Chapter 11 The Nation’s Growing Pains (1873 - 1911)

Turn to Page 234

Liberal Administration 1873 – 1878 Pg. 237

• • • Macdonald promised a railway “From Sea to Sea” Awarded the CPR contract to Sir Hugh Allan It became public knowledge that Allan had donated $325 000 to the Conservative Party during the 1872 election • • • Macdonald’s Conservative gov’t accused of accepting a bribe in exchange for the railway contract This was called the Pacific Scandal Macdonald resigns and the Mackenzie’s Liberal gov’t takes over

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Northwest Territories Act, 1875 See Map Pg. 238

Initially, NWT governed from Ottawa with no gov’t of its own Then, placed under control of the lieutenant governor of Manitoba Long delays before decisions made because needed federal gov’t approval on everything This Act – gradual implementation of representative government as more people immigrated here Given their own lieutenant governor + appointed council of 5 members When the population increased, it would receive more of a political voice

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Indian Act, 1867 Pg. 238

Governs the First People and their lands Aim: Move the First People onto reserves and use the remaining lands for settlement Assumed the First Nations would assimilate Isolation policy of reserves – Educated, Christianized, and protected until they were fully assimilated into the dominant Canadian culture and society

Conservative Administration 1878- 1896 Pg. 239

• • Macdonald’s Conservative Party introduced a new policy called the National Policy – Protective Tariffs – National Railway – Settlement of the West Canadians responded well and re-elected J.A.M. and his party in 1878

Macdonald’s National Policy Pg. 240

1. Protective Tariffs

– To encourage development of Canadian industries and raw materials – High tariffs (import taxes) were to be put on goods that Canadian industries could make – Tariffs would make goods from other countries more expensive than Canadian goods, so Canadian industries would sell more – Would generate money for the railway

Macdonald’s National Policy Pg. 240 1. Protective Tariffs

– Fortunately, a world-wide period of prosperity began soon after the Conservatives returned to power – It appeared that J.A.M.’s National Policy worked a miracle because business increased – However, actually was due to the world-wide business boom and renewal of timber trade with U.S.

Macdonald’s National Policy Pg. 240

2. National Railway

– In 1880, the CPR was formed – Take settlers to the West; bring crops to the East – Task of building a transcontinental railway that would go from Montreal to the west coast of B.C.

– A tremendous accomplishment – Canada population with only 4 000 000 completed its railway only a few years after the U.S. did (a nation with 10 X the population)

Macdonald’s National Policy Pg. 240

3. Settlement of the West

– Population growth not good – 1890s, more people leaving Canada than coming in from other countries – Dominion Lands Act 1872, gave settlers 64 hectares of land in return for a $10 registration fee with the condition that one must live on the land and work for 3 years – Prairie farmlands were surveyed into townships (divided squares of land) – U.S. West more attractive because of free land and railway

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The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Pg. 241

CPR completed in 1885 under the leadership of William Cornelius Van Horne Very expensive; gov’t promised money, land, railway lines, and no taxes to the private company Northwest Rebellion (Native resistance) – Van Horne transported soldiers to the West although some places unfinished – People very impressed by the speed of the railway and protection – Gov’t loans more money to the CPR

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The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Pg. 241

William Cornelius Van Horne – In 1882, hired as General Manager of CPR – Very ambitious – In 10 years, only 480 km completed; Van Horne built 830 km in one year – CPR completed 6 years before the estimated date – The West now ready for settlers Donald Smith and the Last Spike (See Pg. 242) – Nov 7, 1885 – Craigellachie, B.C.

Northwest Mounted Police Pg. 244

• • • • • Created Aug 1873 Since Canada purchased Rupert’s Land in 1869, not easy to enforce the laws of the western lands No one to stop the American traders selling whiskey to the Native peoples Cypress Hills (Massacre), which are in Alberta and Saskatchewan, demonstrated the need for police – American traders killed 30 Assiniboine people Stopped whisky trade, advice to settlers, carried mail, fought fires, helped with Native conflict

Seven Treaties Pg. 246

• • • • The Caucasian thinking was to move the First People out of the way for European settlement Many people moved into areas set aside for the First People J.A.M. believed the First Nations should be assimilated Needed to resolve all land claims before settlers could move in

Seven Treaties Pg. 246

• • • • • • From 1871 – 1877, seven treaties signed between the Canadian gov’t and the First People living between Lake Superior and the Rockies In return for their lands, First People received reserve lands, a lump-sum payment, yearly payments, and a school on each reserve Empty promises; disease and whisky traders weakened the First People; forced to accept the terms Those who signed treaties and their descendant called “status Indians” Those who did not sign and their descendants known as “non-status Indians” Read Page. 247

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Causes of NW Rebellion Pg. 249

Read Page. 248 The Manitoba Act of 1870 set aside 500 000 hectares for the Métis Gov’t surveyors came in 1878 Métis could not understand why some land lots were recognized while others not Without proper gov’t survey, could not get official title to the land Slow distribution of promised lands More and more settlers coming into Manitoba and soon outnumbered the Métis

Causes of NW Resistance Pg. 249

• • • • By 1885, community of Metis on the North Saskatchewan River (about 500 people) National Policy – settle the West; 25 000 new settlers arrived between 1871 – 1881 West was changing - buffalo and Native lifestyle disappearing; Metis farmers threatened by new settlers Metis frustrated with the lack of response from J.A.M.

Causes of NW Resistance Pg. 249

• • • • Louis Riel suffered an emotional breakdown and spent two years in a Quebec asylum after the Red River Rebellion 1869/70 1875, granted amnesty (pardon for past offences) if he stayed in Canada for 5 years Marries in Montana June 4, 1884, four man delegation, including Gabriel Dumont arrived in Montana to get Riel to Saskatchewan

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Events Leading to Resistance Pg. 249/50

1884 Summer, Riel returns to the Saskatchewan River Decided to petition to Ottawa Concerns of the Metis, the First People, and the settlers Asked for responsible gov’t for the North West, with control over resources and representation in the federal Cabinet + Parliament Wanted provincial status for the District of Saskatchewan

Events Leading to Resistance Pg. 249/50

• • • Letters sent to Ottawa to warn them of trouble if they did not respond to the complaints PM J.A.M. drew up a list of all the Metis who were eligible for scrip and land grants Scrip: certificate or coupon that was given as compensation for land, entitling to a choice between land or cash

Events Leading to Resistance Pg. 249/50

• • • March 19, 1885, Riel sets up a provisional or temporary gov’t (similar to the one in Manitoba) Gabriel Dumont appointed the military leader Most First People decided to not take up arms against the federal gov’t except for the bands of Poundmaker and Big Bear

An Armed Uprising Pg. 250/1

• • • • • North-West Resistance began March 26, 1885 Battle at Duck Lake Gabriel Dumont and Metis attacked Superintendent Crozier of the NWMP 12 of C’s men killed, 11 wounded; 5 Metis killed Poundmaker to Battleford for food April 2 Frog Lake Battle – Big Bear’s men killed 9 people including Thomas Quinn, gov’t agent

An Armed Uprising Pg. 250/1

• • • • • J.A.M. “The North-West Rebellion saves the CPR” – sends 8000 soldiers on the unfinished track Major-General Middleton of Canada divided into 3 groups: Metis at Batoche, Poundmaker at Battleford, and Big Bear Riel believed God told him to stay in Batoche and defend; Dumont wanted to hit-and-run May 9 -12 Battle at Batoche (Pg. 250/1) Riel and company surrender

Louis Riel Trial Pg. 252

• • • • • • • • Watch Heritage Minute Riel on trial for treason Found guilty by a jury of six English-speaking Canadian men Jury asked for mercy, but the judge had no power to stop the execution Petitions and debates of not hanging him 2 months for J.A.M. to make a decision Would lose many votes in Quebec Riel hung Nov 16, 1885

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Effects of the NW Resistance Pg. 252

Completion of the CPR Riel’s hanging caused a rift between English and French Canada Direct insult to French-Canadians English Canadians felt that French-Canadians had no right to demand special treatment Many blames J.A.M. for the problems in the NW Riel: A rebel, a hero, or insane?

1992, 100 years after the NW Resistance, the Canadian Parliament recognizes Riel’s contributions

Military Leaders Pg. 253

• • • • Dumont: Great rider, marksman, spoke French and six Native languages, hit-and-run guerrilla strategy, joined “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s travelling Wild West Show Major-General Frederick Middleton: led the Canadian Militia, Battle of Fish Creek and Batoche Poundmaker: Cree chief, his people had a hard time adjusting as farmers, frustrated and went to Battleford, Colonel Otter defeated, jailed after Big Bear: unhappy with gov’t treatment of First Nations, he wanted a peaceful resistance, but his followers took up arms

French Canadian Nationalism Pg. 255

• • • • • Becomes a challenge to Confederation French-Canadians viewed it as an agreement to guarantee French and English equality Seemed that biculturalism rejected in English Canada Eg. 1871 New Brunswick gets rid of Roman Catholic schools; 1890 Manitoba replaces dual system with only English Fear of English Canadian culture assimilation

Henri Bourassa Pg. 255

• • • • • • Journalist, Liberal, and Member of Parliament Championed the rights of Canada’s French-speaking minority Wanted equality between French and English Argued that French language and Roman Catholicism should be protected “Selective immigration…no railway…too many English settlers coming” Break ties with Britain

Manitoba Schools Question Pg. 255

• • • • • 1870, Confederation, half the population French-speaking Schools were Roman Catholic supported with a subsidy from the HBC Over the next 20 years, English immigration outnumbered French-speakers 1890, Manitoba voted to set up a single English public school system (no duality) Read Pg. 255

Manitoba Schools Question Pg. 255

• • • • French Catholics appealed to J.A.M.

No-win situation – If it supported the French Catholics would be seen as interfering in provincial affairs – If it did not support the Catholics, it would lose votes in Quebec More problems – five P.M.’s in four years 1895 – Conservative gov’t prepared a bill to give back the rights to the French-speaking Catholics, but an election called before it became a law

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Manitoba Schools Question Pg. 255

Wilfrid Laurier and his Liberal party won in 1896 Compromise with provincial leaders – The provincially funded, non denominational public school system remained in effect – If enough students, religious teaching in the last half-hour of the school day – If 10 or more students spoke one language, taught in that language

The Last Best West Pg. 257

• • • • From 1900 to 1914 A flood of immigrants into western Canada from Ontario, Britain, and the U.S.

Six Reasons Pg. 257 Slow to encourage western settlement; not until good land in the U.S. filled up

Clifford Sifton Pg. 257

• • • • • • Enthusiastically promoted immigrant settlement in the West Wilfrid Laurier (Liberal PM) appointed him to be Minister in charge of immigration Placed ads in 6000 newspapers in the U.S.

Gave American newspaper editors free trips to the Canadian Prairies, so they could see the inexpensive, fertile land Sent advertising agents to the British Isles, Central and Eastern Europe Many in Europe would not get the chance to own a large farm; owned small ones with high taxes or were tenant farmers

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Alberta + Saskatchewan Pg. 267

NWT concerned whether the territories should be granted provincial status Canadian gov’t argued that there were too few people Sept 1, 1905 – Alberta and Saskatchewan created They were promised: cash, yearly cash, taxes used to support separate Protestant and Roman Catholic schools French language + denominational schools (run by religious group)

Alberta Pg. 268

• • • • Edmonton or Calgary as the capital city?

Edmonton: – Geographic center of the province – Early trading post; center of activities for many years Calgary: – Located on the main line of the CPR – Center for the cattle industry Frank Oliver, MP, made Edmonton the capital

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Saskatchewan Pg. 269

Sept 4, 1905 Inaugural day Crowds, bands, bunting (strips of cloth used as holiday decorations), parades, speeches, new lieutenant-governor, musical rides, ball Six cities wanted to be capital city Regina already had the distinction of being appointed capital of the NWMP and part of the CPR line Saskatoon invited important people to a lavish banquet Regina voted 21 to 2 as the capital city