a result of promising to lend to Britain our navy, Canadians could be sent anywhere, anytime to fight Britain’s imperialist wars.

Borden

Reciprocity

Reciprocity Reciprocity is an arrangement between 2 countries who have agreed to trade certain goods without tariffs or taxes on them. Today we call reciprocity free trade.

Cause: In 1910, western farmers demanded lower taxes/tariffs on certain goods traded between Canada and the U.S. The reason was that freight rates on the railways to ship grain and supplies east-west was high. Also, banks charged high interest rates on loans and farmers were barely able to pay them back after paying the expensive freight charges.

Trade with the U.S. would mean a North-South movement of goods and grain, thereby not using the expensive Canadian railway system and allowing farmers to keep more of their profits. North-South trade would also allow farmers and consumers to buy cheaper U.S. goods. Reciprocity would make this North-South trade possible.

Laurier’s Reciprocity Deal: Laurier proposed that Canadian products of farms, fisheries, forests, and mines be allowed in to the U.S. tariff free or tax free. In return, U.S. items coming into Canada, such as farm tools, automobiles, building materials, and canned goods be allowed in with lower tariffs.

For Reciprocity: (a) Laurier and the Liberal Party (b) farmers (c) fisheries (d) forestry and mining (e) Canadian Consumers

Against Reciprocity: Those who feared reciprocity included Clifford Sifton, Laurier’s right hand man, as well as: (1) Wealthy Liberals, (2) Business people, (3) manufacturers, and (3) bankers (4) Railways These groups feared that cheaper goods from the U.S. would put manufacturers and the railway out of business. Canadian nationalists thought that Canadian resources should be kept at home and not shipped across the border.

U.S. President Taft In the United States, president Taft was excited about reciprocity, seeing Canada as parting away from Britain, and Champ Clarke said that he hoped some day to see it as part of the U.S.

PHOTO: Captioned "Helping Sam", this anti-reciprocity cartoon, published shortly before the 1911 election, portrays Laurier reigning in Canadian resources to the benefit of the Americans. "Sir Wilfrid-'Whoa now; Sam wants to milk you.'" The Province

End of Laurier After word reached Canada of Taft and Clarke’s comments, the Conservatives mounted an anti-American, pro-British policy arguing that reciprocity would mean an economic takeover of Canada by the U.S. In the 1911 election, Robert Borden and the Conservative party defeated Laurier and the Liberals on the issue of reciprocity and the Naval Service Bill. Reciprocity was dead and so was the Laurier era!

Immigrants, Minorities, and Racism Was the immigration policy of Frank Oliver fair? Who was not allowed into Canada according to Oliver’s policy? P. 24 Identify the following terms: P. 37 and P. 412 discrimination anti-Semitism segregation racism Why did Jewish people want to escape Russia and come to Canada? Where did the largest group settle? How were they treated? P. 37 Why did black people come to Canada in the 19th century? How did many of them arrive in Canada? P. 37 Name at least two prominent Black Canadians and name the contribution that they made to Canadian society? P. 39 Name two reasons why Chinese immigrants came to Canada? What jobs were they given? How were they treated on these jobs? How many died working on the railroad? P. 39 What was the Piggery? P. 40 Why were English and French Canadians suspicious of Ukrainian immigrants? P. 41 What was a reserve, why was it created, and what were the conditions on reserves? P. 41-42