Horizons Chapter 6, BC History, Vancouver, Gastown, Oppenheimer, Gold Rush
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1. To join or not to join, that was the question BC &
CONFEDERACY
2. Governor Seymour a cat person
3. A little background On August 6, 1866 the two colonies of
Vancouver Island and British Columbia were joined together as
British Columbia Governor Seymour (Seymour St?) was leader of the
new colony The Government was a Legislative Council of 23 members,
of which only 9 were elected. Not yet a responsible government
4. Union of the Colonies Despite the fact that the two colonies
were now united, they still have considerable problems: a declining
population no further subsidies from England the government had run
out of credit continued threat of annexation by the Americas A more
permanent solution was needed.
5. Confederation Debate John A Macdonald had a dream of Canada
stretching from coast to coast, and many in BC supported his dream.
There were 3 views towards Confederation: 1. Those strongly in
favour, hoping Canada would send the railway across to the West
Coast, and help pay for BCs outstanding debts 2. Those against who
wanted BC to remain a loyal British colony. The rest of Canada was
simply too far away 3. Those in favour of joining the US, which
would be a bigger market for BCs natural resources
6. Governor Seymour dies Buried with his favourite cat, Lil Bub
Replaced by Anthony Musgrave, with specific instructions from the
British Colonial Office Get BC to join Canada as quickly as
possible. Annexationists were only able to get 125 signatures on a
petition to join USA Musgrave worked with those against joining
confederation, and had their reasons for resistance changed into
proposals, which Canada agreed to. July 20, 1871 BC joins
Canada
7. Granville, Gastown, Vancouver (TerminalCity) Vancouver was
originally the site of the Hastings Sawmill which opened in 1865
Home to many First Nations, who fished and hunted in the area
Became known as Gastown, when Gassy Jack arrived at the mill, and
decided to open a saloon (happily built and opened within 24 hours)
Port Moody had been chosen as the terminus city for the CPR, but
was not suitable because it was not a deep water port.
8. Oppenheimer Park, Vancouver BC
9. David Oppenheimer Helped ensure that Vancouver became the
terminal city for the CPR Why would being the terminal city be
important? Oppenheimer offered land in Vancouver to William Van
Horne In 1885, The CPR had reached Vancouver
10. CPR Station in Vancouver, 1901 Next to the docks Awaiting
the Royal Train
11. Chinese Workers 1881, CPR is faced with a labour shortage
and hires 17000 + Chinese immigrants to work on the railway
Treatment of the Workers? After the railway is finished, they could
not afford to return to China. Settled in different cities, and
faced discrimination and prejudice.