The Western Frontier

1871-1905

• Changes that took place in the west between 1871 and 1905 devastated the old ways.– N.W.M.Police was establish– The Canadian Pacific Railroad– Increased population– Two new provinces

• A few events that preceded the opening of the west were:– Confederation– Sale of Rupert’s Land- 1870– Manitoba the 5th Province– British Columbia - 6th Province - 1871

Who lived in this vast area?

• 30,000 natives• 12,000 non-natives• By 1880 more

Europeans• Many people armed,

many still involved in the fur trade

Problems?

• Surveying not complete

• Native land claims• Fur trade

The Whiskey Trade

• N.W.T. huge, hard to govern

• No fence between U.S. and Canada

• Traders set up post anywhere

• Good area was southern Alberta

• Could slip back and forth accross the boarder

• Trade whiskey for furs

Effects of the Whiskey Trade:

• Trade of rot-gut whiskey devastating

• Disease,malnutrition• Trade buffalo,

horses,food, wives

Cypress Hills Massacre May 1874:

• Whiskey traders from the U.S. attacked a group of Assiniboine who they thought had stolen their horses

• Traders shot 30 natives• Shocked Canadian

government but not American

Canadian response:

• Recruit men into a new policing unit called the North West Mounted Police

• 1873 arrived in Winnipeg, trained during the winter, marched in July

March West: 1874

• Left with 200 carts and men

• Summer hot, little water• Spilt the group, sending

one party to Ft Edmonton the other to Fort Whoop-up

• Restored order• Natives protected.• Development was

orderly