1. Western Expansion and the National Policy
Chapter 10
Western Expansion and the National Policy

2. Focus Questions
What ideas of citizenship shaped Canada’s western expansion?
How did immigration shape the demography and economy of western Canada?
What challenges did the immigration pose for peoples already living in western Canada?

3. Getting the West Ready for Settlement
In 1871, BC joined confederation and Canada’s government promised a link to eastern Canada via the railway.
The Canadian federal government was required to negotiate treaties with the natives living in the west because of the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and because the United States had difficulty moving west.
Canada & the U.S, took two different perspectives.
The United States fought with natives.
Canada took the peaceful way or were the treaties just as unjust?

5. The Numbered Treaties
The treaties where numbered in chronological order beginning in 1871 and ending in 1921.

7. Treaties Canadian Government Perspective First Nation Perspective
Treaties would assimilate First Nations .
government believed they now “owned” the land
Canadian government put treaties in writing
First Nation Perspective
Treaties would help them adapt and ensure their culture survived. Canadian
First Nations people didn’t have the same understanding of the word “own”. They believed they were sharing the land.
First Nation practice was to do everything orally.

8. Treaties
Treaties promised the natives, Education, Health care, Reserves, Rights to hunt and fish, Farming assistance and payments
Residential Schools were a method to force assimilation upon the First Nations by separating parents and children, disrupting their connections to their language, culture and traditions.

9. Treaties
By 1885 the railway was complete and the treaties were being signed
The west was now ready for change and immigration.
Western Canada’s population began to soar while buffalo began to decline.

10. Northwest Mounted Police
Founded in 1873 following the massacre of Nakoda First Nations by Canadian & American traders. The traders set up Fort Whoop and began selling alcohol and guns for buffalo and furs.
First regiment of NWMP was in Dufferin, Manitoba in 1874.
First headquarters Fort Macleod
The NWMP quickly developed a trust with the First Nations that allowed the railway and settlers to come west.

11. The National Policy
“Pacific Scandal” of John A. Macdonald was accused of accepting bribes to reward the railway contract to CP Railway who supported Macdonald and the Conservative Part.
After Macdonald lost the 1873 election he would come back to power in 1878 with a National Policy as his election platform.
Promote Canadian Identity
buy Canadian products regardless of price.
Proposed a tariff on American goods sold in Canada.
Finish National Railway
Fulfill promise of railway to BC and help take settlers west and their crops east.
Settle the West by giving immigrants free land. This would promote settlement,
The establishment of colonies and new industries.
The west would be the agriculture capital of Canada.

12. Chinese Railway Workers
Many of Canadian Pacific Railway workers were from China because they were a form of cheap labor.
After the railway they would move to lumber and cannery industries but faced extreme discrimination wherever they went.
Canada would attempt to restrict Chinese immigration by passing laws that required the Chinese to pay $50 to enter Canada.
Canada would continue to increase the head tax as immigration continued.
The railway would finally be completed in 1885 and connected Canada from sea to sea.

14. Impacts of Immigration on Western Canada

15. Impacts of Immigration on Western Canada
In 1890 only 2 % of Canada’s population lived in the west.
Under Wilfred Laurier (Prime Minister, July 1986) the growth of the west became an important priority to make Canada strong and protect against US expansion

16. Clifford Sifton
Clifford Sifton (Minister of the Interior) began an advertising campaign to attract immigrants from the United States and Britain but excluded French speaking countries such as France, Switzerland or Belgium.
Sifton placed posters in train stations, fairs and offices to show Canada’s incredible farmland for free.
Sifton believed “British is best” and wanted farmers to come from Britain.
However, the immigration would eventually come from many different ethnic groups.
Many people already situated in Western Canada were uneasy about the massive immigration.

19. French Speaking Settlers
They wanted Canadiens and Catholics to be able to settle in the west. Missionaries were set up to help recruit those to come to western Canada. This established communities such as Beaumont and Morinville.
Set up catholic schools for French speaking people

20. French Speaking Settlers
Offered high education in French
Francophones entered politics with the creation of Alberta & Saskatchewan in 1905.
Founded newspapers that reported all levels of news.
Hospitals were founded including the Grey Nuns in Edmonton

21. Eastern Europeans
Contributed to economic and industrial growth to Canada’s west.
They provided new markets for products and increased agricultural production

22. Ukrainian Settlers
Ukrainian settlers moved west because of the fertile soil
Population

25. Russian & Polish Settlers
Russian and Polish immigrants settle predominately in cities.
They started factories mills and bee colonies.
The Coal mining industry also experienced growth. Because of the low wages many would join political groups or create unions for better working conditions and wages.

26. Alberta & Saskatchewan
1875 the federal government controlled the land and established an elected representation based upon populations of over 1,000.
In 1891 this elected assembly took over.
The group could control roads and schools but could not tax to make money.
Frederick Haultain premier of North-West Territories campaigned to have their own provincial rights.
Wilfred Laurier believed the area was too large and split the land into two provinces: Alberta & Saskatchewan.