HISTORY UNIT 1 NORTHWEST AND PACIFIC COAST Flashcards
(46 cards)
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.
