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Wilfred Laurier Becomes Prime Minister
As Prime Minister, Laurier led Canada during a period of rapid growth, industrialization and immigration. His long career straddles a period of major political and economic change. Laurier was knighted on July 11th, 1896. -
Boer War
The Boer War was between the British Empire and the South African Replubic and Orange Free State (both AKA known as the Transvaal). The English wanted to expand thier land as well as collect the diamonds and gold in the Transvaal -
Arrival of New Inventions
Newer technologies encouraged the devlopment of Canada's rich storehouse of natural resources. Pulp and paper mills developed which caused the newspaper industry to grow. In addition, the Canadian Shield was mined for its rich deposits of nickel, copper and other minerals. -
Alaska Boundary Dispute
After purchasing Alaska from the Russians, the United States set no clear boundaries between Alaska and British Columbia. So when gold was discovered in Yukon, it was only accesible through American Territory and Canadians required permission to enter. In 1903, Laurier agreed to an international tribunal dispute that would rule on the boundary. -
Alberta Becomes a Province
Laurier felt it was important to have control of natural resources, including public land to encourage immigration. Two provinces doubled the oppurtunity of immigration, so Saskatchewan and Alberta were split up. -
Saskatchewan Becomes a Province
With all the land becoming farm land and the railway being completed, more and more settlers came to the prairies and the population grew. It was time for Saskatchewan to become its own province. -
Nisga's Land Claim
Nisga's Land Commitee launched a campaign for recognition of title to their ancestral lands. They were the first Native people in BC to pursue thier goals within the Canadian political system. Soon, after favourable judgements in court, the Natives recieved rights to a self-government. -
Anti-Asian Riots
A white supremacist crowd marched through Vancouver's chinatown breaking windows and vandalizing shops demanding for a white Canada. These riots on the Chinese and Japanese communities led to a rise in racism and head tax laws were created against the Chinese -
Naval Crisis
A Naval race started between Germany and Great Britain. Britain came up with the Two Power Standard. Canada wanted to help, so Laurier introduced the Naval Service Act which allowed Canada to build an army of its own and hand it over to Britain when in need. -
Rise of Unions
With workers being paid unequally, the richer companies or entrepreneurs flaunted thier wealth by building large mansions. As the gap between the rich and the poor widened, workers wanted thier share of the wealth. Unions were created. -
Robert Borden Becomes Prime Minister
Borden served as the eight Prime Minister of Canada and was the last to be knighted due to The Nickle Resolution. He served during an important time of the first World War. His main focuses were his military having to commit to providing half a million soldiers for war. Sir Robert Borden is depicted on the Canadian $100 bill. -
Immigration to the Prairies
Between 1898 and 1914, the population of the prairies increased by nearly one and one-half million. Most of the newcomers settled in cities due to many manufactoring industries being opened up for business. By 1914, Canada's urban population was nearing 50% of its total population. -
The "Last Best West"
Laurier's two main focuses were "More money" and "More people". This worked well due to a fluorishing economy which attracted more immigrants, who in turn stimulated economic growth, allowing money to flow. -
Life on the Prairies
To do well on the Prairies, the most important thing to survive was farming. With all the farmland, most of ones resources were produced from farming. American migrants were much more successful than the European immigrants becuase of thier ability to speak the same language and get used to another culture. -
Life in the City
Due to the devlopment of manufactoring industries, many immigrants settled in the city rather then the prairies. Some would say this was not a good choice becuase many workers did not speak fluent english this exploitation was to no surprise. Workers were also paid $10-15 a week when working 10-12 hours a day in noisy, dirty surroundings. -
Building a New Railway
With and increasing population and economy in the West, the need for new rail lines were apparent. The Canadian Northern railway extended its prairie lines eastward to Quebec and furhter west, along a northern route to the Pacific. They called it the Grand Trunk Railroad which expanded from coast to coast. -
Immigration Issues (Chinese, Komagata Maru)
The Komagata Maru was a steamer ship which was used to transport 354 Sikh immigrants to Vancouver during hard times for immigration from the East. After stopping in China and Japan it finally arrived in Vancouver only having to be escorted out by the government. -
Women's Movement
Canadian women had very hard lives. The probability of death or disabilty was high becuase of birth, and many babies died at birth. Since women during this time barely went outside, thier education standards were low which disabled them from many jobs. Suffragists wanted to help make the lives of women easier and give women political rights.
