Canada's Historical Transformations

Industrial Revolution

• Significantly altered production methods and labor demographics in Canada.
• Spurred industrial growth and urban development.
• Created a demand for laborers, impacting the economy and population.
• Led to challenges such as labor disputes and negative impacts on Indigenous communities.

Klondike Gold Rush

• A large migration to the Yukon to seek gold in 1896.
• Contributed to Canada's expansion and economic growth.
• Shaped public perception of the country.
• Had negative consequences for Indigenous groups due to resource exploitation and displacement.

Canadian Proposal

• A proposal in 1867 leading to the creation of the Dominion of Canada
• Unified various British colonies in North America into a single nation.

Quebec Resolution

• A blueprint for the Canadian Constitution, marking the initial stages of Canada's constitutional development.
• Included provisions regarding Aboriginal and treaty rights.
• Formed the framework for Canada's governing laws and regulations.

BNA Act 1867

• The foundational constitution of Canada.
• Unified the colonies of Canada, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a single dominion.

Sections 91 and 92

• Section 91: federal jurisdiction over marriage, divorce, etc.
• Section 92: provincial jurisdiction over matters not explicitly listed.

Coalition Government

• A temporary alliance of political parties to form a government.
• Often needed when no single party has a majority in parliament.
• Seen as a strategy to create a federal system encompassing all regions of Canada.

Minority Government

• Occurs when no political party secures a majority in the House of Commons.

Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)

• A transcontinental railway connecting Canada and the United States.
• Played a crucial role in Canada's development, particularly economic growth and national unity.
• Significant in connecting east and west coasts.

Four Parties of the Canadian Government

• Rouge (Antoine Aime), Bleu (George-Etienne Cartier), Conservative (John A. Macdonald), and Reform (George Brown)
• Significant in Canadian political history

North-West Mounted Police (NWMP)

• Established in 1873 to maintain order in the Western territories (the "West").
• Promoted peace and security, aiding in settlement.

Numbered Treaties

• A series of 11 treaties signed between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian government.
• Facilitated settlement in Western Canada and connected British Columbia with central Canada.
• Aimed to assimilate Indigenous peoples.

National Policy

• Government policy under John A. Macdonald focused on protectionism.
• Implemented high tariffs on imported foreign goods, boosting Canadian industries.
• Influenced infrastructural development, tariff revenues, and population growth in the country.

Indian Act

• Regulated and administered Indigenous peoples' lives and reserve communities.
• Resulted in long-term negative consequences such as poverty, marginalization, and violence.
• Removed the recognition of Indigenous self-government systems.

Homesteading

• The distribution of public land to settlers for cultivation.
• Enticed immigration, impacting Canada's population and societal makeup.

Head Tax

• A fee imposed on Chinese immigrants to enter Canada.
• Used to restrict immigration.

Komagata Maru

• A ship carrying Punjabi immigrants refused entry to Canada in 1914.
• Illustrative of Canada's discriminatory immigration policies against East Asians.

Immigration Act of 1910

• Restricted immigration and gave the government more power to control immigration intake.
• Targeted restrictions on immigrants from non-European countries.

Red River Resistance

• The Métis' creation of a provisional government to negotiate Manitoba's entry into Confederation under Louis Riel.
• Led to the establishment of Manitoba.
• Marked an early stage of Métis activism and political challenges.

Unions

• Labor groups advocating for better wages and working conditions in factories.
• Improved the lives of workers by challenging and fighting for better working conditions.

John A. Macdonald

• First Prime Minister of Canada.
• A key architect of Canadian Confederation.

George-Etienne Cartier

• Key figure in Confederation.
• Instrumental in bringing French Canada and other regions into the Dominion.

George Brown

• A key figure in the Canadian Confederation.
• A significant voice championing representation by population.

Antoine-Aimé Dorion

• A key figure in the discussions that led up to Confederation.
• Raised concerns about the impact of Confederation on French Canadians.

Fathers of Confederation

• Colonial leaders who worked to unite the various colonies.
• Initiated and participated in conferences to discuss Confederation.

Louis Riel

• A Métis leader pivotal in the Red River and North-West resistances.
• Defended Métis rights during confrontations with the Canadian government.

Hugh Allan

• A railway promoter with ties to members of the Canadian government, involved in the building of the CPR.
• Notable for his role in the CPR construction scandal.

Alexander Mackenzie

• Leader of the Liberal party in Canada.
• Continued the nation-building activities started by John A. Macdonald.

Red River

• A key trade route and area where the Métis community was established.
• Contributed to the settlement of Western Canada.

Joseph Howe

• A figure involved in the discussions around Confederation.
• Important to Nova Scotia's political history.

Thomas Scott

• Irish settler whose death was politically divisive.

Clifford Sifton

• Facilitated immigration to Western Canada.

Bonanza Creek

• Site of the Klondike Gold Rush, crucial to the Canadian economy's temporary boost.

Entrepreneurs

• Individuals who organize and operate businesses.

Members of Parliament

• Representatives of electoral districts in the Canadian parliament.

Temperance Society

• A group who campaigned for temperance and reduced/banned alcohol consumption.

Suffragette Society

• Organized women who advocated for the right to vote.

External Causes for Confederation

• Britain: Britain wanted to reduce its involvement in colonial governance.
• United States: The United States' expansionist policies presented a threat to Canada’s borders.

Political Deadlock in Canada

• Disagreement between political parties regarding policies and representation.

Conferences (Charlottetown & Quebec)

• Meetings that helped establish Canada.
• Solidified discussions, agreements, and relationships between colonies.

Reasons for Resistance to Confederation

• Concerns about representation, retained self-governance, and financial implications.

CPR Scandal

• Accusations of bribery and corruption surrounding the CPR's construction.

Immigrants to Canada (end of 1800s)

• Driven by opportunities for free land, transportation, labor, and safety.

Impacts of Gold Rush on First Nations

• Displacement and marginalization due to resource exploitation in Indigenous communities.

Workers' Conditions (1850s-1910s)

• Poor, dangerous working conditions, minimal job security.

Controversy over Bicycles

• Social concerns related to morality and safety in late 1800s.

Accidents (1870s-1910s)

• Caused by unsafe working conditions, inadequate design, and faulty materials.

Canadian Immigration Policies (East Asian workers in particular)

• Driven by racial and economic anxieties about jobs and wages.

How Canada Joined Confederation

• Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada united in 1867 to form the Dominion of Canada. Indigenous people were not part of the negotiations.

Impact of Canada's History on First Nations/Métis

• Significant negative impacts characterized by land dispossession, marginalization, and cultural suppression.