Minds On
The railway
In this learning activity, you will learn about the creation of the railroad and its role in the unification of Canada. You will also be learning about the impact of the railway on various groups and communities in Canada.
The building of the railway was a significant moment in Canadian history. It changed the country a great deal.
Brainstorm
Think-Pair-Share
Consider how this new transportation system could have affected a country as large as Canada. Then, reflect on the following questions:
- What could this change for those living in Canada at the time?
- What could this change for the development of Canada?
Complete the Changes in Canada: Transportation in your notebook, using the following fillable and printable document or in a method of your choice.
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Consider how the train could change the growth of Canada: |
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New Transportation System |
Change for those living in Canada at the time |
Development changes in Canada |
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Train |
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Press the Activity button to access Changes in Canada: Transportation.
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Action
Perspective 1: Unity
The following quote comes from a newspaper editorial published in The British Columbian in 1870, before British Columbia joined Confederation in 1871. It shows that many people believed a transcontinental railway was essential and that Confederation and the railway depended on each other.
“Of all the conditions usually attached to a union of this colony with Canada, that of early establishment of railroad communication from sea to sea is the most important. If the railroad scheme is utopian, so is Confederation. The two must stand or fall together.”
Brainstorm
What do you think?
According to the quote, why is the railroad important to Canada?
Record your response in a method of your choice.
Press Let’s check! to access a possible answer.
Development of the railway in Canada
The development of steam-powered railways in the nineteenth century changed transportation in Canada and was important to the building of Canada. The railway was vital to the growth of factories and industry in transporting goods to market and raw materials to factories.
The building of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was important in settling western Canada and was the main factor in British Columbia joining the Confederation. In 1871, Sir John A. Macdonald promised to build a railway across the country in ten years' time and join the country “from sea to sea.” The proposed line would be 1,600 kilometres longer than the first American transcontinental railway and would ensure a Canadian presence across the country across from the United States of America.
Cities and settlements like Winnipeg and Vancouver would rely heavily on the railroad. Stopping resistances to the government like the North-West Rebellion would rely on the railroad to bring swift reinforcements.
Let’s analyze!
Analyze each of the following images:
Description
Image 1: An open brochure titled "The Canadian Pacific Railway in Manitoba and the North West Territories of Canada." The right page contains advertisements for amended land regulations, highlighting land for sale starting at $2.50 per acre.
Image 2: A Canadian Pacific Railway poster advertising the train route between eastern and western Canada through Ottawa.
Image 3: A Canadian National Railways poster with the text "It's Mine!" at the top. It shows a man holding a frame that displays prosperous farmland beside a train. At the bottom, the poster reads, "Canadian National Railways: The Right Way!"
After analyzing each of the images, record your conclusions in the following chart.
Complete the Let’s Analyze Activity in your notebook, using the following fillable and printable document or in a method of your choice.
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Question |
1883 ad |
1885 poster |
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What is the purpose of the image? |
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What is the message of the image? |
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How does the image relate to the idea of the railroad unifying Canada? |
Press the Activity button to access Let’s Analyze Activity.
Perspective 2: Danger and division
Consider the following quote:
“… the price of building the transcontinental railroad had been high: it cost the Canadian government 10.4 million hectares of the best Prairie land; an estimated $63.5 million in public funds and the government load of $35 million; not to mention the displacement of Canada’s First Nations and the lost lives of many immigrant labourers.”
On one hand, the Canadian Pacific Railway unified the country and connected the provinces of Canada; however, the building and construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway created lasting impacts on various individuals and communities in Canada.
Press the following tabs to explore the impacts of the CPR on individuals and communities.
Treaties 1 to 7 between the Crown and the Indigenous Peoples from 1871 to 1877 solidified Canada’s claim to the lands north of the US-Canada border. Canada interpreted the treaties to mean the lands in the Prairies were open for agricultural settlement and that they had a right to build a national railway through Indigenous lands without Indigenous consent.
Indigenous Peoples lost their right to their traditional territory and as the CPR brought more settlers to the western plains, the buffalo were driven away or killed, and many Indigenous peoples were violently forced onto reserve land.
No longer able or allowed to maintain their traditional livelihoods and earn a living also meant that many Indigenous men had to take up low wage and dangerous jobs in railway construction. In some cases, Indigenous peoples had to travel thousands of kilometers from home to build railway bridges, cut trees and rail ties, and work in mines blasting away mountainsides to make way for rail lines.
The construction of Canada’s railways created a great demand for workers. New immigrants from the British Isles, continental Europe, and China made up much of the labour force for these projects. Fifteen thousand Chinese labourers helped to build the Canadian Pacific Railway, while working in harsh and dangerous positions with very little pay – the average Chinese worker got paid half the pay of their White co-workers. From this pay, they had to pay for their food and gear. Historians estimate that more than 600 Chinese workers died during the building of the CPR, more than four for every mile of track.
Racism towards the Chinese workers was widespread. Newspaper articles and editorial illustrations of the time repeatedly portrayed the Chinese in a degrading way. Many feared that Chinese workers, who were willing to accept lower wages, would take jobs away from White workers. Euro-Canadians who did not understand Chinese cultural practices, in areas such as dress, living conditions, and even funeral rites were particularly abusive to the Chinese workers and settlers.
The Last Spike!
Examine the following photo entitled “The Last Spike.” It is the famous picture depicting the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway with the hammering of the last spike into the railway.
Examine the photograph and consider the following questions:
- Who is included and who is excluded from this important event? Why might that be?
- What does this tell you of Canada at the time?
- What message is being told in this photograph?
Complete the Analyze The Last Spike Activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. You can also use another method of your choice.
Press the Activity button to access the Analyze The Last Spike Activity.
Activity(Opens in a new tab)Let’s recall!
Recall your ideas from the Minds On section. Reflect on the following questions:
- Did you consider those who worked on the building of the railroad or those who worked on the trains?
- What can you add after this learning to your Minds On responses?
Record your ideas in a notebook or a method of your choice.
DescriptionConsolidation
A photo to remember
Based on what you learned in this learning activity, think about how the completion of the railway could be commemorated in a way that reflects all contributors.
Create an image or photograph and write a short paragraph explaining who you would include in your image. Explain why you chose to include this group and what historical details you chose to show.
Complete this activity in your notebook or using a method of your choice.
Let’s reflect
Revisit the quote from the beginning of the Action section.
“Of all the conditions usually attached to a union of this colony with Canada, that of early establishment of railroad communication from sea to sea is the most important. If the railroad scheme is utopian, so is Confederation. The two must stand or fall together.”
Based on what you have learned, do you agree with the author’s opinion? Do you think Confederation and the railway were truly dependent on each other? Why or why not?
Why was the railway considered such an important priority at the time? What were the benefits of building it, and what were the costs?
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel...
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.