History is the study of events that have occurred in the past. It is also the series of events which comes from various aspects, such as people, places, and objects. More so, it is highly significant to be aware of the past occurrences as it deeply influences the future. One of Canada’s triumph and legacy is the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. It fulfilled Canada’s First Prime Minister, Sir John A MacDonald’s national dream. This transcontinental railway connected the vast areas of Canada and enabled easier access within provinces. Ultimately, it made an enormous impact in Canada’s history, and without it, Canada would not have developed into the nation it is today. In this case, it created a huge impact on Canada’s development …show more content…
The reason for this is because the success of the Canadian Pacific Railway fulfilled Sir John A. MacDonald’s commitment to British Columbia that a railway system will be built within ten years. This became the foundation of a growing nation. Innis states that “The nationalistic dangers of Western expansion contributed to the force of this factor and there followed Intercolonial, Confederation and the admission of British Columbia to the Dominion” (Innis 73). This passage indicates how the province of British Columbia is vulnerable to annexation or invasion to the United States. The success of the Canadian Pacific Railway not only assured that another province would join the growing nation, but it also fulfilled Sir John A. MacDonald’s dream of uniting all British colonies to create a country that would rival the United …show more content…
Innis affirms that “The contract for the construction of the road was an index of the growth of civilization in Canada” (Innis 97). In other words, the Canadian Pacific Railway initiated growth of civilization and was the beginning of expansion and progress in the society. A progressive society is essential as it helps to create a stable society, both financially and socially. The construction of the national railway initiated economic and social developments. It enabled provinces to have access to each other’s resources more efficiently. Furthermore, small towns and cities prospered as many businesses took off, which in turn, increased their standard of living. Innis narrates “The marked prosperity of Canada, especially from 1896 to 1913, paralleled the prosperity, the expansion, and the integration of the Canadian Pacific Railway during that period” (Innis 292). This passage explains how the sudden boost in the economy of Canada occurred at the same time as the expansion of the railway system. The Canadian Pacific Railway not only improved the quality of life and standard of living of many Canadians, but it also aided in times of crisis. During that time, the province of British Columbia was in favor of the building of the railway, as they were experiencing a severe economic downturn because of the decline of the gold rush. With their province’s involvement in the newly built infrastructure, it would help
The building of the Canadian Pacific Railway was a very significant event in the development of Canada. It was important for the development of the West, which there was no easy way to get to. It benefitted the Canadian economy, allowing it to flourish and grow into what it has become today. Lastly, it allowed for unification of Canada as one whole country.
Firstly, Westerners of the early 1900’s would prestigiously claim that they were a big factor in bringing Canada together. Some would claim that Canada would not maintain its unity and would break off in the middle if there was no steel trail to link the East to the West (Macbeth 20). This is demonstrated because the truth of the matter is that many cannot fathom how the continuance of inter travel and trade over the pioneer railway across Canada brought the East and West together (Macbeth 21). All of these were sought out by politicians that realized the potential of brining in the West into Canada’s unity. Furthermore, in the early 60’s all politicians took steps towards joining confederation of provinces from the east all the way to the Pacific Coast (Macbeth 21).
The cries of the voices of many Canadians following British Columbia joining Confederation on July 1st, 1871 made Prime Minister Macdonald’s promise come true in building the Canadian Pacific Railway. This railway would link Eastern Canada with Western Canada, thus, so connecting this nation together, finally creating a nation that was strong and united. The biggest problem the Canadian government would have to face was the many financial issues following the plan to build a railway. The years after British Columbia joined Confederation, Canada will struggle with a financial situation due to the poor planning and building of the railway that will set the government back financially, and the construction will harm Canada as a nation.
Canada was not always as large of a country as it is now. It started with just two parts, the West and the East. Have you ever wondered how it all started or who was the first prime minister of the country? Perhaps you were wondering what colonies did not want to join the confederation.
The Confederation movement was gaining popularity as Canada progressed towards the end of 19th century and John Macdonald’s government was looking to acquire Rupert’s Land from Hudson’s Bay Company in order to create the Dominion of Canada. The reasoning given behind this acquisition was that Canada wished to create an amalgamation of British North American territories in order to establish a Canadian Confederation. Although the government publicly expressed only the political reasoning behind their interest in acquiring Rupert’s land, on a deeper analysis it can be understood that the political action of acquiring this land has infact been fuelled by economic motivations. In this essay, I will show that the economic significance of Rupert’s
Canada experienced rapid growth and development during the period from 1864 to 1939. With humble beginnings as a cluster of small British colonies, Canada eventually emerged as a strong, developed nation. However, this evolution from colony to nation did not happen instantaneously. Rather, it occurred due to a series of challenges and changes influenced by a myriad of major dynamic forces. In particular, the dynamic forces of protectionism, expansionism, and regionalism contributed greatly to the early makings of Canadian nationhood.
In the late 1800s, the Transcontinental Railroad was constructed and that transformed the United States in many ways. This railroad helped expand the United States out to the west that could sew the country together and be connected in some sort of way. The Transcontinental Railroad impacted the United States economically by populating new areas for agriculture and mining, taxing railway shipping, and by importing and exporting. To start off with, a reason for an economic impact is the way the railroad helped populate new land that can open for mining, agriculture, and retail. Due to being able to mine, farm, and sell more helps the country expand in valuable resources found in the country, while also being able to sell food and clothes the
Sifton’s aggressive immigration campaign was extremely important in Canada’s 20th century development. The driving force of Sifton’s efforts to populate western Canada was the fear that the United States would act upon their eager Interest into moving into the vast unpopulated land. Without Sifton’s immigration advances it is very likely the United States would have invaded Canada taking over the west destroying MacDonald’s vision Canada from sea to sea. Another importance of immigrants populating the west is for them to become laborers to construct the railroad that was to connect Canada coast to coast and these jobs were extremely dangerous jobs which the white
In 1871 British Columbia joined confederation and was the 6th province to be apart of the country known as “Canada”. “On July 20, 1871, British Columbia entered Confederation as our sixth province, extending the young Dominion of Canada to the Pacific Ocean.” (http://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1871/ ) One of the main reasons B.C. was able to join Canada, was because of the Fraiser River Gold Rush. This was when 30,000 miners from the United States came to British Columbia to get in on the gold rush.
The topic that I chose to do is the Industrial Revolution and the Effects of the Transcontinental Railroad. The rise of the Industrial Revolution and the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad took place during the period from 1877 to 1900. They occurred as a result of the discovery of natural resources on American land and the government’s encouragement of the growth of businesses. In 1859, Edwin Drake was able to use a steam engine to drill for oil in Pennsylvania, making the mining of oil practical enough for several other states began the process. With the new abundance amount of oil, refining industries arose to turn oil into kerosene and gasoline, which in turn could be used to fuel the machines essential to the Industrial Revolution.
The axe and the mill, though very different in their forms and purposes, were essential to the development of the railway system and the canal system because they helped accomplish the goal of manifest destiny. Manifest destiny is a doctrine that states that expansion of white settlement throughout the American continent is justifiable and inevitable. This doctrine was the driving factor that pushed for new technologies in the United States. These technologies were developed through evolutions of the previous technologies. Old technologies, the axe and the railroad, and relatively new technologies, the railroad and canals, have been influential in society, impacted the environment, and fulfilled the Manifest destiny through their ways of manipulating
The lack of convenience transportation creating the opportunity for people to build a railroad. The railroad arrived at 1880s and it is marked as one of the key turning points in the Pacific Northwest. With the introduction of railroads in the area, it increased the economics of the Pacific Northwest by using the railroads as a transportation that’s makes them able to travel faster. The railroads exported the Northwest and also imported the East to the Northwest. Conquering distance, railroads is able to disseminate the modernizing ways of the 19th century.
Today, Canada is seen as a multicultural and peaceful nation that has evolved over the course of history. This great nation would never have been possible without the impact that former Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson left on this country. His achievements and insights profoundly affected and shaped Canada’s nation. First, peacekeeping is an important part of Canada’s heritage and a reflection of its fundamental beliefs that Pearson implemented after dealing with world changing situations and winning a Nobel Prize. Also, his contributions as a liberal leader as well as the flaws and controversy with Diefenbaker did in fact define this country.
William Lyon Mackenzie King, a man of glory, forever changed Canada’s constitution during the tumultuous nineteenth century and resolved all difficulties Canada faced on its way to becoming a strong, independent, and autonomous nation. His contributions and sanctions targeted all factors at the time and had interrelated effects on the construction of Canada. Unlike other Canadian politicians, King handled every crisis with thorough planning and achieved promising outcomes from unsolvable problems. It is without a doubt that King was the most influential figure in Canada’s development. His role in the autonomy, economic development, and social stability stands as solid evidence of the pioneering impacts he had on Canada’s advancement.
Macdonald dream was creating the National Railway which would also unify the country, and the railway was built through hard work, sweat and blood in ten years. National Railway was very significant to expansion and growing of Canada. Historian George Stanley wrote in The Canadians, "Bonds of steel as well as of sentiment were needed to hold the new Confederation together. Without railways there would be and could be no Canada." While Macdonald was country leader he tried to allow women and Aboriginal people to vote in 1880’s.