What route was chosen for this railway ?
As you read in Chapter 2, Prince Edward Island had initially
rejected Confederation in 18 67. In 18 71, Prince Edward
Island began to build its own railway. When the plan
went over budget, Prince Edward Island was left with two
options: join Confederation to pay off the debt or increase taxes to pay for
the railway. Read Figure 3.17, an excerpt from a local newspaper published
two days after Prince Edward Island eventually joined Confederation in
18 73. What does this source reveal about acceptance and attitudes toward
Confederation in Prince Edward Island?,
Also in 18 71, British Columbia negotiated to enter into Confederation with
Canada. One of the conditions of British Columbia joining Confederation was
that Canada must build a transcontinental railway to link the province with
Ontario. The government promised that the railway would be completed
within 10 years. Look at
Figure 3.18. It shows a
modern-day Canadian
Pacific Railway with a train
travelling through the Rocky
Mountains in Alberta. How
would a railway have helped
Canada to expand in the
late 1800s?,
The route chosen for the railway in Prince Edward Island was along the northern coast of the island.
The acceptance and attitudes toward Confederation in Prince Edward Island can be seen in the excerpt from the local newspaper, which indicates that joining Confederation was a decision made out of necessity to pay off the debt incurred from building the railway. This suggests that there may have been some reluctance or hesitation towards joining Confederation initially.
A railway would have helped Canada to expand in the late 1800s by providing a faster and more efficient means of transportation for people and goods. This would have facilitated economic development, settlement of new areas, and improved communication between different regions of the country. Additionally, the construction of the transcontinental railway would have further integrated the western provinces with the rest of Canada, making it easier for people and resources to move across the country.