Chapter 5
The United States and Canada
Exploring Canada

Vocabulary

boomtown		A settlement that springs up quickly, often to serve the needs of miners
Francophone		A person who speaks French as his or her first language
immunity		A natural resistance to disease
referendum		A ballot or vote in which voters decide for or against a particular issue
Quiet Revolution		A peaceful change in the government of Quebec, Canada, in which the Parti Québécois won control of the legislature and made French the official language
separatist		In Canada, someone who wants the province of Quebec to break away from the rest of the country
totem pole		A tall, carved wooden pole containing symbols, found among Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest

Key People and Places

Cariboo Mountain Fraser River Jacques Cartier Montreal Pacific Rim

Quebec City Regina Saskatoon Vancouver Victoria

Sample Essay Questions

1. Why do you think the Canadian government is opposed to Quebec's becoming a separate nation? In your answer, briefly explain why Quebeckers want to break away from Canada.

Many people in Quebec who are of French descent are worried that their culture and language might die if Quebec remains part of Canada. Therefore, many Quebeckers demand independence for Quebec. Although the Canadian government did make some changes, such as making French the official language of Quebec, the separatists have warned that they will continue their struggle. If Quebec does separate, it would weaken Canada politically and economically. It might encourage other Canadian provinces to become separate nations as well.

2. How did European settlers in Canada affect the indigenous peoples already living there?

The European settlers permanently changed the cultures of the native peoples by bringing Europeans goods, such as pots and guns. Also, they introduced diseases to Canada that the native peoples had no immunity against. The Europeans destroyed the buffalo herds that were essential to the lives of the native peoples. Then the governments of Canada and the United States took the land that belonged to the native peoples and forced them to live on reserves.

3. Explain how the ways of life of many native peoples in the Plains region of North America ended in the late 1870's.

Descendents of Europeans killed off the buffalo herds that were central to the lives of native peoples. At the same time, the government of Canada and the United States took over the native peoples' land and sent them to live on reservations.

4. How did the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway affect life in Canada?

The railroad provided a way of uniting Canada from Montreal to Vancouver. building the project attracted immigrants from all over the world. Towns grew up along the railroad, and more newcomers came to Canada.