1. Laurier Era

2. Who is Wilfred Laurier? Prime Minister Of Canada 1896 – 1911 Liberal
First French Canadian Prime Minister
Wants English/ French Canadian Unity
Believes “the 20th century belongs to Canada”

3. The Laurier Era: the Golden Age
Era of fighting for rights (women/ labour)
Defining Canada through Immigration policy (British - NOT Multicultural)
Conflict and Compromise between French and English Canada
Economic boom for 20 years: Resources
Yukon Gold Rush
Forestry, Fisheries, Mining, Pulp/Paper, Hydro-electricity, agriculture

4. The Laurier Era: the Golden Age
Technology/ Inventions change life
Car (ex. Canadian Cycle and Motor Company)
Airplane (1911)
Telephone
Wireless cross- Atlantic telegraph (1901)
Radio
“Moving Pictures” (“Nickelodeons”)
Refrigerators

5. The Laurier Era: the Golden Age
Development of Canadian Culture
Coca-Cola / Canada dry ginger ale
Emily Carr and Group of Seven Artists
Literature: Anne of Green Gables and Cremation of Sam McGee

6. What issues existed in this era?
Manitoba School Question p. 244
Boer War/ Naval Services Act p. 246/247
Alaska Boundary Dispute p. 247
Women’s Suffragist Movement p. 265/ 266
Chinese immigration / Head Tax p. p. 273 , Canadian issues p. 24
Komagata Maru p

7. In Groups, Answer: 1. Summary: What is the event?
2. Which of the following is this an example of?
Intolerance
French/ English conflict
development of Government
Fear of American Annexation
3. Brainstorm: What are other examples of this issue from our course?

8. Boer War
What happened
Britain invades South Africa in 1899 to gain control of gold and diamonds found there
Britain demanded Canada, as a former colony whose foreign policy they control, send troops
Reaction in Canada
English Canada feels connected to Britain and agrees
French Canada doesn't want to support Britain imperialism, and feel the war is unjust (and nothing to de with canada)
Result
Laurier Compromises: Canada pays to equip and Send Volunteers only
Neither side happy
Theme for Course: English / French Tension

11. Naval Services Act What happened
1911: Britain asked Canada to give them money to build a navy – Britain was in an arms race with Germany
Reaction in Canada
English Canada wants to help out Britain
French Canada (lead by Henri Bourassa) doesn’t want to build a Navy for Britain – but would like one for Canada
Result:
Laurier Compromises: Naval Services Act : build a Canadian Navy that Britain can use in emergencies
Reaction: both hate it – called “tin-pot Navy” by English, and French fear Canada will now be involved in England’s wars

13. Manitoba School Act What happened:
Manitoba Act (creating the province) gave equal rights to English-protestant and French Catholic schools
Over time – more English settlers – pressure federal government to make schools English-protestant only
Result: Manitoba School Act: No Public funding to Roman Catholic schools
Reaction in Canada:
Reaction: French Canada is angry (and so are the Metis)
Result:
Laurier compromises: French allowed in school with over 10 French students, on request, Catholic religious study for ½ per day, but no funding to a Catholic school board
Reaction to compromise: Neither happy, French / metis feel betrayed

15. Alaskan Boundary Dispute
What happened
Gold is discovered in 1897 in the Yukon and American miners head up north
America had bought Alaska from Russia, and everyone had to travel through the American “panhandle” to get to the gold
Dispute over where the actual boundary of Alaska was
Tribunal to decide official boundary: 3 American, 1 Canadian, 2 British
Britain Votes in favour of USA boundary claim, against Canada, to keep USA support / trade
Reaction in Canada
Canada is betrayed – but has no choice = Britain controls Canada’s foreign policy as stated in the BNA

17. Women’s Suffrage Movement
What Happened
Women in 1900 – expected to marry and not work outside the home, education is not prioritized
Suffragist Movement is the fight for the right to vote
Want to make laws that will improve lives of families (such as prohibition)
Opposition is very strong
Nellie McClung is leader in Movement, and gains the Provincial vote in Manitoba first – 1916
Prairies were first – women work alongside men on farm, prejudice is less

18. Women’s Suffrage Movement
Manitoba - January, 1916
Saskatchewan – March 1916
Alberta – April 1916
British Columbia – April 1917
Ontario – April 1917
Federal Vote – 1918 (due to WW1 and conscription crisis)
Nova Scotia – April 1918
New Brunswick – April 1919
PEI – May 1922
Newfoundland – April 1925
Quebec – April 1940

21. Chinese Head Tax What happened
Chinese in BC (Canada) due to CPR and gold rush, and to find a better life
BC (and Canada) wanted to keep Canada “British” and put in place discriminatory immigration policies
Goal of Head tax: keep Chinese out of Canada
Head Tax on Chinese Immigration
1885: $50
1900: $100
1903: $500
Reaction in Canada
BC residents form the “Asiatic Exclusion League” and riots will occur (1907) over Asian immigration
Laurier will apologize for the riots, but restrict Japanese immigration to 400 per year as a result

24. Komagata Maru What happened
India was a colony of Britain, and therefore could immigrate to Canada
The Continuous Passage Act was passed stating only those who came directly could immigrate to Canada (impossible from India)
1914: Ship named Komagata Maru, carrying 354 Sikh immigrants arrives in Vancouver.
BC places them in quarantine – not allowing them ashore
Many nearly starve to death
Ship is escorted out of Vancouver by the HMCS Rainbow
Result in Canada
May 23, 2008 –British Columbia Government issued an apology

26. How does Laurier “the Juggler” help explain this era?