CHAPTER 6 – The Golden West

If its in purple, its an important point which you should take note of.

IntroductionJohn A. Mcdonald’s dream of building a

nation from sea to sea included the settlement of the west. He imagined the Canadian Pacific Railway transporting thousands of immigrants to the Canadian prairies.

These immigrants would produce agricultural

goods and everyone would grow wealthy!

However- the National Policy did not produce the expected flood of settlers

The settlement of the West occurred later, under the Liberal govemerment of Wilfird Laurier

Laurier was prime minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911

He made Clifford Sifton responsible for immigration and western development

Clifford SiftonSifton launched a campaign to “sell Canada”

and “open the door” to Canada WestHe targeted farmers because he believed

they had the skills to settle on the praries

Selling CanadaHis offers of free or inexpensive land was

attractiveImmigrants saw advertisements showing

fields of golden wheatPeople travelled by the thousands to settle in

the “Golden West”

Reasons for Coming to CanadaCopy the following into a mind mapWheat: a new type of wheat had been

developed which ripened earlier, did not need as much water, and produced more grain

The United States had previously offered free land in the west – but my 1900 all of the best land was gone. Canada became “the best west”

Reasons for Coming to CanadaNew farming machines made work faster

and more profitable: steam powered reapers to cut grain, binders to tie grain, and the Case tractor to break land

The Dominion Land Act of 1872: made it easier to get a land grant. The Canadian government gave out 625 000 land grants in Western Canada

Reasons for Coming to CanadaIn Europe people were leaving farms to find

better paying factory jobs. But the need for wheat increased – as well as the price. Canada was shipping tonnes of wheat to feed the growing British population

The federal government reserved large sections of land for immigrant of the same nationality. These bloc settlements offered new settlers some comfort and familiarity in their new home

Selling Canada! Clifford Sifton approached the task of

promoting Canada like a salesmanHe launched an advertising campaign

targeted at farmers

Photographs like this one were used to advertise the wealth of Canadian oppourtunities

This arch made of woods, grains, and fruits was built in London, England to honour both Canada and the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902

Who came to Canada?British immigrants: over one million

between 1900-1914American Farmers: inexpensive land

attracted over 750 000 Americans to Canada West

Who came to Canada?European Immigrants: Mennonites from

Germany, Russia and Prussia were pacifists: it was against their religion to go to war or swear an oath to a King so they were prosecuted in their homelands. They were promised they could be exempt from military service if they came to the Praries

Ukranians: most from russia: many were treated like second hand citizens in European countries. This means they were denied full rights other people had. Canada was their hope to build a better life. (170 000 Ukrainian immigrants by 1914)

Who Came to CanadaHome Children: some children’s

organizations in Britain sent poor, abandoned, orphaned or runaway children to Canada

Most were between the ages of seven and fourteen

They moved onto farms where they would work in exchange for room and board until they were 18

Some were treated as members of the family, others were neglected and abused

About 100 000 children were sent

Gold!Other adventurers

travelled west for another type of gold

In 1896 thousands of gold seekers flooded into Yukon with dreams of striking it rich!

The Stampeders!Thousands of people made their way north

after news of Gold being found in the YukonMost of these stampeders had no idea what

they were getting intoThey walked treacherous paths, including the

Chilkoot Pass.

The Chilkoot PassPolice did not let them through unless they

had a years worth of food: some people had to make 20-30 trips up and down the mountain pass to carry the goods required

Gold Rush Ends More than $95 million in gold was mined

from the Klondike between 1896-1903However, most of the gold was gone by 1900By 1911 the population of the Yukon went

from 30 000 to 8512.