Dominion of Canada
Canada grew rapidly under heads of government such as John Alexander Macdonald (* 1815, † 1891; 1867–73 and 1878–91), Alexander Mackenzie (* 1822, † 1892; 1873–78) and W. Laurier (1896–1911). The railway construction (1885 completion of the first Canadian transcontinental railway) opened up the prairie provinces (granary) and lively shipping, industry and settlement. Gold discoveries on the Klondike (1896) triggered a gold rush. Although Canada pursued a policy of self-employment, it fully supported Great Britain in the Boer War of 1899–1902 (with 7,000 volunteers) and in World War I (conscription of more than 600,000 men).
On the initiative of Prime Minister R. L. Borden (1911-20; Conservative Party) Great Britain recognized Canada’s right to independently sign the Versailles Treaty (1919) and to be represented in the newly created League of Nations. After the Liberal Party’s election victory in 1921, its parliamentary leader, W. L. Mackenzie King, assumed the post of Prime Minister (1921– June 1926, September 1926–30). Without questioning the internal ties to the British motherland, Mackenzie King reinforced those of Borden initiated policy of complete national independence of Canada from Great Britain. He tried to keep Canada out of all international entanglements in the British Empire that did not directly affect the country. With this in mind, he sought an amendment to the League of Nations statutes to release smaller member states from the automatic obligation to sanction aggressors. Canadian policy was in line with the isolationism that began to emerge in the United States, especially after the First World War. At the 1923 Empire Conference, Mackenzie King and South African Prime Minister J. B. M. Hertzog demanded the right of the Dominions to conduct their own foreign affairs and to enter into treaties with foreign states. Canada concluded a fishing agreement with the United States in 1923 without the involvement of the British government and in the following years set up diplomatic missions in Washington (1927), Paris (1928) and Tokyo (1929). On the basis of the “Balfour Formula”, which was promulgated at the Empire Conference of 1926, Canada was given state independence in the “Statute of Westminster” (1931).
Independent Canada
After the economic boom in the 1920s, Canada was drawn into the world economic crisis in 1929/30. In the 1930 elections, the Conservatives won. The government led by them from 1930–35 under Prime Minister Richard Bedford Bennett (* 1870, † 1947) sought – influenced by the policy of the “New Deal” in the USA – through reforms to improve the economic and social situation of the population: immigration freeze, unemployment benefits, Increase in tariffs and agricultural prices in favor of farmers. The economic crisis favored the emergence of new parties, including in Alberta (Social Credit Party, founded 1932) and in Quebec (Union Nationale, founded in 1936 by Maurice Duplessis, * 1890, † 1959). Resigned after the election victory of the Liberals in 1935 Mackenzie King took office for the third time (1935–48).
With the declaration of war on Germany (September 10, 1939), according to usaers, Canada joined Great Britain and France in the Second World War. 1943-45 a Canadian army of five divisions took part in military operations in Europe. The Canadian fleet took on escort duties in the Atlantic. Canada worked closely with the United States to defend the North American continent (establishment of a “Joint Defense Board” in 1940). In addition to its military and economic war effort, Canada supported the US and UK diplomatic initiatives. In 1945 it participated in the founding of the UN.
After Mackenzie King’s resignation, L. S. Saint Laurent (Liberal Party) succeeded him in 1948. In 1949, the people of Newfoundland decided to incorporate this area (with the eastern part of Labradors, Newfoundland and Labrador) as the tenth province in the Canadian state association. In the decades after the Second World War, Canada continued to develop into an industrialized country. With the election victory of the Conservatives (1957), the Liberals found themselves relegated to the opposition after a long period of exercising power. Prime Minister was J. G. Diefenbaker. In 1963, the Liberals came back to power and made with L. B. Pearson (1963-68) and P. E. Trudeau (1968–79, 1980–84) the Prime Ministers. The conservative Joe Clark (* 1939) led the government in 1979/80. In 1960 the Canadian Indians were given the right to vote. In the 1960s the longstanding economic growth gave way to a slowdown in the economic process; this development led to rising unemployment and inflation in the 1970s and 80s.
Against the background of growing economic and social discontent among French-speaking Canadians, the Pearson and Trudeau governments sought to ensure equal opportunities for all citizens and to preserve Canada’s national unity by promoting its bilingual culture. In the province of Quebec, which is mostly inhabited by French Canadians, a strong autonomy movement developed – enlivened by the visit of French President C. de Gaulle (1967) and his call “Vive le Québec Libre!” During a speech in Montreal. An extremist minority organized attacks, especially on personalities who clung to the unity of the country. The murder of the Minister of Labor, Pierre Laporte (October 1970) led to the (temporary) declaration of a state of emergency. Under the leadership of René Lévesque (* 1922, † 1987), the radical autonomist Parti Québécois (PQ) won an absolute majority in the regional elections in Quebec in 1976. In May 1980, however, the people of Quebec rejected the plan of the Lévesque government to politically detach the province from the state association of Canada while maintaining economic ties; In 1985 the PQ lost its government majority to the Liberals. In 1982 a new “constitutional law” for the whole of Canada replaced the British North America Act of 1867 (after approval by the British House of Commons).
In its foreign policy, Canada worked closely with the USA and the parliamentary democracies of Europe after the Second World War, but always attached great importance to its independence, especially from its powerful neighbor in the south. In the course of the East-West conflict, Canada participated in the creation of the Atlantic Alliance in 1948/49 and in the founding of NATO in 1949. In 1958 it signed a treaty with the USA on a joint North American air defense (NORAD). In the 1970s and 80s, it took part in the MBFR negotiations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) and their follow-up conferences. In line with its security policy, which it has pursued since the Second World War, it supported NATO’s twin decision in 1979. Canada promoted the UN’s peace efforts in areas of political crisis around the world, e. B. with the provision of military troop contingents to the UN peacekeeping force (e.g. in the Middle East, on Cyprus, in Bosnia).
