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The National Dream
Building the Canadian Pacific Railway
Background
• Railways were the steel that bound this country together and made modern Canada possible.
• National Dream…joining the country together from “Sea to shining sea.”
Important People
John A Macdonald• Prime Minister• Had a dream of creating a nation that would
rival the U.S.• Worried the U.S. would assimilate Canada
John`s Facebook page
Important People con’t
William Van Horne• General manager of the CPR• He picked Vancouver as the western end of
the line• In one year, the CPR laid 500 miles of track
Important People con’t
Sir Hugh Allan• Created the Canadian Pacific Railway company
in 1871• Gave $ to Macdonald’s election campaign
(over $300,000)
Sir Allan’s house
Sir Allan’s house
Important People con’tSanford Fleming• Chief surveyor for the CPR• Invented time zones
Movie Clip
Important People con`t
Alexander Mackenzie• Prime Minister after Macdonald• Disagreed with the building of the railway
Mountain Creek bridge, on the C.P.R., BC, 1889
Chinese work gang on the C.P.R., Glacier Park, BC, 1889
1872 - Pacific Scandal
Prime Minister Macdonald accepted a donation of $300,000 from Hugh Allan (to help run for re-election) in exchange for giving a guaranteed railway contract. video
• Macdonald is re-elected an Allan gets a contract to build the railroad to BC
Your assignment: Does Macdonald seem apologetic (sorry)? Explain. When this becomes public, Macdonald has to resign. ….Who becomes Prime Minister?
What the CPR got?
In return for building the railway:– the CPR would ‘own’ it.– The government gave the company 10 million
hectares of land– The company sold off the land to settlers
Student Question1.Who got the better deal? The CPR for building or Canada for getting the railway? Why? - Make sure you explain your answer
A view of the Rockies
• Rocky Mountaineer train
National Policy
Macdonald developed the National Policy for the election platform of 1878.– He believed that it was a formula for nation
building– The policy remained part of Canadian government
policy will into the 1900’s.– Dealt with three main issues
National Policy 1
1. A system of protective tariffs– During the 1870’s the Canadian economy was
damaged by the U.S.– American companies could produce goods more
cheaply that Canadian companies & they dumped their goods on Cdn markets.
– Macdonald created a series of tariffs that would protect Canadian manufacturing, mining and agriculture from the U.S.
National Policy 2
2. Western Settlement– Eastern politicians viewed the west as a vast
potential market– Wanted to encourage settlement by farmers– Gov’t discouraged development of
manufacturing in the west so that Western farmers could become a captive market for goods
National Policy 3
3. The CPR– This was the cornerstone of the National Policy– The West could not develop without a way to
transport goods in and out of the region
Chinese & Working Conditions
Nitro
Working conditions were harsh and dangerous•Avalanches•Tunnels collapsed•Men fell from unfinished bridges and trestles
Chinese & Living Conditions
Living Conditions• Living in overcrowded tents• Filthy bunk houses• No medical facilities• Exposed to harsh weather conditions• Illness and disease (scurvy epidemic in Port Moody
killed 200 Chinese)
• 600 Chinese workers perished on the Fraser Canyon section of the CPR
Chinese Immigration to Canada Video
Route through the Rockies
Fraser Canyon, BC
Kicking Horse pass
Kicking Horse Pass / Spiral Tunnels
The Last Spike
November 1885 – Eagle Pass, BC (Craigellachie)
• The CPR built the railway in 5 years (not 10 as was promised)
• BC was now linked to the rest of Canada
• Railway made it easier for people to settle the West
• Movement between east-west was faster (encouraged trade within the country)
