National Policy and Social Change in Canada PDF

Chapter 1 Part 5 The National Policy and social change and culture I National Policy The National Policy was a central economic and political strategy of the Conservative Party under John A. Macdonald. From 1878 until the Second World War, Canada lev...

Chapter 1 Part 5 The National Policy and social change and culture I National Policy The National Policy was a central economic and political strategy of the Conservative Party under John A. Macdonald. From 1878 until the Second World War, Canada levied high tariffs on foreign imported goods, to shield Canadian manufacturers from American competition. This Policy proposed 3 solutions linked together:  Raise the tariffs on trades (make more $ and protect Canada’s manufacturers)  Expand the Railways (to move people and products more rapidly and efficiently)  Increase the number of immigrants (to populate the western Provinces) II Emigration vs Immigration Between 1840 and 1896, Canadian authorities were constantly struggling to keep a sufficient number of population to maintain the country’s economy stability. a) Emigration (when people leave the country) During those years, 1840-1896, 2 000 000 Canadian (mostly farmers) left Canada.  Cause: agricultural lands were overpopulated Jobs were hard to find The magnitude of the huge migration ("La Grande Hémorragie") Most of the emigrants came from rural areas of Quebec. (900 000) They were looking for financial and job security, especially in textile and shoe factories.  Consequence: to stop this huge wave of emigration, the federal and provincial authorities with the Church proposed a colonization program to prevent people from leaving. New lands were “opened” for agriculture Example : Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Laurentides, Gaspésie, Saguenay These colonization attempts are know as being part of agriculturism Agriculturism is an ideology promoting rural life and a traditional way of life. It is characterized by the valorization of traditional values (the family, the French language, the Catholic religion) and opposition to the industrial world. Agriculturism was born at a time when the harmful effects of industrialization were being felt. The return to the land plan proposed by agriculturists received government support. Premier Honoré Mercier was behind the creation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Colonization in 1888 (responsible for the program to colonize new regions of Quebec) and the Order of Agricultural Merit the following year (aimed at encouraging the agricultural sector). The clergy was also an ally for the agriculturists, as witnessed by the important involvement of parish priest Antoine Labelle in the development of new colonization regions in the Laurentians and Outaouais (Ottawa) This solution wasn’t enough so they had to find a long-term solution. b) Immigration (when people arrive in the country) To compensate the loss of population, Canada decided to increase immigration to populate the western provinces. Canada organized vast campaigns of marketing and publicity across Europe to encourage people to come. III Ultramontanism vs Anticlericalism Between 1840 and 1896 the Catholic Church regained popularity. Two points of view where opposed: Ultramontanism and Anticlericalism. Ultramontanism: Theory of those who rejected any compromise by Catholicism with modern thought, and demanded the supremacy of religious over civil society. Its central tenet was an attachment to the person of the pope and belief in the doctrine of his infallibility.  Ultramontanism took root in Canada 1820-30, under the influence of its first Catholic bishop, Jean-Jacques Lartigue.  His successor, Mgr Ignace Bourget, led ultramontane ideas to triumph in every field (theology, education, church-state relations, etc.) in Montréal and throughout most of Catholic Canada.  Extremists like Mgr Louis-François Laflèche, mobilized journalists and conservative politicians, who recommended a “programme catholique” which would guarantee the supremacy of the church in political life Mgr Lartigue Mgr Bourget Mgr Laflèche Anticlericalism: The “Institut canadien”, founded in 1844 in Montréal by a group of young French- Canadian intellectuals who wished to establish a center of patriotism and culture. The institute quickly became a political and cultural force in French Canadian society. The position of BOURGET (Ultramontane), led to the resignation of 138 members, to Rome's condemning the institute and placing its 1868 yearbook on the index of forbidden books. Led mostly by Louis-Antoine Dessaules, the anticlericalism movement wanted the Separation of the Churches and the State. Louis-Antoine Dessaules Canadian Institute 1844 IV Rural Exodus and urbanization With the implementation of Canada’s first industrialization phase (1850-1900) a great phenomenon occurred and led to other consequence: Rural exodus (is the migratory pattern of peoples from rural areas into urban areas. It is urbanization seen from the rural perspective) Many farmers went to cities to find jobs. Urbanization (An increase in a population in cities and towns versus rural areas. Urbanization began during the industrial revolution, when workers moved towards manufacturing hubs in cities to obtain jobs in factories as agricultural jobs became less common) Montreal’s population increased by 3 between 1850 and 1900. All these facts contributed to the emergence of the industrial working class and brought many challenges/consequences for the main cities:  No waterworks systems  Not enough living quarters  No municipal services (garbage disposals, road systems, etc.) Fast constructions were made thus creating miserable living conditions A) Living Conditions:  Infant mortality ( causes cholera, smallpox, diphtheria, poor quality water, unpasteurized milk, etc.) Nearly 1 in 4 children dies before one-year-old 35/00 children didn’t reach the age of 5 year’s old  The epidemics (It is especially in working class neighborhoods that spread contagious diseases. In 1885, smallpox 3,000 dead. In 1886, the government created the Provincial Commission of hygiene and adopts the law of public health.) B) Working Conditions: At the end of the 19th century, working conditions were extremely difficult.  Long working hours 60 to 72 hours a week  6 days of work/weekly  Low wages 1,50$ to 3,00$/week (1875- 1900)  Women and children made a 1/3 of men wages.  No protection for working/accidents These conditions led to the creation of Unions to get better conditions By 1880, numerous Unions were created. Definition of Union: An organized association of workers, often in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests. Slowly these Unions began to improve labor conditions such as:  Reduced hours 50 to 60/week  Salary increases  Protections The governments (federal and provincial) began to react to Unions demands EX: 1) 1885: The Manufacturers Act (Loi des manufactures du Québec), which targeted mostly women and children, was enacted in 1885. It’s the first law drafted for the protection of workers. 2) 1880: Unions are not illegal anymore. Therefore, strikes are more common (160 strikes between 1860 and 1900) V The end of the “Louis Riel affair” After the implementation of the National Policy in 1878, J.A Macdonald decided to finish the territorial expansion that began back in 1868. Reminder: The expansion was postponed because of the economic crisis between 1873-79. The federal surveyors started their expansion again in 1882, west of Manitoba. Louis Riel and the Metis (10 000) had resettled in the region of Batoche in Saskatchewan. Riel knew that the expansion would “meet” them again. Riel created a provisional government to negotiate with Macdonald. Macdonald sent the Canadian army to stop Riel and the Metis to prevent a “conflict”. In 1882, Louis was arrested. He will be judged, convicted and hung on November 16th 1885. The Riel Trial: This divided Canada’s population:  French Canadians considered Riel as a hero because like him and the Metis, they were a minority.  English speaking Canadians thought that Riel was traitor because he was representing “defiance” towards the authorities.