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Industrialization

The development of the railway and other means of communication, the implementation of the National Policy in the 1870s, and the economic boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries laid the foundation for the industrialization of Canada. These significant industrial and technological developments altered the social character of the country. In growing numbers, men and women were heading to the factories and workshops of industrial centres, which contributed to rural depopulation. Modern social classes made their appearance, and with these classes came responsible government and the system of tightly knit and affluent political parties as the instrument of dominant groups. Railway construction and industrialization led to the creation of the first faculties of applied science in Canada as well as new education curricula. Industrialization had, however, been accompanied by the growth of both social ills and reform movements to combat them.

Related Biographies

BEAUCHAMP, JEAN-JOSEPH
BECK, Sir ADAM
CHABERT, JOSEPH
DONEGANI, JOHN ANTHONY (baptized Jean-Antoine)
EATON, TIMOTHY
EDWARDS, CLARENCE BARTLETT
FIELDING, WILLIAM STEVENS
GOUIN, Sir LOMER (baptized Joseph-Alfred-Lomer)
GOWAN, Sir JAMES ROBERT
GRANT, GEORGE MONRO
HIND, HENRY YOULE
HUNTER, ADELAIDE SOPHIA (Hoodless)
KENNEDY, JOHN LEO
KING, WILLIAM LYON MACKENZIE
LACOSTE, MARIE (baptized Marie-Thaïs-Élodie-Coralie) (Gérin-Lajoie)
LAURIER, Sir WILFRID (baptized Henry-Charles-Wilfrid)
LAVIGNE (Tessier, dit Lavigne), ERNEST
MACDONALD (McDonald), Sir WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER
MARCEAU, ERNEST
MOWAT, Sir OLIVER
McGREEVY, THOMAS
NELSON, FRANCIS JOSEPH
ROSS, Sir GEORGE WILLIAM
SCOTT, BENJAMIN ALEXANDER
SKINNER, EMMA SOPHIA (Fiske)
SOUTHAM, WILLIAM
TOURIGNY, PAUL (baptized Napoléon)
TRUDEAU, ROMUALD (baptized Denys-Romuald)
WHITNEY, Sir JAMES PLINY

Other Resources

Industrial Revolution - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com
Industrial Revolution - Wikipedia
Industrialisation - Wikipedia
Industrialization in Canada - The Canadian Encyclopedia. Content archived on 25 Dec. 2024
Industrialization, Labour, and Historians | Canadian History: Post-Confederation

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Nous reconnaissons l'aide financière du Musée canadien de l'histoire à travers les œuvres du programme de référence en ligne financés par le gouvernement du Canada.

We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.


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