1. Chinese railway workers and head tax AMY, Austin, Katelyn, Samuel

2. Who? Chinese railway workers Immigrants (Chinese men)
Prime Minister: John A. MacDonald
Head Tax
Canadian government
Chinese immigrants
Prime minister: John A. MacDonald

3. Background Chinese railway workers
Between the years 1881 and 1884 a lot of Chinese men came to work on the railway in B.C.
The Chinese men were paid only $1.00/day
Chinese head tax
The Canadian government passed an act to limit Chinese immigration by a head tax.
The head tax started as 50$ and soon rose to 500$.
This lasted 38 years

4. Why? Chinese Railway Workers Head Tax
They were hired because they were short of supply
They wanted to bring their families because they didn’t want to leave them behind in China
They also wanted to bring their families because they didn’t want to be separated from them
Head Tax
This occurred because the government of Canada wanted to discourage the Chinese from coming to Canada

5. What Chinese Railway Workers
Chinese men who came to Canada to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway
Head Tax
fixed fee charged to every Chinese person entering Canada

6. When & Where? Chinese Railway Workers
The railway they were building was in British Columbia
Chinese men came to Canada in 1881
The railway was built between 1881 and 1884
Head Tax
It took place in Canada
It was first imposed after the Canadian parliament passed the Chinese Immigration act of
It went from

7. How has this shaped Canada?
Chinese Railway Workers
SILVER LINING
they built a transcontinental railway
the railway they built is apart of the history of Canada
they built the FIRST transcontinental railway
NEGATIVE
Approx. 600 Chinese died
They were only paid $1.00/day
Head Tax
SILVER LINING
June 22nd, 2006 Prime Minister Stephan Harper apologized to the Chinese Canadians
Canada realized that charging non- Canadians is wrong and violates the charter of Rights and Freedoms
this act is now completely banned
NEGATIVE
This lasted 38 years
The Chinese community is still devasted about the act today

8. How does this show human rights violation?
Chinese Railway Workers and Head Tax
Equality Rights: discriminates against the Chinese culture and ethnic origin
Mobility Rights: Chinese men weren’t freely aloud to enter Canada/ they were discouraged to enter Canada