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CHAPTER 6 – The Golden West. If its in purple, its an important point which you should take note of. Introduction.
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CHAPTER 6 – The Golden West If its in purple, its an important point which you should take note of.
Introduction • John A. Mcdonald’s dream of building a nation from sea to sea included the settlement of the west. He imagined the Canadian Pacific Railway transporting thousands of immigrants to the Canadian prairies. • These immigrants would produce agricultural goods and everyone would grow wealthy!
However- the National Policy did not produce the expected flood of settlers • The settlement of the West occurred later, under the Liberal govemerment of Wilfird Laurier • Laurier was prime minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911 • He made Clifford Sifton responsible for immigration and western development
Clifford Sifton • Sifton launched a campaign to “sell Canada” and “open the door” to Canada West • He targeted farmers because he believed they had the skills to settle on the praries
Selling Canada • His offers of free or inexpensive land was attractive • Immigrants saw advertisements showing fields of golden wheat • People travelled by the thousands to settle in the “Golden West”
Reasons for Coming to Canada Copy the following into a mind map • Wheat: a new type of wheat had been developed which ripened earlier, did not need as much water, and produced more grain • The United States had previously offered free land in the west – but my 1900 all of the best land was gone. Canada became “the best west”
Reasons for Coming to Canada • New farming machines made work faster and more profitable: steam powered reapers to cut grain, binders to tie grain, and the Case tractor to break land • The Dominion Land Act of 1872: made it easier to get a land grant. The Canadian government gave out 625 000 land grants in Western Canada
Reasons for Coming to Canada • In Europe people were leaving farms to find better paying factory jobs. But the need for wheat increased – as well as the price. Canada was shipping tonnes of wheat to feed the growing British population • The federal government reserved large sections of land for immigrant of the same nationality. These bloc settlements offered new settlers some comfort and familiarity in their new home
Selling Canada! • Clifford Sifton approached the task of promoting Canada like a salesman • He launched an advertising campaign targeted at farmers
Photographs like this one were used to advertise the wealth of Canadian oppourtunities
This arch made of woods, grains, and fruits was built in London, England to honour both Canada and the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902
Who came to Canada? • British immigrants: over one million between 1900-1914 • American Farmers: inexpensive land attracted over 750 000 Americans to Canada West
Who came to Canada? • European Immigrants: Mennonites from Germany, Russia and Prussia were pacifists: it was against their religion to go to war or swear an oath to a King so they were prosecuted in their homelands. They were promised they could be exempt from military service if they came to the Praries • Ukranians: most from russia: many were treated like second hand citizens in European countries. This means they were denied full rights other people had. Canada was their hope to build a better life. (170 000 Ukrainian immigrants by 1914)
Who Came to Canada • Home Children: some children’s organizations in Britain sent poor, abandoned, orphaned or runaway children to Canada • Most were between the ages of seven and fourteen • They moved onto farms where they would work in exchange for room and board until they were 18 • Some were treated as members of the family, others were neglected and abused • About 100 000 children were sent
Gold! • Other adventurers travelled west for another type of gold • In 1896 thousands of gold seekers flooded into Yukon with dreams of striking it rich!
The Stampeders! • Thousands of people made their way north after news of Gold being found in the Yukon • Most of these stampeders had no idea what they were getting into • They walked treacherous paths, including the Chilkoot Pass.
The Chilkoot Pass • Police did not let them through unless they had a years worth of food: some people had to make 20-30 trips up and down the mountain pass to carry the goods required
Gold Rush Ends • More than $95 million in gold was mined from the Klondike between 1896-1903 • However, most of the gold was gone by 1900 • By 1911 the population of the Yukon went from 30 000 to 8512.
