THE LAURIER ERAFOREIGN POLICY 1896-1911

Canada Profile – 1896-1911

Becomes a nation in 1867

Population in 1900 is approx. 5million

Today it is approx. 33 million

Population mostly French Catholic and English Protestant

Population – Turn of the Century

Rural – mostly farmers, fishers, loggers, construction workers

Social activity – baseball / hockey games, church socials

Local travel – horse and buggy

Long-distance travel – train

Few / no cars

Settling the West

New minister of the interior – Clifford Sifton. Looked for immigrants that would have what it takes to be a ‘Canadian farmer’

Many immigrants came from central and eastern Europe

Free land Freedom of religion

Immigration Encouraged

The United States of America was a well settled country in the early 1900s.

American’s were wanting to seek new frontier

The Prime Minister, Sir Wilfred Laurier, recognized that there was a potential threat of American’s trying to claim Canada’s unsettled West.

Because of the perceived threat the government of Canada vigorously encouraged immigration from Europe

The government wanted self-sufficient, capable farmers who were flexible, hardworking and were able to withstand the extremes in climate

They wanted people who would bring British loyalty, values, and attitudes

To encourage more people to come to Canada they promoted promises of free land

It was soon discovered that immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe, Hungarians, and Russians were most suitable for the West

Settling the West

Doukhobors – Religious Group / Russia

Settling the West Immigrants coming

to Canada Small homestead

Canadian Immigration

Immigration to the PrairiesCountry 1901 1911

Britain 51, 853 233, 315United States 20, 799 167, 311France 2,494 7,929Scandinavia 12, 481 35, 902Austria-Hungary 24, 977 94, 325Russia 23, 439 49, 470Italy 207 2, 778China 486 3, 788

• Which nation had the largest increase in immigration to Canada from 1901 to 1911? Why do you think this was so?• Why do you think there were fewer immigrants

from Italy and China?

Canada’s Propaganda

• What does the government promise prospective immigrants?

• What bias (or viewpoint) does the government give to immigrants concerning the conditions in the West? Why might the government have this bias?

Canada’s Propaganda • What does the

government promise prospective immigrants?

• What bias (or viewpoint) does the government give to immigrants concerning the conditions in the West? Why might the government have this bias?

Propaganda

Propaganda: Any technique that attempts to influence the opinion, emotions, attitudes, or behaviour of a group, in order to benefit the sponsor.

The purpose of propaganda is to persuade people into believing in something or to do something that they normally would not believe or do. Propaganda messages have been designed to benefit someone.

There are many techniques commonly used in the distribution of propaganda. Some of the most common forms that propaganda has taken are:

1.Bandwagon:The basic idea behind the bandwagon approach is just that, “getting on the bandwagon.” The propagandist puts forth the idea that everyone is doing this, or everyone supports this person/cause, so should you. The bandwagon approach appeals to the conformist in all of use: No one wants to be left out of what is perceived to be a popular trend.

2.Testimonial:This is the celebrity endorsement of a philosophy, movement or candidate. (i.e. advertisements use athletes to see their products etc.)

3.Fear:This technique has been very popular throughout history. The idea is to present a dreaded circumstance and usually follow it up with the kind of behaviour needed to avoid that horrible event.

4.Name-Calling:Name-calling ties a person or cause to a largely perceived negative image.

Creating Propaganda Instructions: You are to demonstrate your understanding of

propaganda by designing on type. Your poster will serve to recruit people into the fictional province. The background information for your province is as follows?Province Name: WestingtonBackground Information: Westington is a small island, located off the coast of British Columbia. Canada has just recently found and claimed the area. Due to the recent discovery there are no permanent residents. The landscape, soil and climate are similar to British Columbia (frequent rain, little snow).Your Task: Your job will be to create a poster that will recruit other Canadians to move to Westington. Your poster must be based on one of the forms of propaganda discussed in class. It must contain visuals and written work (i.e. slogans). Remember to incorporate the principles of propaganda. You want to get your audience to do something that they might normally not do.

Canadian Natural Resources

Timber 1. construction2. pulp and paper

Minerals: copper, iron, nickel

Last Spike, 1885

Trains – linked Canada coast to coast

Cities 1900’s Cities growing

- factories- jobs

Divide between the rich and poor grew

- factory owners got rich- lived in big houses

- Factory workers were poorly paid – lived in slums

Relations Between the Government & Aboriginal Nations

Canada’s prairie regions were populated by Aboriginal Nations including the Métis, Assiniboine, Cree and Blackfoot.

Relations between the Aboriginal nations and the government were paternalistic, with the government managing their affairs much as a parent manages the affairs of their children

The First Nations were frustrated with the Canadian Government because they felt as though they had been deceived with false promises of food, clothing, and shelter on their new reserves

Relations Between the Government & Aboriginal Nations Continued

When settlers began moving into their area, armed conflict resulted.

Once the conflicts ceased, the government felt the only solution was to assimilate the Aboriginal people.

The government wanted Aboriginals to become like other Canadians in customs and viewpoints:

The banned Aboriginal cultural events The placed Aboriginal children in residential schools

The residential schools remained in place until the late 1980s

French English Relations 1867- French Canadian

Majority 1900 – English Canadian

Majority. Most new immigrants strongly connected to Britain and her empire

Great sense of British Nationalism

French Canadians feel threatened by British majority –especially in politics

Canadian Flag 1867

French English Relations Sir Wilfrid Laurier P.M. 1896-1911 Canada’s first French

Canadian Prime Minister The “Great Compromiser“

How do you please your French Canadian supporters while also pleasing the English Canadian majority?

Wilfrid Laurier - French English Relations

The British Empire

Issue #1 The Boer War 1899

Issue #1 The Boer War 1899

Issue #1 The Boer War 1899

British are fighting the Dutch Afrikaners over South Africa – diamonds and gold

British turn to their empire, and ask Canada to support them Canada divided: French Canadians – say no

English Canadians – say yes Sir Wilfrid Laurier compromises: Sends only volunteers

Significance: 1. Shows how French and English Canada is divided 2. Shows Canada’s strong ties to Britain and Empire

3. Foreshadows Canada’s involvement in WW1

Issue #2 The Naval Crisis 1910

Britain is in an arms race with Germany (battleships –dreadnoughts) Britain turns to her empire and asks Canada to send $$$ for more

ships Canada divided: French Canadians – say no

English Canadians – say yes Sir Wilfrid Laurier compromises: Establishes Canada’s own tin-pot

navy.

Significance: 1. Shows how French and English Canada is divided2. Shows Canada’s strong ties to Britain and Empire3. Laurier looses the 1911 to Sir Robert Borden and

his Conservatives.

Issue #2 The Naval Crisis 1910

Dreadnought

Issue #3 Reciprocity – Free Trade with the U.S. 1911

Example 1 Free TradeCanadian Made StoveCost: $15Tax: $0Total $15

National PolicyAmerican Made StoveCost: $12Tax: $5Total $17

Issue #3 Reciprocity – Free Trade with the U.S. 1911

Example 2 National PolicyCanadian Grown WheatCost: $ 2 bushelTax: $ .50Total $ 2.50

Free Trade Canadian Grown WheatCost: $ 2 bushelTax: $ 0Total $ 2

Issue #3 Reciprocity – Free Trade with the U.S. 1911

The U.S. wants to tax-free import Canadian raw materials – lumber/wheat/minerals

Canada’s West supports this – they make money by exporting their raw materials to the U.S. tax-free, and save money by importing U.S. made manufactured goods tax-free.

Ontario business men (factory owners) want to keep taxes on American made goods and Canadian raw materials to protect their own industries. (keep their products competitive.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier calls an election – Key issue – Reciprocity.

Significance1. Laurier looses the election – Reciprocity it rejected, National Policy continues.

2. Canada’s western provinces feel marginalized – left out. They resent all the power being concentrated in Ontario.

3. Foreshadows our reliance our economic relationship with the United States.

Issue #4The Alaska Boundary Dispute 1898-1903

Canada and the U.S. need to establish proper boundaries with the discovery of gold in the Yukon (Canada).

Canada dose not want to have to pass over American territory to reach its own gold fields.

A 6 member tribunal is set up: 3 Americans, 2 Canadians and 1 British to determine the proper boundary.

Britain sides with the U.S. in an attempt to keep them as an ally. Britain still involved in the Boer War.

Issue #4The Alaska Boundary Dispute 1898-1903

Significance:

1. Illustrates American aggression. This leads to Anti-American sentiment and will continue to plague Canadian-American relations.

2. Shows Canada that Britain is not committed to her. Canadians resent the British for turning their back on them.

3. Shows Canada that she needs to grow up and take care of her own political affairs. Canada can not count on Britain to be there for her.

1911 Election Canada elects the

Conservatives, Sir Robert Borden as their Prime Minister

Sir Robert Borden will lead Canada through WW1