Transcript Slide 1

Laurier’s vision for
Canada was one that
meant recognition for
Canada as a nation
with interests different
from those of Britain
and the U.S.
Imperialism
 Establishing colonies away from the
homeland (British colonies in Canada)
 In the 19th Century many European
countries were competing to gain
colonies around the world.
 There was a divide in both support for
Imperialism from the English and the
French
English-Canadian Views
 Most supported it
-Would have Military support
-Links with nations with similar social and political
values
 Others thought they should be independent from
Britain because they’d be seen as inferior (economy,
foreign relations, culture, and government)
 Small number believed that Canada should join the
U.S. (They felt trade and transportation links naturally
flowed north-south.)
French-Canadian Views
 They didn’t feel as loyal to the British empire
 Strong sense of pride in their French-Canadian culture
and heritage
 Early 1600s marked the first settlements of French in
Quebec and even though Quebec had been conquered
in 1759, it was still the homeland of the FrenchCanadian culture
 They were a minority
 Their culture and rights were threatened by the
imperialist movement
 At Confederation 1867 – Quebec had been guaranteed
the use of French language in their courts,
government, and schools.
Incidents since 1867, made the
French feel like they were losing
their rights:
1) Louis Riel and the Metis:
 Riel was viewed as a rebel by the English speaking
people of Ontario (He had ordered the execution of
Thomas Scott, an English-speaking protestant who
protested against Riel’s provisional gov’t on the
settlement. He was also part of a group that
believed English Protestants should rule the west)
 He was a hero to French people (esp. Quebec) for
fighting for French-speaking Metis.
 His execution 1885 was seen as a direct attack on
French Canadian culture by the federal government
2) French Language Schools outside Quebec:
 1870 Manitoba -English and French were given equal
status at gov’t, courts, and schools.
 French Roman Catholic (RC) separate schools were
supported by gov’t tax money.
 French became a minority in 1890, pressure was to
make all schools English speaking.
 The COMPROMISE:
 Laurier suggested no longer having a French system
supported by taxpayers but have Roman Catholic
teachers provide religious instruction to RC students
for part of the day.
 French speaking teachers would be provided when
there were classes with 10 or more French students.
 This was changed again to all English in 1916.
1905 Alberta and Saskatchewan
 English majority wanted to ‘Canadianize’ the new immigrants who
were arriving speaking a number of different languages in all
English school system.
 Laurier was sympathetic to Catholic and French language teaching,
BUT gov’t support went to an English language school system.
 Minorities could set up separate schools if they wished.
Ontario after 1900
 French speaking population had risen to 10% of the province
 Their push to have French language interests, was seen as a threat
to British institutions and imperial unity.
 Regulation 7 in 1910 made English the official language for
schools in Ontario.
 17 years later in1927- the gov’t allowed some bilingual schools in
the province.
 Henri Bourassa (French Canadian Nationalist) “If we let the French
minorities which are our outposts be sacrificed one by on, the day
will come when the Province of Quebec itself will undergo assault.”
 Quebec nationalism continued to gain momentum.
3) Two views: Bicultural Canada or Separation
 -Should the French stay within Canada and
confederation OR
 -Should the Quebec separate from Canada?
 -Laurier AND Bourassa both believed in the
first option
 -Canada could be bicultural and bilingual
where French and
 -English cultures and languages could be
treated equally.
A number of issues fueled this debate in the
early 1900s.
They are:
1)BOER WAR - took place in South Africa – trouble (gold
and diamond discoveries) between the British settlers
and the Boers (descendants of the Dutch).
 Boers declared war on Britain and Britain asked
Canada to send soldiers.
 English – “Yes”, anxious to take part
 French – “No”, Canada should not take part in
imperialist wars
 Laurier- tried to satisfy both sides – no official army
sent but would send 1000 volunteers
 **In the end, 7300 volunteers were sent and $2.8 M
spent
2)NAVAL CRISIS
 1909 – possibility of war between Britain and Germany
was very real.
 Germany was on its way to having the largest Navy in
the world and the British wanted (colonies) Canada’s
help to build more ships of their own.
 Laurier set up the Naval Service Bill – Canada would
have its own army but would be under control of Britain
in emergency situations
 French- Canadian Nationalists did not like it – as we
could be sent anytime to fight British imperialist wars
 Conservative Party said Laurier was setting up a “tinpot” navy when immediate contribution was needed to
the British navy
3) Alaska Boundary Dispute – conflict with the United States
 U.S. purchased Alaska from Russian in 1867- the deal included the
“panhandle” – which was a strip of coastline extending south into
what Canada considered to theirs. The wording of the treaty was
“fuzzy” and no one really cared until gold was discovered in the
Yukon.
 In 1898 – the Gold Rush brought in prospectors who needed outfits
and supplies.
 Both Canadian and US merchants wanted to take advantage of the
business.
 Eventually there were judges appointed to settle the matter. 3 from
the US, 2 Canadians appointed by Britain and one Englishman (from
England)
 The case was settle with 4-2 against the Canadians.. the Englishman
sided with the US.
 Canadians were outraged!
 The International Joint Commission was set up to settle peacefully
future disputes between Canada and the United States over
boundary waters or rivers along the Canadian- American border.
 ** Canadians were more determined to see Canada make its own
decisions in the future.
4) Reciprocity- (Trade)
 an agreement between two countries to trade certain
products without tariffs (taxes).
 Farmers wanted lower tariffs on goods traded between US
and Canada.
 High tariffs meant high prices for farm products and
materials.
 While tariffs can help to protect home industries by limited
foreign competition, it can also mean that prices on
protected home goods goes up
 Laurier worked out a reciprocity agreement - all products
from Canadian farms, fisheries forests and mines would be
allowed into the United States free of tariffs.
 Taxes on U.S. items like farm implements, building
materials, and autos would be lowered.
 Some people were opposed feeling that the cheaper
American goods would put them out of business.
 People were still angry about what happened in Alaska
 Worried about the trade between north and south ruining the
railway system they’d worked so hard to build.
TWO main issues defeated
Laurier
 Naval Service Bill and the Reciprocity deal
with the U.S.
 French Canadians did not want to be involved
in British Imperialist disputes
 English Canadians did not want to be taken
over by American economic interests
 So the Anti-imperialists joined the
Conservatives to defeat the Liberals in 1911