1. Canada at the Turn of the Century
1901 – 1914

2. Population
Canada’s population jumped from 5 million to nearly 8 million.

3. Prime Minister Laurier
1st French Canadian Prime Minister
Continued John A. MacDonald's “National Policy” to develop the Canadian economy through tariffs, transportation network and opening the west.
Convinced that the 20th century belonged to Canada

4. Clifford Sifton Minister of the Interior
Driving force behind a search for new Canadians
Farmers willing to endure difficult conditions were sought in:
The United States
GREAT BRITAIN EUROPE

5. Settlement of the West
What was built to entice British Columbia into Confederation?
The end of free land in the United States, made the Canadian West the “last best west”.

6. Immigration – Push Factors
What causes people to want to leave their homeland (push out)?
Poor economic conditions
Overcrowded cities
Poverty
Famine
Expensive and scarce farmland
Persecution because of religion
Work was limited

7. Immigration – Pull Factors
What caused people to want to come to Canada? (pull them here)
Pamphlets and posters promising free land in Canada’s West – 160 acres steamship companies got a bonus from the Immigration department if they directed farmers to Canada
Exhibition vans travelled Europe displaying Canadian products
People were free to practice religion and enjoy a democratic society
Gold Rush

8. Why do you think readers in Europe might have been persuaded by these images?
What was the purpose of the poster?
What details in the poster support that purpose?

10. The Last Best West
video
Click for video

11. Immigration - Restrictions
None Officially – open-door policy
Many people seeking emigration
Head tax
Continuous passage
Black Americans discouraged
Usually related to health

12. Immigration
2 million people arrived in Canada between 1896 and 1911 One million of these immigrants moved to the West. 54% of the population of the west were born outside Canada. In 1914, the population of Alberta was largely from the United States

13. Immigration - Resistance
Non English speaking immigrants were greeted with hostility and suspicion
French speaking Canadians feared for their language and culture
In 1910, restrictions were introduced against Jews, Asians, Southern Europeans and Black Americans
In BC, the Asiatic Exclusion League sparked riots.