Chapter 1 Canada in 1867

What is Confederation The process of uniting Canada.

The Fathers of Confederation The 1867 Project takes Canadian civic design back to the year of Confederation. With a modern frame of reference it attempts to construct an ideal system of government. This project is about constructing an ideal civic environment for Canadian society to exist within.

The Three Colonies who Joined the Confederation Nova Scotia New Brunswick The Province of Canada ( which was immediately divided into two provinces, Ontario and Quebec)

Reasons for Confederation British North America wants to move from being a “colony” to a “nation” as part of “growing up”. To have a better force against war. To build a strong economy.

Everyday Life After Confederation (1867) Homes did not have electricity There were only one or two cars in Canada Most Canadians lived on farms or in very small towns. They made their living by producing staple products: wheat, fish, and timber. They had dirt roads. The tallest buildings rose only a few storeys.

Everyday Life After Confederation..continued.. People travelled from place to place by horse on muddy wagon trails. Horses left manure everywhere they went – even on city streets. Science and medicine were far less advanced. Doctors had only just discovered that most diseases are caused by germs. Two out of five infants died of sickness before age 1.

School life in the 1860s Only the children of rich families went school On family farms, children spent their days working with their parents. In cities, children as young as 10 sometimes worked in mills. By the 1870s – most children aged 5 to 16 had some schooling.

School life in the 1860s Children went to small schools and learned in a single room. Students learned to read often from the Bible. They were taught how to read, write, and do arithmetic. They were taught Canada’s history. Students learned by memorizing. Teachers were strict. They were allowed to hit students who misbehaved.

School life in the 1860s Children from farm families were often excused from school for the harvest. Girls went to school for fewer years than boys because they have to help raise their younger siblings. Boys were the only ones allowed to go to university. Students had to speak English, French, German, Latin, and Greek.

Aboriginal Peoples in 1867 When Samuel de Champlain first set foot in the land that would become Canada, there were at least 150 000Aboriginal people living near the Great Lakes and in the St. Lawrence valley. By 1867, their population was less than 30 000 due to more than 200 years of war, hunger, and disease brought by the Europeans. By 1867, European Canadians outnumbered Aboriginal People by more than 100 to 1.

Citizenship in 1867 In 1867, Canadians were not really thought of as citizens…instead, they were British subjects. Canadians had few rights. During their very first federal elections, only 20% of Canada’s population was allowed to vote.

Who were allowed to vote in 1867 NOT the women NOT the Aboriginal people NOT the Asian people Most men CANNOT vote either. ONLY A MEN WHO OWN LAND ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE…therefore…the political power was in the hands of a small group of rich men of European background.

Women’s Lives in the 1860s The woman’s first and only place is in her home. Her duty is to make a home a “joyful” place in a “busy, heartless world.” In the late 19th century, most Canadians-including women- agreed that the woman’s job was raising children and doing the household work. They did not believe women should take part in politics or work outside the home. They thought that working outside the home would only take away from the important job of looking after their families.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ane8q-5Xo_s

The Suffragists Women who wanted equal rights were seen as strange and even dangerous. However, some brave women proved that a “woman’s place” was anywhere she wanted to be. The are a few women at that time who fought for their rights to vote. These women are called suffragist.

The Suffragists Elizabeth McDougall – in early years after the Confederation, she made a dangerous trip across the Prairies with her husband and six children. Eliza Ritchie – became the 1st Canadian woman to earn the highest university degree, a PhD. She later became a professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Henrietta Edwards – started one of the country’s first women’s magazine. Emily Stowe – the first woman to become a school principal in Upper Canada. She was also the first woman doctor.

The British North America Act (BNA ACT) The BNA Act is also known as the Constitution Act of 1867 It made Canada a self –governing country. It gave different powers to federal and provincial governments. When power is divided among different levels of government, it is called FEDERALISM.

The BNA Act The BNA Act set up Canada’s government to be like Britain’s. Canada became a constitutional monarchy which means that the British monarch (the king and queen) is officially the head of the state. The king and queen can only hold the power he/she is granted in the country’s constitution and laws. The king and queen’s role is mostly ceremonial and is carried out by the governor general. The job of running the country is in the hands of the Parliament.

The BNA Act Not all of the rules of Canada’s government are written down. Many of them are created by precedent, which means they are based on what has happened in the past. The BNA Act did not make Canada fully independent of Great Britain. Canada became a British Dominion – Britain would continue to handle Canada’s foreign affairs, treaties, and amendments to Canada’s constitution.

Canada’s Political Party Conservative Party Liberal Party They believe in: A strong central government High tariffs (taxes on imported goods) Close ties with Britain They believe in: Free trade (trade without tariffs) Greater rights for the provinces More independent role for Canada in the British Empire.

Looking Ahead Macdonald called his plan for prosperity the National Policy. It involved 3 things: Protective tariffs ( this would make imported goods more expensive and make people want to buy Canadian-made goods, which were not taxed.) Transcontinental railway ( it would help transfer goods across Canada and have more people living in the West) Immigration ( immigrants would be the customers of Canadian companies.)

Canadian history in 2 minutes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86UM2W_Hvbg&feature=related