Chapter 6 Lesson 6 Inquiry
Completion requirements
Inquiry
Why did Chinese people come to the Cordillera region?
Britain was at war with China throughout the 1800s and early 1900s. The first Opium War (1839-42) and the Boxer (T’ai P’ing) Rebellion (1850-64) left China in poverty.
This was when Canada saw the first wave of Chinese immigrants looking for gold in California, British Columbia, and the Yukon.
The railroad brought many jobs, but it was hard, dangerous work. Canadians wanted to be paid fairly.
Canadian railway builders, almost bankrupt and facing delay, hired Chinese workers. The Chinese were willing to work cheaply because the pay was better than at home. This upset the labour unions in British Columbia. After the railway was finished, the government passed laws, such as a Head Tax, on Chinese wanting to enter Canada.
To enter Canada after the railroad was built, the Chinese had to pay $50 and later, $500. British citizens did not pay, but were encouraged to immigrate to Canada. Why?
A citizen is a legal member of a country. Canadians were British citizens because Canada was a British colony.
Citizenship means some people are included. Other people, who are not citizens of a country, are excluded. Today, some people are Canadian citizens; many other people are not. Who becomes a Canadian citizen? This criteria has changed over time.
At that time, women who married British citizens automatically became citizens. Women who married foreign men lost their citizenship.
Other immigrants needed to live three years in Canada before they could apply to become British citizens. People who moved to Canada received a red passport, while those born in Canada received a blue passport.
On January 1, 1947, Canada gained more independence from Britain and the Canadian Citizenship Act was passed. Then, anti-Asian measures, such as the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act, the 1885 Chinese Head Tax, and the Continuous Journey Act were ended.
Now people come to Canada based on the point system, such as whether or not they can speak an official language or have an education. Today, each new immigrant (except for refugees) pays $1,475 per person to immigrate to Canada, not including airfare. Immigration laws in Canada have changed since the 1800s, but Canada still has immigration fees.
This was when Canada saw the first wave of Chinese immigrants looking for gold in California, British Columbia, and the Yukon.
The railroad brought many jobs, but it was hard, dangerous work. Canadians wanted to be paid fairly.
Canadian railway builders, almost bankrupt and facing delay, hired Chinese workers. The Chinese were willing to work cheaply because the pay was better than at home. This upset the labour unions in British Columbia. After the railway was finished, the government passed laws, such as a Head Tax, on Chinese wanting to enter Canada.
The Head Tax: How Have Canadian Laws
Changed Over Time?
To enter Canada after the railroad was built, the Chinese had to pay $50 and later, $500. British citizens did not pay, but were encouraged to immigrate to Canada. Why?
A citizen is a legal member of a country. Canadians were British citizens because Canada was a British colony.
Citizenship means some people are included. Other people, who are not citizens of a country, are excluded. Today, some people are Canadian citizens; many other people are not. Who becomes a Canadian citizen? This criteria has changed over time.
At that time, women who married British citizens automatically became citizens. Women who married foreign men lost their citizenship.
Other immigrants needed to live three years in Canada before they could apply to become British citizens. People who moved to Canada received a red passport, while those born in Canada received a blue passport.
On January 1, 1947, Canada gained more independence from Britain and the Canadian Citizenship Act was passed. Then, anti-Asian measures, such as the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act, the 1885 Chinese Head Tax, and the Continuous Journey Act were ended.
Now people come to Canada based on the point system, such as whether or not they can speak an official language or have an education. Today, each new immigrant (except for refugees) pays $1,475 per person to immigrate to Canada, not including airfare. Immigration laws in Canada have changed since the 1800s, but Canada still has immigration fees.
Where is China?
Map of China via Unsplash
China vs. the British Empire: Opium Wars and Boxer Rebellion
Resources for Inquiry
Resources for Inquiry
- Textbook
- Read pages 170 – 171.
- Library Books
- Coming to Canada, pages 40 – 45
- Canadian Pacific Railway, (The entire book!)
- Websites
- The Ties that Bind: Building the CPR and Building a Place in Canada
- Library and Achieves Canada: Chinese
- History: Chinese Canadians
- A copy of the Expulsion Notice
-
A game to play: Golden Mountain Quest
- Video
Notebook
Click here to download, save to your Unit 6 Notebook, and use the Chinese Immigration Chart to help you note information as you complete your inquiry.
Digging Deeper
You may find these library books interesting:
- An Ocean Apart: The Gold Mountain Diary of Chin Mei-Ling
- Ghost Train
- Blood and Iron: Building the Railway
When you feel confident about the information you explored in this inquiry, complete the Lesson 6 Self-Check on the following page.