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Home , Parti rouge, Wilfrid Laurier

TIMELINE Sir WilfridEDUCATION Laurier GUIDE This Timeline is designed to accompany Historica ’s Sir Education Guide.

1841 Henry-Charles- Wilfrid Laurier 1854 Laurier attends the Collège de L’Assomption is born on 20 November for a classical education. There he discovers in Saint-Lin, Québec ultramontanism (a clerical philosophy within the Catholic (then ). At 1840 Church that emphasizes the prerogatives and powers age 10, Laurier is sent of the Pope), which he detests for the rest of his life. to learn English in New 1841 Glasgow, Québec, where 1854 Moves to to study law at McGill University. He he learns the value of 1861 tolerance between English aligns with the , a radical liberal political group. and French cultures. McGill University, Montreal, ca. 1890-1901 (courtesy 1864 Graduates US Library of Congress/LC-DIG-det-4a05369). Mill and falls, New Glasgow, QC, ca. 1900 from McGill (courtesy McCord Museum/MP-1985.31.43). University. During his valedictory address in French (a bold move at McGill, an English 1861 university), Laurier pledges to devote his life “to the cause of Le Défricheur, 7 March 1867. Laurier was the newspaper’s conciliation, harmony publisher from November 1866 until its demise on 21 March, 1867 1864 and concord among the (courtesy Google News Archive). different elements of this country of ours.” Becomes editor of Le Défricheur 1866 newspaper. He is anti-Confederation, 1866 Laurier and his wife, Zoé Lafontaine, Zoé Lafontaine, a fearing political centralization and the assimilation of in a chauffeur-driven car (courtesy Library 1868 French Catholics into an English Protestant nation. and Archives Canada/C-063517). piano teacher with whom Laurier has an on-again, 1868 off-again courtship for seven Elected to Québec Legislative Assembly as the years, becomes engaged to 1871 Liberal member for Drummond-Arthabaska. another man, as Laurier had refused to marry her on the grounds that he was too poor and sickly. But when their former Switching to federal politics, landlord tells Laurier that Zoé is 1874 Laurier is elected on 29 January. about to marry another suitor, Laurier rushes to Montreal. Wilfrid Laurier in 1874, his first year as The two marry immediately. 1874 On 15 April, Laurier a Member of Parliament, and the same gives his first year he first spoke in defence of Riel (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/ major speech in the House William James Topley/PA-026430). of Commons. Discussing 1877 Laurier is named Minister of Inland Revenue on 8 October. the proposed expulsion of from Parliament, 1874 Laurier argues that Riel’s 1885 On 7 July, Laurier speaks about rights were being denied. the North-West Resistance. He notes that the Red 1877 He suggests that blaming Riel for the River rebels “wanted to be rebellion insults Métis grievances. treated like British subjects He accuses Prime Minister Sir John and not bartered away like A. Macdonald of being contemptuous common cattle.” The English toward their demand for title to the Canadian press praises his lands they already held. Riel was stance as calm and logical. executed for treason on 16 November.

1885 Métis leader Louis Riel, ca. 1879-1885 (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/Duffin and Co./C-052177). During a speech on 16 March, 1886 Laurier defends 1887 retires as Liberal leader, anointing from accusations by the English Canadian Laurier as his successor. Laurier is resistant, but press that they were placing themselves 1880 eventually decides to accept the position. Sure that he above the law in the aftermath of the Riel would accept, the Globe newspaper had declared Laurier execution. He blames the government for leader before he had finalized his decision. Riel’s death. The English press labels him the

“silver-tongued orator” after this address. 1886 The Canadian West. , Assiniboine; , . 1900. Published 1891 During the federal by the Hon. . Minister of the School near Brandon, MB, ca. election, Laurier’s Interior, , Canada (courtesy Library and 1900-1910 (courtesy Library and platform promotes a freer trade Archives Canada/L’Ouest canadien/AMICUS 1890 The Legislative Assembly Archives Canada/Canada Dept. of 1887 2696647/Cover page). of Manitoba abolishes Mines and Resources/C-002074). deal with the United States. French as an official language. The deal, known as reciprocity,

Bowing to public pressure, it also 1890 would lower tariffs between passes two bills that consolidate the two countries. Macdonald Catholic and Protestant school 1891 and the Conservatives win systems into one public system. the election, feeding off fears This leads to the political crisis known that free trade could ruin as the Manitoba Schools Question. Canada’s economy, and, more importantly, turn Canada into a colony of the United States.

1896 Elected on 23 June, Laurier officially becomes Canada’s first francophone 1896 Laurier and Clifford prime minister on 11 July as the Liberals defeat a Sifton, Minister of worn-out post-Macdonald Conservative government the Interior, begin promoting after sitting in opposition for 18 years. immigration to the West.

1896

Parliament of Canada (Dreamstime.com/ 1896 The Manitoba Schools Question is resolved with Py2000/16339360). the Laurier-Greenway Compromise, which allows religious instruction in public schools for a half hour at the end of the day, with certain conditions. Depending on whether there were sufficient numbers of Francophones in a given area, 1896 The discovery Catholic teachers could be hired and French could be taught. of gold along a

tributary of the Klondike 1897 River in August causes As part people to rush to the Yukon 1897 of Queen to seek their fortune. Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Prospectors ascend Chilkoot Pass, BC, en route to the Klondike gold fields, Laurier attends the first ca. 1898-1899 (courtesy Library and large-scale imperial Archives Canada/ C-004490). 1898 conference in London. On 21 June, Laurier 1898 The Yukon Territory Act separates Yukon from reluctantly accepts a the North-West Territories. The move is spurred knighthood, becoming by the population increase during the Klondike gold rush “Sir” Wilfrid Laurier. and fears the United States is eyeing the area.

1899 in the late 1800s (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/1962-108-1/C-095254).

1899 The South African Boer War begins. Laurier Canadians on the agrees to support volunteers who wish to veldt in South Africa during the Boer War fight for Great Britain. While support (courtesy Canadian the war, French Canadians are wary of imperialism and War Museum/CWM sympathize with the Boers (Dutch-speaking settlers who 19820205-003). had clashed with British inhabitants of South Africa). Laurier leads 1903 The Alaska Boundary 1900 the Liberals Dispute is settled. to victory in the federal Canada wanted an all-Canadian election on 7 November. 1900 route from the Klondike gold fields to the Pacific through the Alaska 1900 Panhandle, over which the US claimed sovereignty. A six-man Laurier’s Liberals 1904 tribunal — Canada had two votes, win the federal 1903 the US had three, and Britain election on 3 November. had one — rules for the US with 1904 the support of the British tribunal Canada in 1906 (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/Cartographic Materials). member, Lord Alverstone, who wanted to avert military conflict. 1905 The “Autonomy Bills” create Alberta and Laurier regrets that Canada 1905 Saskatchewan, Canada’s eighth and ninth provinces. lacks the power to make its own Map showing the Alaska boundary between Canada and the United international decisions. States, ca.1890 (Dreamstime.com/ 1908 Haveseen/11608023). 1908 Laurier leads the Liberals to a fourth consecutive 1910 The Naval Service federal election win on 26 October. Act establishes the . Attempting to strike a balance between imperialist 1911 A reciprocity pressure and concerns of (freer trade) French Canadian nationalists, agreement with the Laurier creates a volunteer United States is drafted, navy whose fleet could be provoking a hostile placed at Britain’s use during reaction from 18 prominent 1910 Recruitment poster for the naval service of Canada, ca. 1915 (courtesy US Library of Congress/Prints & a major crisis. Toronto businessmen Photographs Division/WWI Posters/ LC-USZC4-12677). (known as the “Toronto Eighteen”), who argue it 1911 Laurier is attacked from all sides during the will weaken ties with the 1911 federal election campaign: in Québec, it is feared and open that the navy will lead to participation in Britain’s military the way to economic union, endeavours; in , fears compound over the Sir , Montreal, ca. 1911-1920 and eventually absorption freer trade deal. Laurier’s long years in power, with their (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/ by the US. inevitable problems and compromises, contribute to his Dupras & Colas/C-000694). loss to Robert Borden’s Conservatives on 21 September.

1914 1914 The First World War breaks out Sir Wilfrid Laurier, 1911, by William James in August. As leader of the (courtesy City of Toronto 1917 Opposition, Laurier signals Archives/Fonds 1244/ his support and encourages Item 581). men to volunteer for service.

1917 The Military Service Act implements (compulsory military Laurier on parade in Simcoe, ON, ca. 1910 (courtesy service), provoking a national City of Toronto Archives/Fonds 1244/Item 8224). crisis. Borden creates a Unionist Recruitment poster, Toronto Central Recruiting coalition government, bringing Committee, No. 2 Military Division, 1915 (courtesy US Library of Congress/LC-USZC4-12670). pro-conscription Liberals to his party, but Laurier refuses to join the new administration. He leads 1919 While rebuilding the Liberal party, Laurier dies a much-reduced Liberal Party in Ottawa on 17 February. More than 100,000 through the federal election attend his funeral. As his adversary on 17 December, winning only 1919 wrote, “The private virtues of the eminent statesman, 82 seats, just 20 of which are his admirable qualities of the heart, that tireless, located outside of Québec. modest charity, the great dignity of his life, are reasons for trust and consolation for all those who loved him.”