Canada 1900-1913
Wilfred Laurier
“Canada has been modest in its history. In my estimation it is only commencing. It is commencing in this century. As the 19th century was that of the United States, so, I think the twentieth century shall be filled by Canada.”
Historical Background
• French-English Relations
• Seven Years War 1759-63
• Conquest 1759• Quebec Act 1774
• Canadian-American Relations
• American Revolution 1775-82
• Creation of Upper Canada (Loyalists)
• War of 1812• Confederation 1867
Sir John A. MacDonald(1867-1891)
• Goals = attract immigrants, build a transcontinental railway, create jobs and encourage British investment – NATIONAL POLICY
• Strategy = advertise free land in Europe, give $ to railroad companies, set up high tariffs on imports to encourage Canadian manufacturing
• Accomplishments – little immigration due to American competition, CPR build by 1885, few industrial firms
Sir Wilfred Laurier (1896-1911)• Goals – Make the National Policy work• Strategy – massive advertising & free land,
encouraged new railway construction• Accomplishments – settlement of Canadian
west, creation of Saskatchewan & Alberta in 1905, growth of eastern cities, 2 new railroads become the CNR, growth mining, pulp & paper, lumber, and increased US investment
Immigration Policies• Clifford Sifton – 1896 Minister of Interior
– Open door immigration policy
– Attracted Germans, Americans, Swedes, British, Dutch, Russians…
– Added 2 million to population by 1910
• Frank Oliver – 1905 Minister of Interior– 1910 immigration act
– Restrictive, exclusive, selective
– Turned away Asians, African Americans, Jews, Asiatic Indians, southern Europeans
Assignment• Form groups of 3. Each person should take notes
on one of the following topics. Be sure to include information on all the pages in your section but condense it to the important details in your own words. Add the page numbers in the margin.
• Section 1: The Long Journey: Immigrant Experiences pp. 36-42 (omit 38)
• Section 2: The Effects of Technology in the Home, Living Conditions, Changes in the Workplace pp. 45-51 (omit 46, 48)
• Section 3: Working Conditions, The Rise of Reform Movements pp. 52-56