CANADA AT THE TURN OF THE 19TH CENTURY

1.2 – The effects of technology

Mass Society

Technological changes created by the industrial revolution created a “mass society”

Mass communication through telephone, radio and telegraph

The workforce became increasingly literate and newspapers became mass produced

Mass transport through the use of bicycle but was quickly replaced by motor cars

Tea and bacon was mass produced for markets

Food could now be frozen, canned and shipped worldwide

New jobs were created thanks to the mass production They had long hours though – 7:30am to 9:15pm

Mass entertainment By 1909, 20 million people a week were

watching films Football leagues were created

Mass Society

Effects of the Great Demand Two new railway lines were created and

subsidized by Laurier’s government Grand Trunk Pacific: from Prince Rupert,

BC to Winnipeg; linked to the National Transcontinental Railway from Winnipeg to Moncton

Canadian Northern Railway: from Vancouver to Montreal; was an alternative to the Canadian Pacific Railway

1 in 3 Canadian workers at this time worked with the railway Laying tracks, producing machinery, etc.

By World War I the railways were in financial trouble so the government took over both the Grand Trunk Pacific and Canadian Northern Railways and they became Canadian National Railways (CNR)

Effects of the Great Demand

Importance of Railways

Railway was an important form of personal transportation (like cars today)

It was very important for commercial transport Manufactured goods able to be carried

West Grain was carried east Seasonal workers were carried West to

work on farms Served cities and industries close to the

American border

Importance of Railways

Basis for settling the west Immigrants were carried from ports in the East

(Halifax) to western cities and farm communities Brought Americans directly from the US to

Canada Provided work for

railway workers Industries and towns

were created and grew along the rail lines Grain elevators

Importance of Railways

1. Why were subsidies important in this period of Canadian history?

2. What were the main reasons why railways were important for (a) industry and business, and (b) immigration and settlement.

Importance of Railways

The Changing Face of Canada New immigrants brought many changes to

Canada For example, place names

Appearance of communities based on ethnic origins of populations British settlers had churches with steeples; Ukrainian

Orthodox churches had onion-shaped domes There was a shift from mostly rural population at

Confederation to a large influx into urban centres The growth of cities led to new jobs

Digging sewers, building streetcar tracks, paving streets, etc.

Two Autonomy Bills formed two new provinces Introduced by Laurier in 1905 Created Alberta (named after Queen Victoria’s

husband) and Saskatchewan (Native word for its major river)

The new provinces were not given control of their own resources like the other provinces

The majority wanted a secular (non-religious) education system but Laurier allowed minorities to establish their own school if they wanted

In 1912 provinces boundaries extended to where they are now

The Changing Face of Canada

The Changing Face of Canada