Modern Canadian history Jan 20th

Weather Considerations

  • Mention of weather conditions in Thunder Bay.

  • Current temperature: 17°C below, with wind chill making it feel like 25°C below.

  • Reference to polar vortex and colders temperatures experienced.

Course Overview

Syllabus Review

  • Emphasis on reviewing the syllabus by the students.

Historical Context

  • Discussion on the genesis of Canada, early colonization, and the fur trade leading up to the late 19th century.

  • Importance of understanding historical shifts in context to form the modern world in North America and beyond.

Canadian Identity Formation

Identity Definitions

  • Canadians defined by exclusion from Americans and British.

  • The recurrent theme of identity discussion throughout the course, particularly focusing on multiculturalism and multi-ethnicity in British Columbia.

Multi-Ethnic Characteristics

  • Comparison of Canadian identity with colonial histories:

    • Comparison with Russian colonization of Siberia by a Russian historian.

    • Discussion of familiar place names in British Columbia reflective of British influence due to distance from the capital.

  • British Columbia’s features during the time of Confederation:

    • Cultural mixing due to the fur trade era leading to more multi-ethnic characteristics.

Editorial Cartoons

  • Description of an 1879 editorial cartoon from Montreal:

    • Features British Columbia's second premier, Amore de Cosmos, depicted in a racist manner deporting a Chinese immigrant.

    • Illustrates stereotypes prevalent during the era, such as the portrayal of Chinese immigrants with broken English running laundries.

Immigration Policies and Racism

Economic and Cultural Tensions

  • Economic desires of the Canadian government to populate and develop resources post-Confederation (1867).

  • Discussion of immigration from various ethnic groups in Western Canada not being mainly English-speaking white Protestants.

Chinook Jargon

  • Description of Chinook Jargon as a pidgin language used in the Pacific Northwest:

    • Originated pre-contact for indigenous trade where multiple languages created barriers.

    • Contains loan words from French and English subsequently.

Historical Racism

  • Xenophobia shaping Canadian immigration policies:

    • White nationalist views asserting Canada was a white man's country and growing xenophobic attitudes toward Southern and Eastern Europeans.

    • Conflicts between Protestants and Catholics and their shared prejudices towards various immigrant groups.

Black Canadian History

Early African Presence

  • Black people’s participation in North America since the 16th century:

    • Their roles as servants, freed slaves, and laborers characterized their contributions to early Canadian history.

  • Mention of Mifflin Gibbs, a black politician in BC, illustrating the social mobility possibilities in frontier society.

Colonial Dynamics Between Britain and India

British Imperialism

  • Overview of the British control over India and its implications:

    • South Asia’s riches significantly contributing to the British Empire.

  • Comparison of colonial rule with Canada’s historical developments.

Opium Wars and its aftereffects

  • Brief introduction to Opium Wars and the subsequent foreign control over selected Chinese cities.

  • Perspectives on how China managed foreign businesses, highlighting the presence of colonial powers within China.

Japan and Hawaii: Modernization Attempts

Japan

  • Overview of Japan's Meiji Restoration post-1860:

    • Rapid modernization across government and military to resist colonization by Western forces.

  • Japan’s quest for colonies due to resource needs.

Hawaii's Unification

  • Hawaii’s historical unification and eventual annexation by the United States.

  • Internal challenges faced during modernization.

Recruitment of Colonial Soldiers

Gurkhas and Sikhs

  • Historical reliance on Indian soldiers in the British Army:

    • Mention of British recruitment strategies and perceptions of martial races.

Migration and Labor in Canada

Chinese and Asian Immigration

Labor Dynamics

  • Challenges faced by Chinese immigrants during the gold rush:

    • This presence dating back to the late 1700s, as earliest arrivals included skilled laborers for British trading posts.

  • Shift from previous migrations to significant waves associated with the 1850s Gold Rush from Guangdong.

Immigration Restrictions

  • Policy changes aimed at limiting Asian immigration:

    • Analysis of individual cases like the continuous journey policy restricting entry.

    • Impact of financial restrictions imposed on Asian immigrants, contrasting their labor with economic conditions in their homeland.

The Komagata Maru Incident

Overview

  • Discussion of the events surrounding the Komagata Maru:

    • Efforts by passengers trying to challenge discriminatory immigration laws.

    • Consequences upon return to India during a politically charged period.

Discriminatory Policies in Canadian Historical Context

Black and Asian Discrimination

  • Discussion on the limitations imposed on Asian immigrant voting rights.

    • Comparison with broader nativist campaigns targeting various ethnic groups in Canada, including recent immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe.

Immigration Strategies and Social Concerns

  • Discourse surrounding immigrant populations often included racist undertones:

    • Movements aimed to ensure that immigrants could integrate but were subjected to restrictions based on cultural and economic prejudices.

Eugenics and Medical Discourse

Broader Implications

  • Mention of the eugenics movement as a development in medical discourse impacting societal views of immigrants.

  • Example of historical stereotypes driving discrimination, using the notorious character Dr. Fu Manchu as an illustration of deep-seated racism.