Download
1 / 14
140 likes | 407 Vues
The Steel Ribbon. The Last Spike. November 7, 1885. At Craigellachie, British Columbia, Donald Smith (head of the Canadian Pacific Railway company) drives the last spike into the railway. The Last Spike Take II. Shortly after this official ceremony, the workers had their own
E N D
The Last Spike November 7, 1885. At Craigellachie, British Columbia, Donald Smith (head of the Canadian Pacific Railway company) drives the last spike into the railway.
The Last Spike Take II • Shortly after this official ceremony, the workers had their own • The group of workers who posed is quite diverse (Aboriginal, Chinese, European, Canadian and American) • P. 153 old text
The Dream of a Railway • BC had joined Confederation on the promise of a railway, otherwise they’d join the USA • Sir John A. Macdonald also wanted to fill the prairies with settlers • After the election of 1872, Macdonald and the Conservatives turned their attention to the railway • Group of businessmen under Sir Hugh Allan formed the Canadian Pacific Railway • Allan was rumoured to be the richest Canadian
The Pacific Scandal • Papers are stolen from Sir Hugh Allan by former employee and given to opposition Liberal party • Liberals said papers proved Allan had given $$$ to Macdonald’s government • Had Macdonald’s government accepted the bribe?
The Plot Thickens • Conservatives admit that they’ve accepted $350 000 during the campaign of 1872 • They claimed it was normal for supporters to give money • This scandal forced the Conservatives to resign • To many, it seemed the hopes for a railway were also gone • It also seemed Sir John A. would end his career in disgrace
The Liberals In Power • Next five years are Liberal government • Liberals not interested in railway, “Sir John A’s wild schemes” • Too expensive for a young nation? • Decision: build bit by bit • Mackenzie’s term included economic depression, people blamed government
The National Policy • Macdonald had another chance for election in 1878 • National Policy meant to solve nation’s problems • Aimed at developing industry to boost economy
Details of the Policy • Keep cheaper, American goods out of Canada • Encourage Canadians to buy goods made by other Canadians • Fill the rich prairie lands with settlers • Have settlers buy manufactured goods made in eastern Canada. Let them sell their goods to those in the East Sir John A was re-elected and the railway project was on! People supported the policy!
The Canadian Pacific Railway Company • In 1880, George Stephen and Donald A. Smith formed a new company to build the railroad called the CPR • Stephen and Smith worked out a contract with the government (see p. 154 of text)
William Cornelius Van Horne • Hired by CPR to supervise construction • American, began railway career at 14 • Mastered Morse code in 1 year • Ticket agent at 24; dispatcher at 25; superintendent at 28 • Ambition, hard work and ability
Van Horne II • When he arrived in Winnipeg, boasted they’d lay 800 km in first season • People laughed, but he managed 161 km despite floods • Van Horne’s idea was to start in different areas and join later on • Began in Winnipeg, Ontario and on the Pacific Coast • Teams went Eastward and Westward
Nitro • http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10196
Make Predictions • Create a web diagram to predict how each of these factors would affect the building process
