Canadian Expansion 1869-1884

• Chapter 3 explores the expansion of Canada from 1869 to 1884 and the consequences of Confederation.

Learning Goals

• Analyze how various groups reacted to Confederation.
• Investigate the changing relationships between different groups in Canada.
• Evaluate past government policies and practices toward different groups.
• Contextualize text sources.

Expansion of Canada

• Canada's motto "From Sea to Sea" reflects its expansion from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean after Confederation.
• Prime Minister John A. Macdonald aimed to encourage settlement in the West and build a railway connecting British Columbia to eastern provinces.
• The government sought ways to settle the prairie lands inhabited by First Nations.

First Nations and Treaties

• First Nations negotiated treaties with the government to protect land and rights amidst changes in Canada.
• The Blackfoot Treaty (Treaty 7), 1877, Crowfoot Speaking depicts Siksika chief Crowfoot negotiating with Canadian government officials.

Métis in the Northwest

• The Métis in the Northwest faced challenges when the Canadian government purchased Rupert's Land without their permission.
• The Northwest population consisted of First Nations, French-speaking Catholic Métis, and Protestant settlers of Scottish/English descent.
• In 1868, the Canadian government initiated the construction of Dawson Road to link Fort Garry (Winnipeg) with Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Rupert's Land Sale

• Rupert's Land, controlled by Hudson's Bay Company, covered a vast area including present-day Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, and Nunavut.
• In 1868, Hudson's Bay Company prepared to sell Rupert's Land to the British government, who would then transfer it to Canada without consulting First Nations and Métis.

Land Rights

• The Canadian government pledged to uphold British laws and recognize Aboriginal land titles as part of the Rupert's Land sale.
• The government did not recognize Métis land rights in the same way as First Nations.
• Many Métis feared losing their land if Rupert's Land was turned over to the Canadian government.
• Hudson's Bay Company Governor George Simpson had a dismissive attitude toward Métis settlements, while Métis settlers asserted their rights to the land due to their contributions.

Red River Resistance

• The conflict between the Métis and the Canadian government over the sale of Rupert's Land is the Red River Resistance.
• Before the sale was finalized, the Canadian government sent surveyors to map the land into square lots without seeking Métis permission.
• Louis Riel, an emerging Métis leader, voiced concerns about the arrival of settlers and surveyors.
• Armed Métis stopped surveyors from surveying land and formed the Métis National Committee on October 16, 1869, with Riel as secretary.
• The Métis stopped the newly appointed lieutenant-governor, William McDougall, from entering the area, and then occupied Fort Garry.

Provisional Government

• The Métis established a provisional government to negotiate with the Canadian government in December 1869.
• Riel led the provisional government, which included both French-speaking Métis and English-speaking Protestant residents.
• The provisional government drafted a bill of rights outlining terms for joining Canada as a new province to ensure fair representation.

Execution of Thomas Scott

• A group of Red River settlers known as the Canadian Party attempted to overthrow the Métis provisional government.
• Métis captured about 50 members of the Canadian Party and imprisoned them in Fort Garry.
• Thomas Scott, a Protestant, was executed in March 1870 for contempt of the provisional government after being tried.

The Manitoba Act

• Negotiations between the provisional government and the Canadian government led to the Manitoba Act on May 12, 1870.
• Manitoba was then created as a province with guaranteed Métis religious and language rights. Métis were to receive 5,500 square kilometres of land.

Red River Expedition

• A military force known as the Red River Expedition, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Garnet Wolseley and sent by Macdonald, was dispatched to secure Red River.
• Riel fled, and Wolseley expressed satisfaction that Riel didn't surrender in order to be hanged for his actions and to restore order.
• The Métis requests for land claims were often delayed while the new settlers received title to their land soon after.

Métis Leave Manitoba

• Settlers from eastern Canada moved to Manitoba, taking over land previously inhabited by the Métis.
• The government issued scrip (coupons) to the Métis, which could be exchanged for land or money.
• The arrival of immigrants changed Manitoba's cultural landscape and pushed Métis out of the province.

Impact of Railways

• Railways and the idea of building railways were a new way to help join the country together.
• Prince Edward Island joined Confederation in 1873 after facing financial difficulties due to railway construction.
• British Columbia entered Confederation in 1871, contingent on Canada building a transcontinental railway.

Building the CPR

• The Canadian government's selection of a company to build a transcontinental railway resulted in Canada's first political scandal.
• Macdonald's government and Allan were implicated in a bribery scandal and Macdonald resigned.

Macdonald’s National Policy

• Challenges after his election led Macdonald to design the National Policy
• He believed this policy would unite Canada and protect the economy and land from the United States
• Macdonald's national policy aimed to stimulate the economy, establish presence in the Northwest, and transport goods.

The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)

• A new company was hired in 1881 to ensure Macdonald's National Policy succeeded
• Macdonald decided to prioritize transcontinental rail
• In 1881, the government hired the Canadian Pacific Railway Company for the construction.
• The railway company was given $25 million and land grants.
• Palliser's Triangle could support settlement, so it was built farther south.

Building the Railway

• Construction began in 1881, travelling through Aboriginal territories.
• Workers built the most challenging parts of the railway.
• Oral history notes, one Chinese worker died for every mile of railway.
• The Chinese railway workers received lower pay compared to white workers.

The Last Spike

• In 1885, the last spike ceremony commemorated the railway's completion.
• Chinese workers were not present at the last spike commemoration.

Central Canada and the Maritimes

• Each province's economy/culture remained unique after Confederation.
• Ontario and Québec experienced manufacturing growth.
• Retail stores expanded to sell new products.

Collapsing Industries

• In the Maritimes, provinces saw industrial growth after Confederation.
• They imported sugar and more from the U.S. and Asia.
• Small towns saw an uptick in factories.
• New tariffs made it expensive to import goods from other countries.
• Maritimes manufacturing declined.

Social Conflicts

• Pre-existing tensions between Protestants/Catholics intensified.
• Ontario wanted to adopt Protestantism as the official religion.
• Toronto Jubilee riots took place between Protestants and Catholics in 1875.

Guibord Affair

• 1200 militiamen and soldiers accompanied Joseph Guibord’s second attempt at a proper burial
• Henriette Brown won a court battle, and her husband was buried as a Catholic
• Quebec created laws to protect Canadien beliefs.

First Nations

• Changes included land, laws and settlers
• They signed treaties in 2015 with Canada and the United states

Numbered Treaties

• In 1871 and 1921, the Canadian government negotiated treaties with the First Nations people
• In exchange, they got varying territories, cash, tools, and the right to hunt.
• Treaties were read and written in English which did not reflect the native understanding.
• From the viewpoint of the government

Poundmaker

• The governor can give us 640 areas for each family.
• This is is the land we want.
• You can not cut our land like pieces on pemmican.

Ahtahkakoop

• The white man is spreading over the land.
• The government is offering a new way.
• He offered to accept the queen.

Indian Act

• Created a specific act in 1879 in Canada to deal with first nation affairs.
• Defined indigenous groups over métis or inuit and is still in effect today.
• Terms from the act still appear today

Residential Schools

• Designed to assimilate first nation youth
• Run by religious groups, including Catholic, Anglican, and Presbyterian
• Students were forced to speak English or French.

North-west Mounted Police

• The RCMP were created during this time
• Gave land to farmers
• The Assiniboine were killed by wolf hunters following a stolen horse.