The Golden Age of Laurier

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The Golden Age of Laurier

• Stepping Onto the World Stage
• Foreign Affairs Issues of Lauriers Era

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Laurier and the Art of Compromise

• Wilfrid Laurier was Prime Minister of Canada at a
  time when several issues divided the French and
  English populations
• Was a firm believer in the idea that French and
  English could and should live together
• 1864 valedictorian address _at_ McGill Two races
  today share the soil of Canada
• Laurier Fr-Cdn with a deep love and
  appreciation for English literature and culture
• Believed that the rest of the world would look
  upon the shining example of Canada and the
  harmony of its two founding peoples

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Canadas Foreign Affairs

• Imperialism
• After confederation and into the 1900s, many
  Canadians debated Canadas role in British
  Imperial Family
• Should Canada stay within the Empire, or should
  it become completely independent?

A policy of establishing colonies away from the
homeland who would be loyal to your empire
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Two major views on the issue

• The English-Canadian view
• Most supported imperialism
• Supporting imperialism did not necessarily mean
  they did not support Nationalism
• See reasons on page 40
• Of course, some felt Canada should either be
  fully independent, or perhaps, even join the USA.
  However, they were minority English-Canadians.

Loyalty to ones country
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• 2) The French-Canadian view
• Divided views, but many felt imperialism meant a
  loss of French identity and culture
• Felt isolated as immigration increases and
  nationalist movements develop

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French-Canadian Nationalism

• Confederation guaranteed French language, courts,
  customs, religion etc
• But, some incidents began to question this.
• Lauriers view
• French Canadians have not forgotten France Here
  in France, people are surprised at the attachment
  French Canadians feel for the Queen of England.
  We are faithful to the nation which gave us life
  (France), and we are faithful to the nation that
  gave us liberty (Britain).

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French-English RelationsPre-Laurier

• French always worried about losing their
  language/culture being assimilated (justified?)
• Métis and Louis Riel
• French Canadians sympathized with Riel and felt
  he was unjustly persecuted because he was French
• French Métis rights abused no relief or support
  from govt
• Laurier rose to prominence in the Liberal Party
  through his eloquent defense of Riel
• Riels execution continued and deepened the
  feelings of alienation and discontent in French
  Canada
• Lets read page 41

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Manitoba Schools Question

• Manitoba Act of 1870 constitutionally guaranteed
  bilingual separate schools in Manitoba
• However, as more English settlers arrived in Red
  River, many Métis sold their script and moved
  further West
• Manitoba Schools Act 1890
• Cut off funding for RC schools in Manitoba
• English the only language of instruction
• Macdonald wait out storm (died in 1891)
• Issue unresolved in 1896 during election
• Conservative Charles Tupper uphold the
  Constitution and force Manitoba to restore
  funding
• Liberal Wilfrid Laurier avoids taking definite
  stand but understands that he cannot risk
  offending the English majority and restore
  complete funding

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Laurier-Greenway Compromise

• After election - Laurier-Greenway Compromise
  The Sunny Way
• ½ hour of religious instruction at the end of the
  school day
• Teacher in the language of choice would be
  provided if 10 or more students
• French-Canadians very disappointed view it as
  significant loss of French and catholic rights
  outside Quebec
• 1916 Manitoba again makes English only language
  of instruction
• Lets read about this on page 41 - 42

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Language in Ontario and other provinces

• Lets read page 42

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Henri Bourassa
IF WE LET THE FRENCH MINORITIES WHICH OUR
OUTPOSTS, BE SACRIFICED ONE BY ONE, THE DAY WILL
COME WHEN THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC WILL UNDERGO
ASSAULT
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A BICULTURAL CANADA OR SEPARATION?

• LETS READ FROM THE TITLE ON PAGE 42

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Foreign Affairs Issues That Effected Canada

• 3 Major Issues

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The Boer War 1899-1902

• War in South Africa between Dutch settlers and
  British Imperialists
• engulfed in conflict for over fifty years.
• The British Imperialists
• located in the Cape Colony and Natal, wanted to
  have South Africa unified under British rule.
• The Boers
• occupied the more northern independent republics
  of the Orange Free State and Transvaal, wanted to
  remain independent.
• Throughout the 19th Century more and more
  commercially minded British settlers had moved to
  the Cape Colony causing many Boers to move
  further inland to protect their way of life.
• discovery of gold and diamonds in Transvaal -
  tensions grew
• erupted into all out war and the second Boer War
  commenced. (The first Boer War occurred in
  1880-1881).
• England requested help from their Imperial Family.

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Map of South Africa 1899
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• Lauriers Compromise
• Canada would support the British by providing
  1000 volunteers (initially though 7300 went in
  total), equipment and transportation to South
  Africa. Britain would be responsible for paying
  the troops and returning them to Canada at the
  end of their service.
• Not the official Canadian Army but making a
  contribution
• Effort to balance French and English view while
  guarding Canadian autonomy
• The Boer War marked the first occasion in which
  large contingents of Canadian troops served
  abroad.

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• The Battle of Paardeberg is the best-known
  Canadian engagement of the South African war.
  Canada's first contingent failed to heed the
  order to retreat and held their own.

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• Prime Minister Laurier tried to keep Canada out
  of this conflict and the country was divided over
  whether or not Canada should participate.
• Most French-Canadians and some English
• felt this conflict was Britain's war and did not
  concern Canada
• Many French Canadians sympathized with Boers and
  were worried that this might set a precedent
• Most English Canadians
• drawn to the idea of fighting in South Africa and
  defending the British Empire.
• Felt it was our duty to support the Empire

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• The Canadians proved to be tough and heroic, and
  especially good on horseback.
• Success of Canadian soldiers and their criticism
  of British leadership and social values fed a new
  sense of Canadian self-confidence and actually
  loosened the ties of loyalty to Britain

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The Alaska Boundary Dispute 1903
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• Boundaries of Alaska not set when US purchased
  Alaska from Russia in 1867
• US adopted Russian position while Canada-Britain
  had different claim
• Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 brought matter to a
  head
• Decided to settle matter before International
  tribunal of 3 Americans, 2 Canadians and 1 Brit
  Lord Alverstone

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Lord Alverstone
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• US President Teddy Roosevelt made it very clear
  that dispute would be settled in US favour
• 1000 Marines ready to land to enforce position
• Canada confident of British support
• Lord Alverstone instructed to take US side
• Britain needed US support in looming crisis with
  Germany and in arms race
• Couldnt risk upsetting US
• Not much could do anyway considering location and
  American determination
• Canadian legal case weak
• Canada would probably have lost anyway but
  Roosevelts manipulations and Britains
  acquiescence so blatant that Canada enraged
• aggressive imperialism and bullying of US and
  Britains betrayal of Canadian interests

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The Naval Service Bill 1910
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• Prelude to WWI, Germany developing a navy to
  challenge Britain
• Britain had Two-Power Naval Standard
• As an island, and with a worldwide Empire, it was
  believed that they must have as big a navy as the
  next two powers combined
• Developed the HMS Dreadnought in 1906
• one of the most notable design transformations of
  the armored warship era
• Bigger 18 000 ton battleship, Faster - steam
  turbine power plant with 21-knot maximum speed
• "all-big-gun" main battery of ten twelve-inch
  guns
• so thoroughly eclipsed earlier types that
  subsequent battleships were commonly known as
  "dreadnoughts", and the previous ones disparaged
  as "pre-dreadnoughts".
• Made all other ships obsolete but reduced
  Britains naval superiority to one.
• Wanted colonies/dominions to contribute money to
  build more dreadnoughts

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• Laurier, ever mindful of guarding Canadian
  autonomy and caught between French and English,
  came up with a compromise
• Build Royal Canadian Navy 5 cruisers and 6
  destroyers, which could, when needed, be placed
  at the disposal of the British Navy with the
  consent of parliament
• English
• our duty to contribute to the British Navy as we
  rely on it for our protection
• RCN Tin Pot Navy not enough
• French
• too much
• would be dragged into every fight
• Britain should take care of itself
• By beginning of WWI, only 2 cruisers Rainbow
  and Niobe

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HMS Rainbow and Niobe