HISTORY UNIT 1 NORTHWEST AND PACIFIC COAST Flashcards
Which regions were considered part of the Northwest and Pacific Coast in the mid-1800s?
The Northwest and Pacific Coast comprised Rupert’s Land, the North-Western Territory, Vancouver Island and New Caledonia.
Who governed the Northwest and Pacific Coast before the mid-1800s?
Hudson’s Bay Company governed the Northwest and Pacific Coast under British government.
Why did Britain want to claim land in the Northwest and Pacific Coast?
Britain wanted to claim land in the Northwest and on the Pacific Coast to secure the territory before the United States did.
Who greatly outnumbered Europeans in the Northwest and Pacific Coast in the first half of the 1800s?
First Nations people greatly outnumbered Europeans.
Who were the Métis living in these regions?
The Métis were descendants of French and British traders and their First Nations wives.
What was the estimated population of First Nations people in the Northwest and Pacific Coast by 1857?
There were approximately 140,000 First Nations people.
What was the estimated population of people of European descent and Métis in the Northwest and Pacific
There were approximately 10,000 people of European descent and Métis.
When did Vancouver Island become a British colony?
Vancouver Island became a British colony in 1849.
Who was the first governor of Vancouver Island?
James Douglas was the first governor of Vancouver Island.
What was Governor Douglas’s aim regarding European settlers and First Nations on Vancouver Island?
Douglas aimed to keep peace between new European settlers and First Nations like the Songhees and Esquimalt.
What did Douglas offer First Nations on Vancouver Island?
Douglas offered First Nations Aboriginal title to a small portion of the island.
Describe the geography of the Pacific Coast.
The Pacific Coast had mountainous terrain, dense forests, fjords, and a large coastline along the Pacific Ocean.
What was a key waterway on the Pacific Coast, especially during the gold rush?
The Fraser River was a key waterway.
Describe the geography of the Northwest.
The Northwest mostly had expansive prairies and large boreal forests.
What was the climate like in the Northwest and the Pacific Coast?
The climate in the Northwest had cold, harsh winters with deep snow and short, warm summers. The Pacific Coast had milder, wetter climates, with heavy rainfall in coastal areas and colder winters in interior regions.
What were some of the important industries in the southern part of this region?
Important industries in the south included lumbering, fishing, copper, silver, coal, and base metal mining.
What was the Red River Settlement known for by the mid-1800s?
The Red River Settlement had diverse cultures, including Métis, some Scottish immigrants, and retired HBC workers with First Nations wives.
What were some of the seasonal activities of the Métis in the Red River Settlement?
Métis farmed in summer, hunted and trapped in autumn, and worked as merchants in winter.
Who began arriving in the Red River area from the late 1850s?
Settlers from Canada West, mainly of English and Scottish background, arrived.
What was the vision of these newcomers for Rupert’s Land?
They envisioned creating a European and Protestant Rupert’s Land.
What was the impact of this migration on the Métis and others already living in Rupert’s Land, according to Louis Goulet?
Goulet observed a loss of unity and friendship among different races and religions, with newcomers creating racial and religious conflict.
When did the smallpox epidemic occur in British Columbia?
The smallpox epidemic occurred in 1862.
How did the smallpox epidemic arrive in British Columbia?
The disease was brought by an infected passenger from San Francisco on a steamship.
What was the estimated death toll of the smallpox epidemic in British Columbia?
Approximately 32,000 people died out of 50,000 over the next 18 months.
Which group was most affected by the smallpox epidemic?
First Nations people were most affected because of their immune systems, with almost all of the deaths occurring among them.
What did some survivors believe about the spread of smallpox?
Some survivors believed that white people intentionally spread the disease using infected blankets.
When did the Fraser River Gold Rush begin
The Fraser River Gold Rush began in 1858.
What did Governor James Douglas do in response to the gold discovery in New Caledonia?
Douglas quickly declared New Caledonia a British colony, renaming it British Columbia, to prevent American control.
What was the impact of the gold rush on First Nations’ traditional territories?
It led to significant disruption of their lives and the pollution of their vital fishing waters, resulting in violent conflicts.
What policy did Governor James Douglas initiate regarding First Nations’ land during the gold rush?
Douglas initiated a policy aimed at creating reserves to safeguard First Nations’ land.
What happened to the treaty process after Douglas’s term as governor ended?
The subsequent governor ceased the treaty process and offered First Nations no compensation for the takeover of their ancestral territories.
What became the leading industries in British Columbia (New Caledonia) by the 1860s after the gold rush?
Coal mining and lumber industries became the leading companies.
Which diverse groups arrived in Vancouver Island following the gold rush?
Thousands of gold prospectors and immigrants, mainly from the United States, as well as British and French immigrants, Black people, people of the Jewish faith, and people from China arrived in Vancouver Island.
Which groups were well-received in Vancouver Island following the gold rush?
Jewish merchants and Black merchants were well-received, and Governor Douglas encouraged Black American immigration.
Which group faced discrimination in Vancouver Island, particularly after the gold rush?
Chinese people faced discrimination.
What contributed to the struggles of the coal mining and lumber industries after the gold rush?
The United States ended the Reciprocity Treaty in 1865 and heavily taxed goods from British Columbia.
How did business owners try to create less expensive products during this economic challenge?
Business owners looked for cheaper labour, which was provided by unemployed Chinese people.
What was a consequence of hiring Chinese workers as cheap labor?
Many white people felt that the Chinese were taking their jobs.
What were the main economic resources/activities inferred for the Northwest Territory during the early to mid-1800s due to the large First Nations population?
Hunting, fishing, and gathering
What was New Caledonia’s economic resource during the gold rush?
Gold Mining, later coal mining and lumber industries.
What were the main economic resources of Vancouver Island?
Gold mining, coal mining, and lumber.
What were the main economic resources of Rupert’s Land?
In the Red River Area, Metis people had farms (agriculture), fur trade (hunting and trapping) and trade (merchanting).
What triggered a rapid influx of non-Aboriginal people from eastern British North America, the United States, Europe, China, and more, exceeding 30,000 within months.
The Fraser River Gold Rush.
What resulted in violent conflicts between First Nations and the miners, including the Fraser Canyon War in 1858.
The arrival of these miners on First Nations’ traditional territories led to the significant disruption of their lives and the pollution of their vital fishing waters.
How were Jewish, Black, and Chinese people received in the Vancouver Island colony?
*Jewish merchants like David Oppenheimer were well-received, achieving business success and becoming local politicians.
*Black merchants Mifflin Gibbs and Peter Lester established a successful store. Governor Douglas encouraged Black American immigration with government funds. Black American volunteer soldiers suggest positive feelings towards their new home.
*In contrast, Chinese people were not welcomed.
What did Governor James Douglas do to stop the spread of Smallpox?
Governor James Douglas called for swift action to stop the spread, recommending a hospital and vaccinations.
