Early Canada (Late 1800’s to WW1)

Canada didn’t start at the beginning of WW1, this country has a long and rich history of people
using this land we call Home. Yes, this course begins after the period listed here, but the
purpose of this is to assess your prior knowledge as the information learned from the
questions below are based on elementary school topics. We can’t start the course without
having an understanding of where Canada was, as a country, at that time.... how we got to
where we are supposed to begin.

You may choose to partner up with up to 4 people to make this a bit easier, but be sure to share
your information with those whom you choose to do this with. Your group can choose 1 runner,
to ask other groups questions.

Immigration/Emigration
1) Define the difference between immigration and emigration.
2) Who did Laurier put in charge of settling Western Canada?
3) Explain why Laurier wanted people to settle in Western Canada?
4) Who was encouraged to come to Canada and who was either discouraged or not
welcome?
5) There are two sorts of factors attributed to the immigration of new Canadians,
what are these factors called? Make sure you give 2 examples of each and explain
how they prove your answer.
6) List the steps the government took to discourage immigration from people it
didn’t want in Canada? Name at least 2 cases to illustrate what you’ve said.
7) What group of Canadians had the most difficult time with the immigration of new
peoples during this period and why?

Development of Cities
1) Explain what caused people move into cities during this period in our history?
2) Describe the living conditions for new immigrants in Canadian cities.
3) What did the growth of cities cause the middle class and business owners to do?
4) Roughly, what did it cost to rent a room? How much did the average Canadian
male make per hour working in a factory? Figure out how many hours he
worked, then multiply it by how many days he worked per week, then per month,
then for the year. How was this different from women and children?
5) What problems did city conditions and the immigrant population pose for
established (native...those born here to European parents) Canadians and how
did they attempt to deal with them?

Industrial Growth
1) Name and define the two ways in which foreign countries (Great Britain and
America) could invest in Canada?
2) Identify the method of investment preferred by Great Britain and America
 prefer? Explain why Great Britain preferred one method while America preferred
the other.
3) How had Sir John A MacDonald attempted to deal with foreign investment?
Why had he done this?
4) Explain what Laurier’s attitude towards foreign investment and government
regulation of business was? What measures did his government take to protect
Canadian businesses and were they successful?
5) What issue cost Laurier the election in 1911?
Answer Key:

Immigration/Emigration

1. Define the difference between immigration and emigration.

 Immigration is the act of moving into a new country or region to live there permanently.
Emigration is the act of leaving one’s country or region to live in another country.

2. Who did Laurier put in charge of settling Western Canada?

 Wilfrid Laurier put Clifford Sifton in charge of settling Western Canada. Sifton was the
Minister of the Interior and played a significant role in promoting immigration to the
West.

3. Explain why Laurier wanted people to settle in Western Canada.

 Laurier wanted to populate Western Canada to develop the land, boost agriculture, and
strengthen Canada's economic and political presence in the region. By increasing the
population, he aimed to secure the territory against potential U.S. expansion and to
foster economic growth.

4. Who was encouraged to come to Canada and who was either discouraged or not welcome?
 Encouraged: Immigrants from Northern and Western Europe, including British, German,
Scandinavian, and American settlers, were actively encouraged to come to Canada. They
were seen as desirable for their farming skills and ability to integrate into Canadian
society.
 Discouraged or Not Welcome: Immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe, such as
Italians, Ukrainians, and Jews, were often discouraged. Additionally, people from Asia,
including Chinese and Japanese, faced significant restrictions and discrimination.

5. There are two sorts of factors attributed to the immigration of new Canadians, what are these
factors called? Make sure you give 2 examples of each and explain how they prove your answer.
 Push Factors: Conditions that drive people away from their homeland. Examples
include:
o Economic hardship: Poor economic conditions in Europe pushed people to seek
better opportunities elsewhere.
o Political instability: Wars or political unrest in home countries, such as the
Russian Revolution, pushed people to find safer environments.
 Pull Factors: Conditions that attract people to a new country. Examples include:
o Land availability: The promise of free or inexpensive land in Western Canada
attracted many settlers.
o Job opportunities: The growing Canadian economy offered employment
opportunities in various sectors.

6. List the steps the government took to discourage immigration from people it didn’t want in
Canada? Name at least 2 cases to illustrate what you’ve said.
  Restrictions and Quotas: The Canadian government imposed strict quotas and
restrictions on certain nationalities.
 Chinese Immigration Act (1923): This act effectively banned Chinese immigrants from
entering Canada.
 Continuous Journey Regulation (1908): Required immigrants to travel from their country
of origin directly to Canada without stopping in other countries, which was particularly
difficult for many potential immigrants from India and other regions.

7. What group of Canadians had the most difficult time with the immigration of new peoples
during this period and why?
 Established European Canadians (those with British or French ancestry) often faced the
most difficulty. They were concerned about cultural and social changes and felt that
the influx of new immigrants could alter the existing societal norms and values.

Development of Cities

1. Explain what caused people to move into cities during this period in our history?
 Industrialization and economic opportunities led to a migration from rural areas to
cities. People sought jobs in factories, better living standards, and more amenities
available in urban centers.

2. Describe the living conditions for new immigrants in Canadian cities.

 Living conditions were often poor. Many immigrants lived in overcrowded tenements
with inadequate sanitation, poor ventilation, and minimal access to clean water. These
conditions were a result of rapid urban growth and a lack of sufficient infrastructure.

3. What did the growth of cities cause the middle class and business owners to do?
 The growth of cities led the middle class and business owners to seek more suburban
or outlying areas for better living conditions. This migration was also driven by the
desire for more space and to escape the crowded and often unsanitary conditions of
city centers.

4. Roughly, what did it cost to rent a room? How much did the average Canadian male make per
hour working in a factory? Figure out how many hours he worked, then multiply it by how many
days he worked per week, then per month, then for the year. How was this different from
women and children?
 Rental costs and wages varied, but typically, renting a room in a tenement could
cost between $5 and $10 per month. Average factory wages for men were about
25 to 50 cents per hour. Assuming an average of 10 hours per day, 6 days a week:
 Per Day: 10 hours × $0.50 = $5.00
 Per Week: $5.00 × 6 days = $30.00
 Per Month: $30.00 × 4 weeks = $120.00
 Per Year: $120.00 × 12 months = $1,440.00
  Women and children generally earned less, often 50% to 75% of what men made,
and frequently worked in even poorer conditions.

5. What problems did city conditions and the immigrant population pose for established
(native...those born here to European parents) Canadians and how did they attempt to deal
with them?
 Problems: Established Canadians were concerned about job competition, cultural
changes, and increased social strain.
 Responses: Efforts to address these concerns included pushing for stricter
immigration controls, promoting assimilation policies, and supporting organizations
that aimed to maintain existing cultural norms.

Industrial Growth

1. Name and define the two ways in which foreign countries (Great Britain and America) could
invest in Canada.
 Direct Investment: Buying or establishing businesses and industries directly in
Canada.
 Indirect Investment: Investing through the purchase of Canadian stocks and
bonds, or lending money to Canadian businesses.

2. Identify the method of investment preferred by Great Britain and America. Explain why Great
Britain preferred one method while America preferred the other.
 Great Britain: Preferred direct investment, such as owning Canadian railways and
industries, to maintain more control over their investments.
 America: Preferred indirect investment, such as buying Canadian bonds or stocks,
as it allowed for easier and less risky investment in Canadian resources and
industries without direct management.

3. How had Sir John A. Macdonald attempted to deal with foreign investment? Why had he
done this?
 Sir John A. Macdonald sought to restrict foreign investment and promote
Canadian ownership through policies like the National Policy, which aimed to
protect and foster Canadian industries by implementing tariffs on imported
goods. This was done to ensure that Canadian resources and industries would
not be dominated by foreign interests and to encourage domestic economic
growth.

4. Explain what Laurier’s attitude towards foreign investment and government regulation of
business was. What measures did his government take to protect Canadian businesses and were
they successful?
 Laurier generally favored encouraging foreign investment and minimizing
government regulation to stimulate economic growth and development. His
government did not impose strict regulations but instead focused on creating a
 favorable environment for investment. While this policy helped in developing
infrastructure and industries, it also led to concerns about Canadian businesses
being overshadowed by foreign interests.

5. What issue cost Laurier the election in 1911?

 The reciprocity agreement (a trade agreement with the United States) was a
significant issue that cost Laurier the election in 1911. The agreement was
controversial, with opponents arguing that it would undermine Canadian
sovereignty and economic independence. The Conservative Party, led by Robert
Borden, successfully capitalized on this opposition and won the election.