Canada: A Changing Canada: A Changing SocietySocietyGrade 8

Create a TimelineCreate a TimelineWith the students that sit around you, create a timeline of the events we have studied this year in history (up to our last lesson).

Answer the following questions:1. What time period we have covered.2. What was the most significant event?

Why?3. What was the most interesting/shocking

thing that you learned so far.

PRESENT YOUR RESPONSES TO THE CLASS.

Canada At the Turn of the Canada At the Turn of the Century:Century: National National DevelopmentsDevelopments

Part 1

Industrial Revolution (p. Industrial Revolution (p. 232)232)

Electricity replacing coal – cheaper and more efficient, goods produced faster and in higher quantities

Inventions – inventors making machines to increase production even more

Entrepreneurs – rise of new businesses to sell goodsRailway – need for iron and steel to make more

locomotives and railway cars – increase in miningManufactoring – factories making steel, textiles, tools

etc.◦ Winnipeg becomes a major center for

manufacturing in the West due to geographyRise of urban centres (p. 238)

Canadian Society (P. 224 – Canadian Society (P. 224 – 225)225)

Large gap between the rich and the poor◦ Wealthy living extravagantly ◦ Poor living in crowded and terrible conditions

Children working at a very young ageWork was often dangerousEducation and Health – p. 228First Nations - p. 229

Choose one of these topics and write a short paragraph comparing the situation then to the present day. Explain how and why things are different today.

EducationEducationOnly wealthy children could afford education (poor

children had to work)1871 Ontario passes a law that all children should

have at least elementary school educationBy 1900 all provinces (except Quebec) all children

between 7-12 were required to go to school◦ By 1901 83% of Canadians over the age of five

could read and write (literacy rate)—younger Canadians were more literate than their grandparents

Learning – focus on the 3Rs (Reading, Writing Arithmetic) along with history and geography◦ Spent a lot of time on memorization of grammar, reciting

history dates, handwriting, times tables and spelling

HealthHealthLiving conditions were poor and unsanitary

◦ No running water, toilets were basically outdoor pits

Drinking water came unpurified from rivers and lakes◦ Water was often contaminated by garbage

and outdoor toiletsHouses were often infested with rats and lice

—contributed to sickness and death rateMany children die in childhood due to illness

poor diet and lack of medical attentionGradually sanitary conditions improved,

training for doctors improved and children were immunized against diseases

Aboriginal PeoplesAboriginal PeoplesGovernment adopts a policy of assimilationIndian Act of 1876 sets out a policy of

assimilationResidential Schools – children taken away

from their parents ◦Not allowed to speak their language or

follow their cultural practices◦Children in some cases mentally,

emotionally and physically abused—punishments were severe

These policies had devastating effects on First Nations communities that can still be seen today

Global Economy (p. 232)Global Economy (p. 232)Industrial revolution – world becomes

more interconnected Raw materials from different parts of

the world needed for manufacturing ◦ i.e. automobile factories in Canada – iron ore

to make steel is from N.A., but rubber for tires comes from plantations in Brazil or Malaysia, leather from ranches in Argentina or Australia

Railways and Steamships make it possible to transfer goods and raw materials

Activity: GlobalizationActivity: GlobalizationWith the Industrial Revolution

transportation and communication made trading between nations possible. Raw materials and finished products were produced and traded . What are some positive and negative effects of globalization? Overall, do you believe we are better or worse off using this type of global market?

Write a 3 paragraph response.◦ 2 paragraphs - positive and negative effects◦ 1 paragraph – better or worse off? Explain.

ImmigrationImmigrationP. 230Take a few minutes to examine

the charts and graphs.

What do you notice?What do you think are some

reasons for this?

Immigration (p. 238)Immigration (p. 238)“Open door” immigration policy to

settle the West, 18861886-1911 – greatest wave of

immigration in Canadian history – almost 2 million

Cities across Canada growImmigrants often taking on the most

dangerous, dirty and difficult jobsHelp support new industry and

businesses

Issues with ImmigrationIssues with ImmigrationImmigrants looking for land and a better

life – often terrible homes and working conditions and mistreated by Canadians who were not happy with the immigration policy

Racism – British wanted only settlers with British backgrounds in order to keep strong ties to Britain, concerned with growing number of “foreigners” – French concerned immigrants would lessen their chances for French language rights and separate schools in the West

Policy ChangesPolicy ChangesImmigration officers could turn

away members of groups considered “less desirable”◦Asians, Blacks, Jews, East Asians,

Southern Europeans, and Americans

But already by 1912 Canada has become more multicultural – 1 in 5 are not of French or British origin

Activity: ImmigrationActivity: ImmigrationToday, Toronto is a very multicultural city. Do you believe that immigrants who come

to Canada should have to assimilate into the Canadian lifestyle or should they have the freedom to continue their cultural, social and religious traditions?

What happens when religious or cultural traditions conflict with Canadian law and practices? (i.e. polygamy, ceremonial daggers (kirpan), arranged marriages, honour killing, etc.) Should Canadian law and practice trump religious and cultural traditions?

Working Conditions (p. Working Conditions (p. 245)245) Many accidents 10 hour days (7:30am – 6pm), 6 day week Many people looking for work – people easily replaced Low wages – in the 1870s $185 – $245 per year –

barely enough to live on Workers fined or deducted money for breaking rules

(talking, working too slowly, sitting, wastefulness, mistakes)

Machines – replaced workers and could be run by unskilled workers

Women (p. 246-247) and children often took unskilled jobs and made less money than men to do the same work

No security or benefits No compensation if hurt on job No pension plans No coffee breaks or paid holidays

Activity: Working Activity: Working ConditionsConditionsCompare working conditions

today to the working conditions at the turn of the century. What are some of the differences and similarities?

Why were the working conditions so horrible back then?

How do you think change came about?

Living ConditionLiving ConditionAlmost impossible for an industrial

worker to buy a house – save $2500 - $4000

Most rented small dwellings or shabby apartments

Many could not afford anything beyond necessities (food, clothing, shelter)

Taverns – cheapest form of entertainment, way for men to escape troubles and horrible living conditions◦ Drunkenness became a national problem –

men would squander their income on liquor

Women in Society (p. 265)Women in Society (p. 265)Women do not have the right to vote until 1916

– “Election Act – no woman, idiot, lunatic, or criminal shall vote.”

No woman could be elected to federal or provincial government

Control over family – men could collect the income of is children and put them up for adoption

Commonly accepted role of woman – house duties, bear children (1 in 5 women died in childbirth)

Had to obey husbands – could be legally beatenCould not own a homeHad the right to financial support from

husbandsVery few received post secondary education (U

of T did not admit women until the 1880s.

Part 1 RecapPart 1 RecapDevelopments in Canada

◦ Social/Economic Gap between rich and poor Health and education – not provided for everyone Working conditions were poor and dangerous First Nations – Assimilation Policy

◦ Industrial Revolution◦ Global Economy◦ Immigration◦ Working Conditions◦ Living Conditions◦ Women in Society

ChangeChangePart 2

Workers Take Action (p. Workers Take Action (p. 252)252)Workers begin to form unions Labour union – an organization of workers

who join together to improve their working conditions

Many employers were against unions – they wanted to hire and fire whom they pleased—did not want to be told how to run their businesses

Workers were poor and afraid of losing their jobs to complain or join unions, but the union movement grew

At first unions were illegal, but in 1876 John A. Macdonald was forced to pass a law to legalize unions (p. 244 – began with the printers and were supported by all workers)—strikes spread rapidly

Labour unions today (p. 259)

Activity: Workers Take Activity: Workers Take ActionActionMany today believe that unions are no

longer necessary because there are laws to ensure workers rights. Some even argue that unions have a negative impact on the workforce because they protect workers who are incompetent and negligent.

Are unions still necessary and important today or have they served their purpose and no longer needed? Explain.

Women Demand Change (p. Women Demand Change (p. 269 -271)269 -271)Late 1800s women begin to form

organizations to combat various causes (alcoholism, equality, rights, education, etc.)

Suffragists – members of the women’s movement at the beginning of the 20th C

Women used arguments, petitions and organized demonstrations

1916 women in Manitoba get the right to vote1921 Agnes Macphail, first woman to be

elected to the house of commons, Nellie McClung (lead women’s movement to vote in Manitoba) was elected to the Alberta legislature

Activity: Women Demand Activity: Women Demand ChangeChangeIn sports women and men are segregated

—women play women and men play menThis division has been questioned and

challenged in the past (i.e. Annika Sorenstam, Serena Williams, Danika Patrick). Should women be allowed to compete with men? Would this be a good/bad thing for women’s sports. Explain.

Male athletes make more money than female athletes. The discrepancy is often justified based on popularity, endorsements and ticket sales. Do you agree with justification? Explain.