Peopling of CanadaPeopling of Canada

1891-1921 – Immigration to Canada1891-1921 – Immigration to Canada

Population grewPopulation grew Frontiers of settlement extendedFrontiers of settlement extended Ethnic composition of the population became Ethnic composition of the population became

diversifieddiversified

AgricultureAgriculture

Eastern agricultural land filled to capacityEastern agricultural land filled to capacity Gov’t wanted to take advantage of land Gov’t wanted to take advantage of land

potential for agriculture in the Westpotential for agriculture in the West Dominions Land Act – Settlers could acquire Dominions Land Act – Settlers could acquire

160 acres of free land, provided they stayed 160 acres of free land, provided they stayed for three yearsfor three years

NWMP – Were sent west to secure the NWMP – Were sent west to secure the territory for settlersterritory for settlers

First ArrivalsFirst Arrivals

Ontario born farmersOntario born farmers British immigrantsBritish immigrants Europeans fleeing religious or economic Europeans fleeing religious or economic

persecutionpersecution Russian MennonitesRussian Mennonites Icelanders Icelanders UkrainiansUkrainians

WinnipegWinnipeg

Gateway to the West – major stop along the Gateway to the West – major stop along the CPRCPR

Land speculation – large increase in Land speculation – large increase in populationpopulation

Processor of Agricultural products from Processor of Agricultural products from surrounding countrysurrounding country

PopulationPopulation

Older First Nation MetisOlder First Nation Metis Protestant English-Speaking settlers from Protestant English-Speaking settlers from

Ontario and British IslesOntario and British Isles Austria-HungariansAustria-Hungarians UkrainiansUkrainians

PoliticsPolitics

Protect Canada from US annexationProtect Canada from US annexation Import large numbers of Eastern Canadian and Import large numbers of Eastern Canadian and

British SettlersBritish Settlers Continued supporting the Canada Pacific Continued supporting the Canada Pacific

Railway to connect British Columbia to Railway to connect British Columbia to Canada (and all in between)Canada (and all in between)

Urban LifeUrban Life

location of private residences depended not location of private residences depended not only upon possession of capital, but often on only upon possession of capital, but often on ethnic background and length of residence in ethnic background and length of residence in Canada Canada

'foreign' immigrants inadequate and cramped 'foreign' immigrants inadequate and cramped high-rent housing of the poor districts high-rent housing of the poor districts

Canadian and British born citizens tended to Canadian and British born citizens tended to inhabit the wealthier areas of town inhabit the wealthier areas of town

Rural LifeRural Life

social reformers believed that rural living, in social reformers believed that rural living, in stark contrast to urban, would lead to a stark contrast to urban, would lead to a healthy, moral, and charitable way of life healthy, moral, and charitable way of life

Social reformers praised the ability of fresh Social reformers praised the ability of fresh air, hard work, and open spaces for air, hard work, and open spaces for 'Canadianizing' immigrants 'Canadianizing' immigrants

Settlement EraSettlement Era

dispossession of Native land rights through the dispossession of Native land rights through the signing of the seven numbered treaties in the signing of the seven numbered treaties in the 1870s 1870s

A worldwide economic boom in the late 1890s A worldwide economic boom in the late 1890s caused wheat prices to rise on international caused wheat prices to rise on international markets and made farming more profitable markets and made farming more profitable

One of the most important factors was the One of the most important factors was the completion of the transcontinental railway in completion of the transcontinental railway in 1885 1885

Clifford SiftonClifford Sifton

Minister of the Interior (under Laurier)Minister of the Interior (under Laurier) Focus to populate the Northwest with farmersFocus to populate the Northwest with farmers ““advertising Canada” - advertising Canada” - use words like use words like

'invigorating' and 'bracing' instead of 'freezing' 'invigorating' and 'bracing' instead of 'freezing' and 'desolate' to describe western Canada and 'desolate' to describe western Canada

Banned publication of Manitoba temperatures Banned publication of Manitoba temperatures abroad – no references to snowabroad – no references to snow

Emigration Office – London, Emigration Office – London, EnglandEngland

AdvertisingAdvertising

Offered free/cheap landOffered free/cheap land Establishing emigration agencies overseasEstablishing emigration agencies overseas Assisted passage schemes, bonuses and Assisted passage schemes, bonuses and

commissions to agents and settlerscommissions to agents and settlers Letters to home – often glorified conditions to Letters to home – often glorified conditions to

impress family – embellished tales of good impress family – embellished tales of good fortune and happinessfortune and happiness

Preferential SettlersPreferential Settlers

British – Two million from 1901-1921British – Two million from 1901-1921 Sifton - Sifton - "stalwart peasant in a sheepskin coat, "stalwart peasant in a sheepskin coat,

born on the soil, whose forefathers have been born on the soil, whose forefathers have been farmers for ten generations, with a stout wife farmers for ten generations, with a stout wife and a half dozen children" was the right kind and a half dozen children" was the right kind of settler for the Canadian West. of settler for the Canadian West.

French Canadians thought this was a strategy French Canadians thought this was a strategy to Anglicize Canadato Anglicize Canada

UndesirablesUndesirables

Calculating immigrants' 'foreignness' took into Calculating immigrants' 'foreignness' took into consideration the hue of the foreigner's skin; the consideration the hue of the foreigner's skin; the darker the skin, the more 'foreign' the immigrant was darker the skin, the more 'foreign' the immigrant was supposed to be supposed to be

A type of racial hierarchy based on these 'standards' A type of racial hierarchy based on these 'standards' emerged emerged

Most desired – British, American, Western EuropeMost desired – British, American, Western Europe Least desired – Central/Eastern Europe, Asiatics and Least desired – Central/Eastern Europe, Asiatics and

AfricansAfricans

Prejudices and ImmigrationPrejudices and Immigration

Climate used as an excuse – “undesirables” Climate used as an excuse – “undesirables” wouldn’t be able to adapt to climatewouldn’t be able to adapt to climate

1901 -1911 – only 1500 Africans emigrated1901 -1911 – only 1500 Africans emigrated 1903 – a $500 head tax placed on Chinese 1903 – a $500 head tax placed on Chinese

ImmigrantsImmigrants 1908 – “continuous journey clause” – made it 1908 – “continuous journey clause” – made it

impossible for immigrants from India to enter impossible for immigrants from India to enter CanadaCanada

1914 – South Asians denied entry