Building the Canadian Pacific Railway 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.” Student Questions Where was the majority of ‘track’ already laid in Canada? – Atlantic Provinces, Quebec and Ontario What do you remember about the National Dream? Who was not in favour of it? – Atlantic Provinces, Why? – they had strong ties to the south.

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 Student Questions What else was John A. Macdonald famous for?

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 Student Questions List all the features of Sir Hugh Allan’s house on this slide and the next one.

Sir Allan’s house

Important People con’t Sanford Fleming Chief surveyor for the CPR Invented time zones Movie Clip Movie clip is from Historica Minutes

Roger’s Pass and Mount Carroll Student Observations What obstacles would the builders encounter in this stretch of the CPR? Roger’s Pass and Mount Carroll

Important People con`t Alexander Mackenzie Prime Minister after Macdonald Disagreed with the building of the railway Student Questions If Mackenzie disagreed with the building of the railway, what could he do?

Mountain Creek bridge, on the C.P.R., BC, 1889 Student Questions How would this bridge have been built? What was it made of?

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? Video is at http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/federal_politics/clips/11686/

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 Question 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 Rocky mountaineer video (from company website) Student Observations As you watch the video, focus on the terrain the train goes through. Make a list of the difficulties you see in building the line.

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 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 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 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 Harvesting Wheat. Wheat cars in a train yard.

Chinese & Working Conditions Working conditions were harsh and dangerous Avalanches Tunnels collapsed Men fell from unfinished bridges and trestles Nitro Nitro historica minute available at www.historica.ca

Chinese & 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 is on CBC archives pages. The clip is downloadable Student Questions Chinese Immigration to Canada   How many Chinese were brought to Canada in the 1880’s? ___________________ Compared to a Caucasian, how much did a Chinese worker get paid? _____________________ How many Chinese workers died? ______ in 10. What were some of the causes of their deaths? ____________________ When was the railway completed? ___________________ How did the government of Canada dissuade Chinese Immigration? ____________________ What did this cost? _____________ In 1923, Canadian Government passed this law _____________________________ For the 4! In the Comox Valley, where were Chinese Labourers employed and how were they treated? Chinese Immigration to Canada Video

Route through the Rockies Student questions Was this the original route

Fraser Canyon, BC Modern CPR rail lines

CPR tunnel in Fraser Canyon

Kicking Horse Pass Kicking Horse pass

Kicking Horse Pass / Spiral Tunnels Spiral tunnels / Kicking horse pass / ‘big hill’

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) Top photo courtesy of www.revelstokemuseum.ca Bottom photo – me.