Canada's Expansion and First Nations Treaties

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Questions and Answers

What year did Manitoba become the 5th province of Canada?

1870 (correct)

1871

1873

1869

What was the primary purpose of the federal government negotiating treaties with First Nations groups?

To promote cultural exchanges between settlers and First Nations

To establish laws governing land ownership

To provide First Nations with financial compensation

To allocate land for European settlement (correct)

What was one outcome of the Dominion Lands Act of 1872?

It required all settlers to live near railway lines

It granted land ownership without any conditions

It encouraged land speculators to acquire more land

It set guidelines for distributing land to homesteaders (correct)

Which event highlighted the lack of law enforcement in the west?

The Cypress Hills attack in 1873 Signup and view all the answers

What was the expected role of the government in relation to First Nations after signing treaties?

To assist with moving and settling in new areas Signup and view all the answers

What type of land was virtually free to male settlers under the Dominion Lands Act?

Land that was 32km or farther from the railway line Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of the Metis Resistance in Manitoba during 1869-1870?

Heightened awareness of the need for treaty negotiations Signup and view all the answers

Which two provinces joined Canada in 1905?

Alberta and Saskatchewan Signup and view all the answers

What was the main issue at stake during the Winnipeg General Strike?

Principles of collective bargaining and better working conditions Signup and view all the answers

Which organization coordinated the strike and represented workers' interests?

The Central Strike Committee Signup and view all the answers

What triggered the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919?

Breakdown of negotiations between labor and management Signup and view all the answers

How did the Citizens’ Committee of 1,000 view the strikers?

As a radical group threatening public order Signup and view all the answers

What was one significant action taken by the Canadian government during the strike?

Amended the Immigration Act to deport British-born immigrants Signup and view all the answers

What event exacerbated tensions during the strike on June 21, 1919?

A streetcar operated by strike-breakers being overturned Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome for the strike leaders after their arrest?

Seven were convicted and sentenced to jail time Signup and view all the answers

When did the Winnipeg General Strike officially end?

June 25, 1919 Signup and view all the answers

What major event spurred the creation of the North-West Mounted Police in 1873?

Murder of Nakota FN by American trappers Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the goals of PM Macdonald regarding the transcontinental railroad?

To create a unified political entity in Canada Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of the National Policy introduced by Macdonald in 1878?

Completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1885 Signup and view all the answers

Which group is noted for coming to Canada and being exempt from military service?

Mennonites from Russia Signup and view all the answers

Who was appointed as Minister of the Interior in 1896 to enhance immigration efforts in Canada?

Clifford Sifton Signup and view all the answers

What was a reason for the increase in immigration to Canada between 1891 and 1902?

Availability of free land Signup and view all the answers

What was one major challenge faced by Canada in attracting immigrants during the late 1800s?

Discriminatory immigration laws Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the scandal that forced PM Macdonald to resign?

The Pacific Scandal Signup and view all the answers

During which time period did Laurier's government encourage a significant influx of immigrants?

1896-1911 Signup and view all the answers

Which immigrant group faced quotas as a result of Canadian immigration laws that were becoming more restrictive?

Japanese immigrants Signup and view all the answers

What was a key factor that allowed Clifford Sifton's immigration campaign to be successful?

Increasing international prices of wheat Signup and view all the answers

Which group was particularly discouraged from immigrating to Canada after 1905 due to cultural assimilation concerns?

Slavs Signup and view all the answers

Which immigrant group settled in Canada's cities and developed a strong manufacturing sector?

Russian Jews Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the outcomes of PM Macdonald's National Policy?

Higher tariffs to protect manufacturers Signup and view all the answers

What was a key requirement for industrialization to occur in Canada during the early 1900s?

Favorable government policy Signup and view all the answers

What was the average work week for many workers in early 20th century Canada?

6 days per week Signup and view all the answers

What impacted urban population growth in Canada's cities during industrialization?

Tariff protection for manufacturing Signup and view all the answers

Which industry was one of the first to be organized into unions in Winnipeg?

Railway shops Signup and view all the answers

What socioeconomic class emerged due to the industrialization in Canada?

Business elite Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant consequence of the rapid industrialization in Winnipeg?

Rise of low-income areas Signup and view all the answers

By 1911, what percentage of Winnipeg's population was of non-British origin?

22% Signup and view all the answers

What economic shift occurred in Canada as part of its industrialization?

Transition from raw materials to finished products Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable trend among children during the industrial era in Canada?

They entered the workforce at a young age Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the living conditions for many immigrants in Winnipeg during industrialization?

Crowded living conditions with poor services Signup and view all the answers

What led to heightened tensions in Winnipeg prior to World War I?

Physical and financial divisions among classes Signup and view all the answers

In what year did Winnipeg experience a major population increase to 136,000?

1911 Signup and view all the answers

What significant resource was needed for the agricultural industry in Winnipeg?

Railways to transport products Signup and view all the answers

What role did the American branch plants have in Canada's economy?

They contributed to the growth of manufacturing in Canada. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the fate of returning soldiers after World War I in Winnipeg?

They struggled to find employment. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Canada's Expansion and Settlement

Macdonald's vision: Expand Canada from Atlantic to Pacific ("A Mari usque ad Mare")
Provinces added: Manitoba (1870), British Columbia (1871), Prince Edward Island (1873), creation of Northwest Territories (1875), Arctic Islands (1880), Yukon Territory (1898), Saskatchewan & Alberta (1905)
Western settlement challenges: Existing Metis, First Nations, Inuit, and European populations, Metis Resistance (1869-1870). Land treaties necessary with First Nations.

First Nations and Treaties

Treaty obligations: First Nations ceded land, relocated to reserves, government to assist with resettlement and support (farming, education).
Government's actions: Often ignored treaty obligations, focused primarily on clearing land for European settlers.
Ongoing impact: Current issues related to land and resource rights.

Settling the West: Land and Legislation

Dominion Lands Act (1872): Provided land to homesteaders. Homesteads 32 km or further from the railway line – free, within railways – $10/160 acres.
Goal of land distribution: Reduced land speculation. Settlers required to occupy and improve the land for three years.
Difficulty: Scarcity of land, western settlement already present.

Policing the West

Lack of law enforcement, border conflicts with US, and the Cypress Hills attack (1873 in S. Saskatchewan):
Response: Creation of the North-West Mounted Police (1873). Goal: Protect settlers, First Nations, patrol the border, and maintain law and order.

The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)

Macdonald's vision: Unified economic and political unit, Canadian unity, prevent US annexation.
Railway contract awarded (1873), and the Pacific Scandal (bribery and corruption).
Mackenzie's government (1873): Faced an economic downturn, railway progress slowed.

Economic Policies (National Policy)

Macdonald's 1878 election victory focused on the "National Policy":
Goal: National growth, trade, communication, and defence against US.
Key components of National Policy: Tariffs, Transcontinental Railway (completed 1885), Immigration plan.

Immigration and Settlement

Recruitment: Advertisements in Europe for skilled farmers, though slow immigration growth.
Emigration: High emigration to the US (1870-1891).
Western Population Growth: Significant increase in population (43,000 in 1871, 250,000 by 1891).
Various immigrant groups: Mennonites from Russia, Icelanders, Central Canadians, Eastern Europeans (Doukhobors, Ukrainians).
Canadian government incentives: Free land, political freedom
Restrictions on immigration: By the early 1900s, exclusion of specific groups began; Chinese, Japanese. Head tax. Restrictions on immigrants from communist countries.

Laurier's Vision and Sifton's Campaign (1896-1911)

Laurier's and Sifton's commitment to increasing Canadian immigration.
Targeting: Experienced farmers from central Canada & USA, UK, Eastern Europe.
Sifton's campaign tactics: Newspaper ads, pamphlets, immigration officials in Europe. Free land.
Successful Campaign: Large increase of immigrants, mostly Eastern Europeans, similar climate, and farming experiences.

"Welcome Or Not" Policies

Rise in immigration numbers, stricter immigration laws.
Exclusion: African Americans, Sikhs (unofficial), quotas for Japanese (1907).
Chinese Exclusion: Faced significant head taxes and restrictions (banned in 1923).

Population Growth and Demographic Shift

Population increase: 5 million (1900) to 10 million (1920s)
English-speaking Protestant majority: Cultural assumptions about assimilation, tensions with rising diversity.

Industrialization

Transition from primary resources to manufacturing.
Growth of cities (urbanization), Winnipeg as a prime example of rapid growth.
Early 1900s: manufacturing expansion. Export of finished goods.
Hydroelectric power development (Ottawa
Benefits to standard of living for some (business elite class). Labor class struggles (unskilled, low pay, poor working conditions, long hours, no worker protection)
Women and children entering the workforce (low wages).

Winnipeg's History

Winnipeg's rapid growth (1870-1920s),
Immigrant diversity (central Europeans).
Class divisions, physical divides (railway yards).

Building Tensions (Winnipeg)

Economic disparities, class conflict, labor organization.
Strikes (railway, streetcar, etc.) precede the General Strike in 1919.

Winnipeg General Strike of 1919

Cause: Collective bargaining disputes in trades.
Widespread strike, involving different types of workers.
Central Strike Committee coordination (labor efforts) against the Citizens’ Committee
Federal government intervention (order to federal employees to return to work).
Public response: Opposition including the Citizen's Committee
Violent conflict: Arrests, deaths, injuries.
Consequences: Labor movement gains, important strike.

Summary Points (General Themes):

Canada's expansion, settlement, and challenges in securing the West
Government policies towards Indigenous peoples, and their impact
Patterns of immigration, challenges and obstacles
Economic changes, urbanization, and social inequality.

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Description

Explore the historical aspects of Canada's expansion from the Atlantic to the Pacific, focusing on key provinces and the challenges faced during settlement. This quiz also delves into the treaty obligations between the government and First Nations, highlighting the ongoing impact of these agreements on indigenous rights today.