The CPR

Question 1

the myth of the CPR

Answer 1

physically and symbolically connected Canada -> an important moment of nation-building and a symbol of national unity

Question 2

flaws in the myth of the CPR

Answer 2

• misses another
  important point; the CPR had profoundly different impacts on different places and people in
  Canada
• must ask: what kind of nation – or whose nation – is celebrated in the common
  argument about the CPR? Who or what is left out of this story?

Question 3

why else does the CPR matter?

Answer 3

• played a critical role in facilitating the extension of
  Canadian settler colonialism
  – suppressed Cree and Métis resistance in
  Saskatchewan in 1885 -> marginalized FN people
  – helped establish Vancouver -> encouraged and shaped
  non-Indigenous settlement and economies in the west.
  – played a critical role in the 1885 establishment of a Royal Commission on Chinese Immigration -> effort to create “white man’s country”

Question 4

settler colonialism: what is it? why does it matter?

Answer 4

• a specific type of colonialism with three main priorities:
• 1) the dispossession and marginalization of Indigenous peoples;
• 2) the assumption of settler sovereignty over the land, and the encouragement of permanent
  non-Indigenous settlement and economic activity there; and
• 3) the privileging of white settlers in particular.
• this type of colonialism shaped the development of BC in the 19th century, due in part to the CPR

Question 5

why was the CPR built?

Answer 5

• Due to British North America Act and Dominion of Canada -> needed railroad to connect new provinces which had previously been separate colonies
• Due to BC joining Confederation -> would only join if railroad would be built to unite them to Canada

Question 6

how was CPR built?

Answer 6

• by white and Chinese workers who were underpaid and treated unfairly
• construction was slow until government made a contract with CP to build it
• completed in mid-1880s

Question 7

why CPR matters: indigenous suppression

Answer 7

• sparked resistance by using FN land without permission, then violently suppressed Cree and Métis resistance (Northwest Resistance) in
  Saskatchewan in 1885
• CPR allowed settlers to move around freely while suppressing and marginalizing FN people -> shift in power

Question 8

why does CPR matter: helped establish Vancouver

Answer 8

• Vancouver was perfect spot for CPR to end; CPR built parts of the city
• both FN and white people disliked this -> felt like regional identity was being sacrificed for national identity
• CPR changed demographics of BC/Van by making it easier for people to come to BC and settle in various places here

Question 9

why does CPR matter: restricting Chinese immigration

Answer 9

• once CPR completed, white people feared that Chinese people (who had previously been working on CPR) would now take their jobs -> violent racism
• politicians and white settlers wanted to make BC/Canada “white man’s country”
• Following CPR completion -> Royal Commission on Chinese Immigration -> Chinese Immigration Act (prevented immigration altogether) and head tax

Question 10

Royal Commission on Chinese Immigration: what is it? why does it matter?

Answer 10

• 1885; investigated what to do about “Chinese problem” -> should gov. restrict Chinese immigrants?
• included racialized testimony describing Chinese people as liars, monsters, no morals, filthy, etc.
• final result: Chinese immig. good for Canada economically, but should be restricted because of intensity of racism in BC
• reflected poltician’s and white settler’s priority of keeping Canada “a white man’s country”

Question 11

CPR: what is it? why does it matter?

Answer 11

• railway built across Canada by skilled workers; completed in 1880’s
• symbol of Canadian unity
• reflected and caused changes core to country: displaced aboriginal people, established Vancouver (non-FN settlements), and contributed to restricting Chinese immig.
• reminder that in late 19th century, Canada was settler colonial nation

Question 12

why does “myth of CPR” exist?

Answer 12

• CPR created it!
• Shaped the narrative of the railway using its own books, publications, etc. from its immigration programs and tourist advertising campaigns -> gave people first look of Western Canada; creating uniquely Canadian images