Setting the Stage: Canada 1900 - 1914

Setting the Stage: Canada 1900 - 1914 Life in this country 100 years ago

What you should know • The Canadian map and population were very different • Technological, economic, and demographic changes affected both the country and the lifestyle • Canadian policy was greatly influenced from outside • English-French conflict is not new

Canada doesn’t even look the same • In 1873, there were only 7 provinces in Canada • Most of the interior of what is now this country was the Northwest Territories, and Newfoundland was directly controlled by Britain • All provinces, except British Columbia, were much smaller than they are now

New provinces are added • Canada starts to look more like itself in 1905, with the addition of 2 new provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan, and the formation of the Yukon Territory • Quebec, Manitoba, and Ontario also got more territory, but are still not their present size

Life in Canada at the Turn of the Century Work • Most Canadians worked with natural resources and lived in rural areas • In mills and factories in the cities, work was very hard and dangerous • Most women did not work outside the home Transportation • Horses were the most important form • Trains were used for long distances • Bicycles, streetcars, and automobiles were appearing • First powered flight took place in 1903

Life in Canada at the Turn of the Century Communications • First radio signal across the Atlantic in 1901 – messages only • Telephones were becoming common • Long distance communication was done by telegraph Entertainment • “Home made” activities – games, music, sports • Movies were silent • Professional sports were popular Population • Most people were white, western Europeans

Immigration increases Canada’s population by 3 million Push factors (why they left) • Overcrowding, unemployment in Europe • Certain groups were persecuted, had no rights • Overpopulation, natural disasters, political upheaval in Asia

Immigration Pull factors (why come here) • Free land on prairies • Government advertising • Available jobs in mining and manufacturing • Agricultural innovations • New policies regarding who were “desirable” immigrants means Eastern Europeans were now welcome

Immigration The Immigrant Experience • Arrived on overcrowded, unsanitary ships • Had to pass health test • Trip to prairies took a week on the train • “Proving” the free land was very hard, and many failed

Immigration Results of Mass Immigration • 2 new provinces: Alberta & Saskatchewan • Protected against “Manifest Destiny” movement of U.S. • Improved economy • Became the basis of our multicultural society

Changing Technology • Changes in all areas of life: e.g. medicine, communication, transportation • Daily life was made simpler by new inventions, like electric washing machines, and the expansion of the use of electricity • Economy improved as new items created demand, which increased manufacturing jobs

Economic Growth • Rapid population growth created larger cities • Increased industrialization • Rise of the labour movement (Trades and Labour Congress) results in minimum wage, compulsory education, ban on child labour • Canadian Manufacturers’ Association formed to protect Canadian interest, department stores replaced local general stores, large corporations and monopolies created Canadian millionaires

American-Canadian Relations Alaska Boundary Dispute 1871-1903 • Issue of where the border actually was came to a head when gold was discovered in the Klondike • A tribunal was set up to decide the issue, but Britain’s tribunal members gave in to US pressure, giving them more land • Canada decided it would be better off handling its own external affairs

American-Canadian Relations Reciprocity 1911 • A proposed “free trade” agreement with the US • Seen as a way the US would take over Canada • Opposed by many as too advantageous to US • Cost Prime Minister Laurier the 1911 election

French-Canadian Nationalism Schools Questions • Manitoba and Northwest did not want to fund separate French schools • Assimilate new immigrants to English • French felt bitter; being treated like new immigrants Boer War 1899 • England wanted Canada to send troops to fight Boers in South Africa • French-Cdns identified with Boers • French-Cdns saw sending even volunteer troops as caving in to England’s pressure

French Canadian Nationalism Naval Issue 1909 • Britain wanted Canada to contribute to building Britain’s new naval ships; Canada decided to build own navy • French-Cdns believed it would draw Canada into foreign conflicts • These issues were instrumental in keeping French and English Canadians on opposite “sides of the fence”, since they were unable to agree on them, and contributed to continuing bad French-English relations.

Canada before World War I • By 1912, Canada almost looks like it does now. All the provinces are the “right size”. • However, Newfoundland is still not part of this country, and Nunavut has not even been thought of.

This is the Canada that goes to war. • A population of just under 10 million, 3 million of whom had arrived in Canada in just the previous 10 years • A predominantly agricultural and resource economy • No professional army

Setting the Stage: Canada 1900 - 1914