Grade 8 Unit 2 quiz

Late 1800s Canada

• Many Canadians believed that keeping a close connection to the British Empire was the best option for Canada.
• Others believed that Canada should strengthen its ties with the United States.
• At the time, Britain and other countries, such as Germany and the United States, were pursuing a policy of imperialism.

Imperialism

• Imperialism is the act of acquiring and ruling over other countries by means of economic, cultural, or military means.
• Imperialism was driven by discrimination and racism, with many people believing in the notion of a superior culture.
• This led to the belief that non-European cultures would eventually disappear because they were seen as primitive and in need of European ideas and technology.

Victory Day

• Victory Day is a formal Canadian holiday celebrated in May each year.
• The significance of Victoria Day is not specified in the text, but it continues to be celebrated in Canada.

Britain Calls Canada to War

• In 1899, Britain and the Boers (settlers of Dutch descent in southern Africa) began a war with one another.
• Britain asked Canada to help, and many Canadians were eager to join the war effort.
• Laurier decided not to impose conscription, instead asking for Canadian Volunteers to fight in the Boer War.

Historical Significance

• Approximately 7000 English Canadian, First Nations, and Metis men volunteered to serve in the Boer War.
• This was the first time a large group of Canadians left to fight overseas.

Canada's Navy

• In 1908, the British government asked its dominions (partially self-governing nations such as Canada and Australia) to contribute money to build up its navy.
• Canada refused and instead proposed that Canada builds its own navy.

The Klondike Gold Rush

• In 1896, gold was discovered in the Klondike, an area in present-day Yukon, near the Alaskan border (which was part of the United States).
• Thousands of gold prospectors, mostly from the United States, travelled through Canada to reach the gold deposit.
• The North-West Mounted Police allowed only prospectors who had one year’s supply of food to cross into Canada.
• Between 1897 and 1898, an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 prospectors travelled through Canada.

Environmental Consequences of the Gold Rush

• The gold rush had significant environmental consequences, such as the impact on the natural environment due to the large number of travellers.
• The federal government, concerned primarily with maximizing resources extraction, did little to ensure environmental protection.

Impact on First Nations

• The gold rush had a significant impact on First Nations in the Yukon, as the territory was overrun with tens of thousands of newcomers.
• The federal government did little to protect the environment and the rights of First Nations.

Alaska Boundary Claims and The Yukon Territory

• In 1903, Canada and the United States decided to settle a land dispute that began in 1867.
• As a result, the Yukon Territory was formed in 1898 as a result of the gold rush.
• Canada had a growing sense of nationalism, with Canadians seeking greater independence and control over its own affairs.