history p2

The Creation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• John A. Macdonald created the police force that later became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Established to maintain law and order in rapidly developing Western Canada

Purpose and Responsibilities

• Formed in 1873 to stop the illegal trafficking of whiskey in Western Canada
• Tasked with working with First Nations people and enforcing treaties between the Canadian government and First Nations groups
• Responsible for patrolling 6 million km2 of territory

Recruitment and Requirements

• Volunteers had to be males between the ages of 18-40
• Had to be able to read or write in either English or French
• Had to be good horsemen

Milestones

• Lieutenant Macleod executed the law and worked with First Nations people
• In 1920, the Northwest Mounted Police and the Dominion Police merged to become the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• The RCMP still exists today, working closely with local police agencies to maintain law and order in Canadian society

Immigration to Canada

• Clifford Sifton, Minister of the Interior, aimed to attract European farmers to boost Canada's economic growth.
• John A. Macdonald's Conservative government prioritized immigration, facilitated by the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Reasons for Immigration

• Economic opportunities drew people to Canada.
• Escaping religious and cultural oppression and persecution also motivated immigrants.

The Dominion Land Act

• Introduced in 1872, the act offered free and fertile land to settlers.
• Conditions included a $10 administrative fee, 65 hectares of land, and development of the land for farming within three years to receive the deed.

Immigration Boom

• The period leading up to 1914 saw significant Canadian population growth.
• Key industries emerged, including agriculture, mining, and oil, which remain important to Canada's international role.

Advertising Canada

• Clifford Sifton advertised Canada as a prime immigration destination, highlighting "free" land.
• Western Canada was promoted through government ads, attracting settlers with the promise of 65 hectares of land for a $10 registration fee.

Homesteading Challenges

• Homesteaders faced difficulties, including separation from families and friends, lack of roads and bridges, and extreme loneliness.

Homesteading Community

• As settlements grew, so did the sense of community.
• Homesteading declined after WWI, as immigration rates fell and people moved towards cities.