Canadian Confederation
Why do the 4 original provinces want BC to join Canada?
- News of gold discoveries along Fraser River sparked massive influx of people from the United States into the region
- Threat of American expansion into BC was a motivating factor for the OG provinces to bring BC into the Confederation
- Fear that US would attempt to claim the territory
Why did the dominion of Canada form?
Which provinces were a part of it?
- Britain's waning interest in the financial burden of the North American colonies. Pressure to unite and become self sufficient.
- Fear of American expansion after civil war: Newly reunified country would seek to claim more territory northward
- Vision of westward expansion and development of a "dominion from sea to sea" John A. MacDonald saw confederation as enabling territorial growth and economic opportunity
What did PM. John A. MacDonald promise to BC if they joined the Confederation?
Promised that federal gov. would build transcontinental railway linking BC to eastern provinces in 10 years
Why did it feel "apocalyptic" for Indigenous people around that time?
- Plains Cree was nearly wiped out by smallpox brought from European settlers and starvation because hide hunters killed all the buffalo, their most important source of food
- Buffalo was very important to the nomadic lifestyle of the Indigenous people, as they followed the animals, so once they disappeared completely from the Plains the world seemed like it was coming undone
Why did MacDonald's railway threaten the Indigenous peoples' homeland?
- Arrival of newcomers led to the creation of the 11 Treaties, agreemends that saw Indigenous land relinquished in exchange for reserves
- Forced to sign these Treaties as there was no other option
- Ex. Big Bear, a leader of the Plains Cree, was against signing Treaty 6 for 6 years, but he had no choice because his people were facing starvation
Why did Big Bear not want to sign Treaty 6?
- Believed promise would not be kept
- Wanted to create one large reserve rather than keeping Indigenous people in tiny reserves far apart, provided by gov.
- Gov wouldn't approve of that to avoid an organized resistance
What were Indigenous people seen as by the gov during this time, according to prof. Hayden King?
"Obstacles"
Why is Big Bear seen as a hero today even though he spent years in jail for "trying to wage war against the Queen" when he was alive?
- Advocated for Indigenous rights and a strong relationship between the Indigenous people and the government
- Resisted gov's policies through diplomacy/negotiation, not violence
- During North-West Resistance of 1885, Big Bear did not participate in the killings at Frog Lake and intervened to allow the police to leave Fort Pitt peacefully. His conviction for treason is seen as unjust as he did not participate in the violence.
- Actions driven by desire to protect his people from starvation and extreme poverty
- Now recognized as part of the reconciliation process in Canada
Why did BC threaten to secede from Confederation?
Gov missed 10 year deadline that was promised to BC, still had no access to the transcontinental railroad.
Why did Canadian gov. end up relying on Chinese workers to help finish CPR?
- Running out of money and workers
- Yip Sang saw an opportunity in bringing workers who would work for cheap wage, saw the Chinese workers as a part of his community
- Were given the most dangerous jobs such as blasting rock cuts and tunnels
- Over 600 Chinese workers died building the railway