CanadaCanada

In the Age of ImperialismIn the Age of Imperialism

Canadian Westward ExpansionCanadian Westward Expansion• PM Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s govt. pushed PM Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s govt. pushed

for westward expansionfor westward expansion– Min. of Interior Clifford Sifton extolled Min. of Interior Clifford Sifton extolled

virtues of western Canadian land and virtues of western Canadian land and resourcesresources

– Opportunities for personal advancement Opportunities for personal advancement and prosperityand prosperity

– Expansion of markets and employmentExpansion of markets and employment

– Growth of Canadian seaportsGrowth of Canadian seaports

Canadian PM Sir Wilfrid Laurier

Min. of Interior Clifford Sifton

One Concern…ImmigrantsOne Concern…Immigrants• In luring immigrants, quantity or quality?In luring immigrants, quantity or quality?

• Sifton argued a policy emphasizing qualitySifton argued a policy emphasizing quality– Sought 3 types of immigrantsSought 3 types of immigrants

• Americans, Northern England/Scotland, and Americans, Northern England/Scotland, and Euro farmers and peasants willing to WORKEuro farmers and peasants willing to WORK

– Paid shipping agents to sift those coming to Paid shipping agents to sift those coming to CanadaCanada

• British Canadians feared becoming a British Canadians feared becoming a minority in their own countryminority in their own country– Insisted upon “Canadianizing the Newcomer” Insisted upon “Canadianizing the Newcomer”

and limiting numbersand limiting numbers

PM Laurier Pushes Railroad ExpansionPM Laurier Pushes Railroad Expansion• Called on Parliament to fund expansionCalled on Parliament to fund expansion• Said western people, resources, markets needed to be Said western people, resources, markets needed to be

connected to the Eastconnected to the East• Used patriotic statements and stern warnings about Used patriotic statements and stern warnings about

foreign competitors tapping western tradeforeign competitors tapping western trade• ““Heaven grant that it be not already too late…” LaurierHeaven grant that it be not already too late…” Laurier• Railroads got govt. funding but ended up over-building, Railroads got govt. funding but ended up over-building,

losing money, and competing with unfunded RRslosing money, and competing with unfunded RRs• Critics charged that RRs should have been privately Critics charged that RRs should have been privately

fundedfunded– At least they would look for the promise of commercial At least they would look for the promise of commercial

success before sinking money into a projectsuccess before sinking money into a project

Did Canada Consider Itself Part of Did Canada Consider Itself Part of the Empire?the Empire?

• Many identified with glories of the empireMany identified with glories of the empire

• Independence appealed to many but feared Independence appealed to many but feared U.S. annexationU.S. annexation– Some even wanted annexation but talk of it or Some even wanted annexation but talk of it or

independence …independence …• ““(was) absurdity, if not treason” (Sir John Thompson (was) absurdity, if not treason” (Sir John Thompson

(1893)(1893)

– When some in Quebec were attracted to When some in Quebec were attracted to annexation by the U.S.annexation by the U.S.• Opponents stated that “to remain French there is Opponents stated that “to remain French there is

only one thing we can do: remain English.” (Judge only one thing we can do: remain English.” (Judge Louis JettLouis Jetté, Quebec Superior Court)é, Quebec Superior Court)

3 Different Views• Canadian imperialist Stephen LeacockCanadian imperialist Stephen Leacock

– Colonialism a worn-out idea & independence dangerous Colonialism a worn-out idea & independence dangerous and unwiseand unwise

– Imperial Federation would provide greatest benefitsImperial Federation would provide greatest benefits

• French Canadian Nationalist Henri BourassaFrench Canadian Nationalist Henri Bourassa– British Imperialism demands colonial men and material British Imperialism demands colonial men and material

– French Canadian men included– French Canadian men included– French Canadians have undying love for FranceFrench Canadians have undying love for France– All decisions should be made by B & F CanadiansAll decisions should be made by B & F Canadians

• Sir Wilfrid Laurier – ModerateSir Wilfrid Laurier – Moderate– Strong policy of Canadianism makes greatness for Strong policy of Canadianism makes greatness for

country and Empirecountry and Empire

Stephen Leacock

Henri Bourassa

What Did Britain Expect?What Did Britain Expect?• Sharing costs of EmpireSharing costs of Empire• Colonial Sec. Joseph Chamberlain statedColonial Sec. Joseph Chamberlain stated

– Canada is mature and should not expect mother Canada is mature and should not expect mother country to continue paying for its defensecountry to continue paying for its defense

– All colonies should contribute to the defense of All colonies should contribute to the defense of the empire as a wholethe empire as a whole

– Commercial relations should be inter-imperialCommercial relations should be inter-imperial– This would hasten development in colonies and This would hasten development in colonies and

make Britain independent of foreign goodsmake Britain independent of foreign goods

French vs. British Canada• French Canadians generally thought Canada French Canadians generally thought Canada

should not fight Empire’s wars outside North should not fight Empire’s wars outside North AmericaAmerica

• British Canadians eager to assert nationalism British Canadians eager to assert nationalism through active participation in imperial affairsthrough active participation in imperial affairs

• Laurier hoped to avoid F vs. B Canadian fightLaurier hoped to avoid F vs. B Canadian fight

• Critics called him “Waffley Wilfy” or “Sir Critics called him “Waffley Wilfy” or “Sir Won’tfridWon’tfrid

• F C’s - Canada’s contribution to Empire – F C’s - Canada’s contribution to Empire – defense of Canadadefense of Canada

• B C’s – Best protection of Empire – common B C’s – Best protection of Empire – common imperial military systemimperial military system

The American Issue• Settlement of disputed border between Alaska Settlement of disputed border between Alaska

& Canada went in U.S. favor & Canada went in U.S. favor – Thanks to swing vote of British member of an Thanks to swing vote of British member of an

arbitration committeearbitration committee– Happened under Laurier’s Liberal PartyHappened under Laurier’s Liberal Party

• Canadians generally upset with U.S. & GBCanadians generally upset with U.S. & GB

• U.S.-proposed free trade agreement supported U.S.-proposed free trade agreement supported by Laurier as way to open U.S. market to by Laurier as way to open U.S. market to western Canadian ag. Goodswestern Canadian ag. Goods– Conservs portrayed plan as damaging to CanadaConservs portrayed plan as damaging to Canada– Next election – Conservatives won control of Parl.Next election – Conservatives won control of Parl.

Robert Borden• A conservative who was weak on issues A conservative who was weak on issues

dealing with Quebecdealing with Quebec– Had to balance pro-Empire BCs and anti-imperial Had to balance pro-Empire BCs and anti-imperial

FC nationalistsFC nationalists

• Issues dealing with Imperial strength and Issues dealing with Imperial strength and Canadian defense were unsolved as WWI Canadian defense were unsolved as WWI commencedcommenced– Political divide prevented real progressPolitical divide prevented real progress

• WWI even provoked a divideWWI even provoked a divide– Heavy losses made FCs question involvementHeavy losses made FCs question involvement

First World War in Canada• Super-patriots hostile to “Enemy Aliens” & foreigners Super-patriots hostile to “Enemy Aliens” & foreigners

in generalin general• Tax increasesTax increases• Inflation due to rapid war-related industrial expansionInflation due to rapid war-related industrial expansion• Railways nationalized to keep supplies and men Railways nationalized to keep supplies and men

movingmoving• Jobs, wages, inflation all roseJobs, wages, inflation all rose

– Benefits of market during war offset by inflationBenefits of market during war offset by inflation

• Outnumbered FC opponents of conscription couldn’t Outnumbered FC opponents of conscription couldn’t defeat itdefeat it

• War over before conscripted troops made a difference War over before conscripted troops made a difference but political consequences would be costlybut political consequences would be costly

After the War

• Canada won promises of greater input in Canada won promises of greater input in imperial decisionsimperial decisions

• Canada signed Treaty of VersaillesCanada signed Treaty of Versailles

• Canada joined League of NationsCanada joined League of Nations

• Soldiers had to be resettledSoldiers had to be resettled– Often at expense of women in workplaceOften at expense of women in workplace

Realities of Nationalism and Imperialism• Canada felt no automatic obligation to collective security Canada felt no automatic obligation to collective security • Canadians sought “normalcy” like U.S.Canadians sought “normalcy” like U.S.• PM Mackenzie King’s government concentrated on PM Mackenzie King’s government concentrated on

domestic harmony before foreign affairs during the 20sdomestic harmony before foreign affairs during the 20s• The 1926 Balfour Declaration finally created the The 1926 Balfour Declaration finally created the

Commonwealth with Britain and its dominions considered Commonwealth with Britain and its dominions considered as equals in a partnershipas equals in a partnership

• The Statute of Westminster (1931) finalized the The Statute of Westminster (1931) finalized the constitutional definition of “commonwealth”constitutional definition of “commonwealth”– Canada gained control over most foreign and domestic policyCanada gained control over most foreign and domestic policy

End of an Empire?• Perhaps a startPerhaps a start

– Nationalists in Canada hailed the new relationshipNationalists in Canada hailed the new relationship– Commonwealth did reduce collective security Commonwealth did reduce collective security

somewhat but that was something most Canadians, somewhat but that was something most Canadians, especially French Canadians, wanted.especially French Canadians, wanted.

– Some felt that Canada betrayed the Empire in Some felt that Canada betrayed the Empire in pushing for autonomypushing for autonomy

– Canadians increasingly preferred to believe that Canadians increasingly preferred to believe that “those who lived in fireproof houses had no need for “those who lived in fireproof houses had no need for insurance. (Winnipeg Free Press)insurance. (Winnipeg Free Press)