History Oral Exam

Political:
- Security: Fear of U.S. expansion and the Fenian Raids led to a desire for a united defense.
- Political Deadlock: The “Province of Canada” faced constant gridlock between Canada East (Quebec) and West (Ontario), and Confederation promised to resolve this with a federal system.
- National Unity: Confederation allowed Canada to establish its own identity separate from Britain.
Economic:
- Larger Market: Confederation opened up a bigger internal market for trade across provinces.
- Infrastructure & Growth: The promise of a transcontinental railway (Canadian Pacific Railway) spurred development, especially in the West.
- Financial Stability: Confederation helped pool financial resources, addressing the debts many provinces had accumulated.

French Canadians:
- Concerned about losing political power to the larger English-speaking provinces. They feared their language, culture, and rights would be overshadowed by English Canada.
Maritimers:
- They worried about losing regional autonomy and feared a central government that would prioritize Ontario and Quebec. Some also doubted the economic benefits and were concerned about the cost of building a railway.

What It Was: The Dominion Lands Act of 1872 encouraged settlement in the West by offering affordable land to settlers willing to farm it.
Success: While it did attract settlers, many faced harsh conditions, and large companies or speculators took much of the land. However, the Act was crucial in developing Western Canada despite challenges like poor soil and isolation.

Contribution to Settlement: The CPR connected the East and West, making it easier to transport settlers and goods. It helped populate the West by providing a route for immigrants.
Positive Effects: It promoted economic growth, facilitated trade, and helped create new towns and industries.
Negative Effects: Construction was tough, and many workers, especially Chinese immigrants, faced poor conditions. It also disrupted Indigenous communities and their way of life.

Late 19th Century Immigration: Canada encouraged European immigration to settle the West, which boosted agricultural development.
Changing Policies (Early 20th Century): While Canada initially welcomed many immigrants, policies became stricter, especially toward non-white immigrants, such as Asians.
Demographic Shift: By 1914, European settlers, especially from Britain and Eastern Europe, made up a large portion of the population, particularly in the Prairies.

Government’s View: The Canadian government saw the treaties as a way to secure land for settlers and ensure peace with Indigenous peoples in the West.
Indigenous Perspective: Many Indigenous peoples thought they were agreeing to share the land, not give it up entirely. They believed the government’s promises of protection and benefits were unclear and often violated later.

Purpose: The Indian Act was designed to control and assimilate Indigenous peoples into Canadian society. It regulated everything from governance to land use.
Control: It created reserves, imposed the pass system, and restricted Indigenous peoples’ rights, aiming to suppress their culture and force assimilation.

Red River Resistance (1869-70): Led by Louis Riel, this resistance was a response to the threat to Métis culture and land as Canada expanded westward. It resulted in the creation of Manitoba and protected Métis rights.
North-West Resistance (1885): Led by Riel again, this uprising was due to hardships faced by Métis and Indigenous peoples. It ended in defeat, but it showed that the Canadian government needed to address their grievances more effectively.

Shift to Industry: Canada transitioned from an agricultural to an industrial economy by the late 1800s, with more factories and cities growing.
Effects on Work: Urbanization led to factory jobs, but workers faced long hours, low pay, and poor working conditions. Living standards were mixed: some people benefited from industrial growth, but most workers struggled.

Labour Abuses: Workers, especially in factories and on railways, faced long hours, unsafe conditions, and low wages.
Worker Protections: Over time, labor movements and strikes led to reforms like shorter work hours and better conditions. Public awareness of these issues led to the introduction of laws to protect workers, including the first steps toward minimum wages and safety standards.

Social Gospel Influence: The Social Gospel movement advocated for social justice and saw women’s suffrage as essential for building a fairer society.
Women’s Role: Women were seen as moral agents of change, and suffrage was framed as a way to further improve society through women’s ethical leadership.

Challenging Traditional Roles: The suffrage movement argued for women’s right to vote and participate in politics, challenging the idea that women’s role should only be in the home.
Reaffirming Roles: At the same time, suffragists often framed their cause as a moral responsibility, which aligned with traditional views of women as moral guardians, reaffirming their “proper” role in society.