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Unions
Between 1880 and 1910 workers began to organize labour unions. 10% of the worker industry joined this Union. These unions negotiated matters such as wage and working conditions. Early Unions face struggled because unskilled workers could be easily replace, government and legal systems favored emplyers and companies hired private police. -
Immigration To Prairies
Canadian immigration policy from 1896-1914 succeeded because of push pull factors. Vast migrations of population occured because one needed to leave a home's or the opportunity in another country. During immigration, push pull factors worked perfectly. Some were absorbed by the prairies because of the rising grain prices. -
Last Best West
Laurier pushed for settlement of the West. Canada was appealing. It was the end of depression and there was a growing demand for wheat. There was also no more free land in the US. Dominion's land act in 1872 which gave 160 acres of land to males over 20. They had to pay $10 registration fee and had to reside on the land for at least 3 years. They had to cultivate 30 acres and build a permanent dwelling. Clifford Sifton had the open-door policy which had no restrictions on immigration. -
Wilfrid Laurier Becomes Prime Minister
Sir Wilfrid Laurier was born November 20, 1841. He was the first French speaking Prime Minister of Canada and reigned from July 11, 1896 - October 5, 1911. He is known as a great leader who expanded Confederation and pushed for a French and English society. -
Boer war
Boer War occured from 1899-1902. The war was between the Cape Colony and the Transvaal. Transvaal and Orange Free State were occupied by Boers who were the original inhabitants of the countries. English wanted these countries for diamonds and gold that were located in Transvaal. Laurier did not want to send his troops right away so he created "Laurier's Compromise" which was to take on the cost to equip and transport volunteers to South Africa. -
Woman's Movement
The campaign for Women's suffrage came in the Laurier era. Suffragists were mainly middle-class women fighting for social reform. The first three provinces to enfranchise women were Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1916. Maternal feminists believed that Feminine influence would lead too laws that could improve lives of woman/children. -
Life on the Prairies
Once the new Canadian settlers claimed their land, they had to adjust to a new life. The first task was to raise at least $500 to outfit their homestead with the basic farming tools. Immigrants often worked on other farms or in lumber, railway or mining camps to raise money. Living conditions were primitive. Comfort was sacrificed to raise the first crop. Houses were often made of mud-covered sod on a wood frame. Some hardships included the long bitterly cold winters and tnatural disasters. -
Alaska Boundary Disupute
The Alaska boundary dispute, took place between Canada and the US over the legal boundaries of Alaska which was purchased by the US in 1867. In 1903, the US and Canada were in an Alaskan Boundary Tribunal with 6 judges. Both sides with equal judges. After weeks of discussion, the judges voted in favor of the US. -
Alberta Becomes A Province
Alberta is located in Western Canada acting as the middle between BC and Saskatchewan. Alberta became a province of Canada in September 1, 1905. -
Saskatchewan Becomes A Province
The main reason why Saskatchewan became a province was the financial benefits. If Saskatchewan became a province it would receive federal funding and was eligible to receive loans from the government. Saskatchewan became a province on the same day Alberta became a province on September 1, 1905. -
Anti-Asian Riots
The Vancouver Anti-Chinese League was a group of people that discriminated and rioted the Chinese, especially Chinatown and Japtown. Many stores windows were broken and in most cases on fire. -
Laurier Boom Years
New technologies encouraged the development of Canada's rich storehouse of natural resources. The forests of the Canadian Shield provided raw material for the new pulp and paper mills, which caused the newspaper industry to grow. The great prosperity of these years resulted from rising world prices and expanding markets for Canadian products. Gold from South African mines flowed into London, where it was used by wealthy industrialists to invest in developing BC territories such as Canada -
Immigration Issues (Chinese, Komagata Maru)
Strong anti-Asian feelings led to the Canadian government issuing a court on January 8, 1908, that attempted to put a stop to all immigration from India. Indian immigrants who searched for admittance into Canada were required to come by continuous passage from their country of origin, which was impossible at the time because the immigrants needed to stop for supplies. This law resulted in the Komagata Maru incident, where immigrants had to pay for their passage. -
Naval Crisis
There was a Naval race between German and Great Britain. Germans had the two power standard that Great Britain had to match. Imperialists in Canada wanted to help by building ships or donating money for the creation of the ships. Laurier introduced the Naval Service Act in 1910 which stated that Canada would have a navy of it's own, which would be later turned to Britain in times of emergency. The imperialists believed that the Navy had barely any ships and that it cost Canada too much. -
Robert Borden Becomes Prime Minister
Robert Borden was a Canadian lawyer and politician, who was the eighth Prime Minister of Canada.He reigned from October 10, 1911-July 10, 1920. He was the First Prime Minister to be in the First World War. Robert Borden's face is depicted on the $100 dollar bill. -
Life In The City
The development of manafacturing industries also encouraged thousands of Canadians to abandon rural life for work in the cities. Montreal and Toronto doubled in size. Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver increased in population. Life was often bleak for immigrants in growing Canadian cities. many of the newcomers were unskilled and spoke little English. They were often exploited in unsafe, low-paying factory jobs. Many lived in ghettos. -
Nisga's Land Claim
Nisga's treaty was signed on August 4, 1998. This treaty allowed entitlement to all resources in Nisga land, and the right to timber outside settlement area and 20% of Nass River Salmon. Nisga chiefs wanted to accomplish aboriginal title to the land, larger reserves and compensation for surrendered Nisga land with this treaty.
