Chapter 10 the First World War and Beyond
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anada'sidentity asa nation shaped bythe Fi hanging relationship to Great Britain andth( To explore this Esserijfcal Question, you will Key TeRMe . examine the evolution of Canada's role in international affairs domestic affairs from a position ofsubordination to Britain to one ofindependence foreignaffairs . become familiar with the origins ofthe FirstWorld Warand nationalists Canada's involvement in the war, and the impact ofthe war on Canada's home front imperialists militarism . investigate the end ofthe war and its political and cultural Western Front significance VictoryBonds armistice War Measures Act GETTING STARTER enemy aliens internment In 1867, Canadawas largely self-governing andwas making propaganda Rgure10-1 Canada'sGrand Armada, 1914,by Frederick Sproston independent decisions about its domestic affairs, which are matters Statute of Challener, 1919.This painting shows the First Canadian Contingent taking place within the country. However, as a member of the British re-and still a in Westminster sailingfor Britain in October 1914. Over 30 000 troops on-board more Empi colony some ways-Canada was subject to thanthirty ocean liners were escorted by the ships of the Royal Navy. British authority when it canae to foreign affairs, which are matters concerning relations with other countries or international activities. Canadians, however, were becoming increasingly unwilling to accept Britain s decision-making on their behalf. Canada began to assert itselfin various ways and, by 1931, the federal government gained the right to make foreign policy decisions without Britain's consent. 6NPURING. \JW?eR5TWVWG6 Study the two images and captions on page 284. Britishcultural traditions andpolitical . How are they similar in content? institutions have played a role in shaping . How do they contrast as representations Canadian history and identity. ofsignificant moments in history? The history of governance in'Canada is characterized bya transition from Indigenous How could their content have been used self-governmentthrough French and' as arguments that Canada"deserved" colomalruleto a self-governing confederation to be treated by Britain as more than a ofprovinces andterritories. colony? to beinfluenced byissues^ . Canadacontinues ofwar and peace, international relations,! global interactions. Figure10-2 Inthis 1917 photo, a wounded Canadianis arried to a dressing . Sincethe beginning ofthe twentieth centyry,_ . station (medical unit) acrossmuddy fields at the Battle ofPasschendaele Canada'has'playecTan '""easingWactivei^ in Belgium. Duringthe three months ofthe battle, morethan 15000 jnworld'affairs through trade anddevelopment, Canadianswere killed, wounded, or reported missing. military engagement, and participation in international organizations. KMWGING CANADIAN INWPENDBNC^ ALASKA eOUMDARY DISPUTE, 1905 Another issue between Canada and the United States wassparked by ^ ^ Estatilisl-iinghtStOfijealsignificance a gold rush in the Yukon Territory. In March 1867, the United States (j ^; Usingpritnafy^ourGB evidenee ? ^ 11 COLONIAL $TATU$ purchased the territory ofAlaska-nearly 1 000 000 square kilometres [lit g§. Identifyingcontinuity and change ofland-from Russia for $7. 2 million, or about seven cents per square In 1867,Canada was a colonystruggling to defineits identity and gain W[& Analyzing cause and consequence hectare. TheAmericans understood that theywere purchasing both more control over its destiny. It hadfull autonomy over its domestic Alaska's "pan, " the bulk of the territory, which was west oftheYukon Takinga historicalperspective affairs,as long as its laws did not contradict anyexisting British laws. Territory, and its "panhandle, "a strip ofconnected territory along the Considering the ethical dimensions However, the British North America Act {SNAAct), which established coastlineco ofnorthern British (folumbia. The "panhandle" of history the Dominion ofCanada and its system ofgovernment, did not contain i'l boundary, however, was not certain in this region of Figure1(M AlaskaBoundary: Disputed Claims and Finai any significant mention offoreign affairs. Like other dominions-the mountains and inlets. self-governing members ofthe British Commonwealth-Canada did Boundary Whengold was discovered in theYukon Territory in not control its own foreign affairs. Britain did take into account the Today, almost halfof the British Columbia coastline is 1896, and access to the goldfields became important, Canada Canadian government's views on its foreign affairs, but Britain remained Americanterritory. During the gold rush, thousandsof disputed the boundary separating the "panhandle" ofAlaska thefinal authorityon any international agreements relatingto Canada. prospectorssailed into Skagway's port before heading north from Canada. It preferred a boundary that saw the town of Canada'shead of state, theGovernor General, wasappointed by Britain to the goldfields. Both Canada and the United States wanted the treaty [ofWashington], Skagway, Alaska, as part ofCanada. The government stationed Reject and governed in accordance with Canadianwishes for domestic matters. thebooming town ofSkagway. and you will find that the bad severaldetachments ofNorth-West Mounted Policeat key but wasdirected by British policy when it came to foreign affairs. Canada feelingwhich formerly and until locations, such as the Chilkoot Pass, to establish Canada's did not have any official foreign representatives or ambassadors. Neither lately existedin the UnitedStates preferred international boundaries and to collect customs didCanada have a completely independentjudiciary. Itshighest court of against England will be transferred duties from American gold seekers entering the country. to Canada. The United States will appeal was still the Judicial Committee ofthe Privy Council in London. In 1903, the United States and Britain set up a commission say, and sayjustly, "Here, when ofthree Americans and three British representatives-one two nationslike Englandand the CANAPA-U-$. RELATIONS from Britain and two British-appointed Canadians-to settle United States have settled all their Britain had its own relationship with the United States, and this the dispute. During negotiations, the Americans refused to differences and all their quarrels giveup Skagway.The final vote was four to two in support upon a perpetual basis, these relationship influenced its decisions on behalfof Canada. Several post- of a boundary favourable to the United States. The two happyresults areto befrustrated Confederation issues made many Canadians believe that Britain did not and endangeredby the Canadian put Canadian interests first when representing them to the United States. Canadians felt betrayed bythe British representative, who people...." had sided with the three Americans in an effort to maintain TUE TREATY OF WA5MIMOTON. 1871 - Prime Minister John A. Britains goodrelations with the United States. The boundary Macdonald, speaking in the In 1871, tensions between the United States and Britain were still settlement wentahead, although the Canadiannegotiators Canadian claim Houseof Commons, May3, 1872 angrily refused to sign the announcement ofthe settlement. simmering from the American Civil War (1861-1865), when Britain United States claim had remained officially neutral so it could continue to trade with the -.. - Boundary settlement, eoUNDARV WATERS TREATY, 1909 1903 southernstates. There were other issues of contention as well, including In 1909, Canada once again asserted itself-this time with Rgure10-3 OnMay 3, 1871,the Treaty of Americanships fishing illegally in Canadianwaters and disagreements more success. Because of increased industrialization in the late Washington was signed. Prime Minister over navigation rights on the St. Lawrence River. Macdonald,one of the treaty's negotiators, wantmgto restore goodrelations, Britishand American delegations nineteenth century, both Canadaand the United Stateswere usingthe is in the centre ofthe backrow. met in Washington. In recognition of Canada's interest in some of the waterresources alongtheir border for waste disposal, particularly alongthe matters under discussion. Prime MinisterJohn A. GreatLakes. As a result, bothcountries wereconcerned aboutdecreasing Macdonaldwas invited to be one offive British waterquality. At international congresses in 1894 and 1895, the Canadian '^ commissioners. This was the first time a Canadian had delegate introduced a resolution suggesting thata more permanent beenincluded on a British team negotiating aninternational commission beset up to jointly managethe sharedwater resources. The treaty. However, Macdonald had little Influence over the resolution wasadopted unanimously, andthe International Waterways negotiations, andthe agreement settled many British and Commission operated from 1905 to 1913.Even though negotiations hadto American issues, but satisfied few Canadian interests. includeLondon, the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 helped to establish a relationship ofequality between Canadaand the United States. The Readthe Voices feature on this page.Why did Prime treaty set up a commission with an equal representation ofAmericans and MinisterMacdonald sign the treaty, eventhough it didnot Canadianswho would follow agreed-upon steps to resolve, andprevent, give Canada everything he wanted? water disputes along Canada-United States boundaries. CLUSTERS . Becoming a Sovereign Nation (1867-1931) . MHR KlHR The FirstWorld War andBeyond CHAPTER 10 LAURIER ANP CANAPIAN FOREKSN AFFAIRS INSTITUTIONS