The Canadian Pacific Railway was completed in 1885, when the last spike was set in Craigellachie, B.C. The railway had already been used to transport troops to the North-West Territories after settlers there, under the leadership of Louis Riel, rose up against the government over problems with land title, shipping rates, and their lack of an elected government. The soldiers transported along the railway marched on Louis Riel in April 1885. He was defeated at the Battle of Batoche in May, and was found guilty of treason and executed in November. John A. Macdonald died shortly after winning another election in 1891. The Conservative Party failed to find a replacement that could hold together the diverse views of the colonies as Macdonald had done.
Between 1891 and 1896, five prime ministers took power: John Abbott, John Thompson, Mackenzie Bowell, Charles Tupper and Wilfrid Laurier. The prime ministers didn't last long, partly because of unrest in Manitoba and in Quebec. The Manitoba government had replaced the dual Catholic and Protestant school system, guaranteed under Manitoba's terms of union, with a single Protestant system. This became known as the Manitoba Schools Question, and together with the execution of Louis Riel, angered Canada's French population in Manitoba and in Quebec. During the same period, Albertans had taken to ranching. The ranches depended quite heavily on the newly formed Canadian Pacific Railway. There were also significant changes for women. In 1893, National Council of Women of Canada was formed to improve conditions for female prisoners, women working in factories, and female immigrants.
Boundary Changes
- 1883 Manitoba-Ontario boundary dispute is settled
- 1889 Ontario's boundary is extended north and west
- 1895 Districts of Keewatin and Athabaska are enlarged. Four new districts are created in the North-West Territories
GLOSSARY TERMS
Craigellachie, B.C.: Located on the western entrance to Eagle Pass, where the symbolic "last spike" was driven to complete the Canadian Pacific Railway on November 7, 1885. The place was named for a rocky crag in Scotland where Donald Smith, one of the railway financiers, grew up.
Battle of Batoche: A major confrontation during the North-West Rebellions that lasted from May 9 to 12, 1885, involving Maj-Gen. Frederick Middleton and 300 Métis, Cree and Dakota. Took place southwest of Prince Albert, Sask., and in the end, the village of Batoche was captured and more than 25 men on both sides were killed.
Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott: Mayor of Montréal from 1887-89 and second prime minister of Canada from 1891-92.
Sir John Sparrow David Thompson: Took government over from Abbott. Minister of Justice for John A. Macdonald. His main contribution as prime minister was the Criminal Code of 1892.
Sir Mackenzie Bowell: Prime Minister from 1894-96. Succeeded Thompson after his death but was forced to resign in 1896 because of the Manitoba Schools Question.
Sir Charles Tupper: Last survivor of the original Fathers of Confederation and the first president of the Canadian Medical Association. Succeeded Bowell as Prime Minister.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier: Led Liberal party from 1887 to 1919 and was Prime Minister from 1896 to 1911. Fervent promoter of national unity.
Manitoba Schools Question: Crisis over minority school rights. Manitoba government abolished funding for Roman-Catholic schools in 1890. The Privy Council upheld the law. It wasn't until the 1970s that Manitoba established a better funding arrangement.
ranching: Started in British Columbia in the 1850s and continued to develop where there was enough natural grassland for livestock could graze independently all year.
National Council of Women in Canada: Founded in 1893 as part of the first feminist movement in Canada. Champions of women and children. First president was Lady Aberdeen, a British aristocrat.
GLOSSARY TERMS
Craigellachie, B.C.: Located on the western entrance to Eagle Pass, where the symbolic "last spike" was driven to complete the Canadian Pacific Railway on November 7, 1885. The place was named for a rocky crag in Scotland where Donald Smith, one of the railway financiers, grew up.
Battle of Batoche: A major confrontation during the North-West Rebellions that lasted from May 9 to 12, 1885, involving Maj-Gen. Frederick Middleton and 300 Métis, Cree and Dakota. Took place southwest of Prince Albert, Sask., and in the end, the village of Batoche was captured and more than 25 men on both sides were killed.
Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott: Mayor of Montréal from 1887-89 and second prime minister of Canada from 1891-92.
Sir John Sparrow David Thompson: Took government over from Abbott. Minister of Justice for John A. Macdonald. His main contribution as prime minister was the Criminal Code of 1892.
Sir Mackenzie Bowell: Prime Minister from 1894-96. Succeeded Thompson after his death but was forced to resign in 1896 because of the Manitoba Schools Question.
Sir Charles Tupper: Last survivor of the original Fathers of Confederation and the first president of the Canadian Medical Association. Succeeded Bowell as Prime Minister.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier: Led Liberal party from 1887 to 1919 and was Prime Minister from 1896 to 1911. Fervent promoter of national unity.
Manitoba Schools Question: Crisis over minority school rights. Manitoba government abolished funding for Roman-Catholic schools in 1890. The Privy Council upheld the law. It wasn't until the 1970s that Manitoba established a better funding arrangement.
ranching: Started in British Columbia in the 1850s and continued to develop where there was enough natural grassland for livestock could graze independently all year.
National Council of Women in Canada: Founded in 1893 as part of the first feminist movement in Canada. Champions of women and children. First president was Lady Aberdeen, a British aristocrat.
