1 / 15

Canada’s Growing Autonomy

Canada’s Growing Autonomy. (independent control of its own affairs). Canada’s Path to Autonomy. 1920’s – major steps toward full autonomy “complete control over its own affairs” Different path than the United States Peaceful vs. Violent World War I was a major turning point for Canada. .

sora
Download Presentation

Canada’s Growing Autonomy

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Canada’s Growing Autonomy (independent control of its own affairs)

  2. Canada’s Path to Autonomy • 1920’s – major steps toward full autonomy • “complete control over its own affairs” • Different path than the United States • Peaceful vs. Violent • World War I was a major turning point for Canada.

  3. During WWI • Major contribution as a country • Key role in allied victories • New sense of national maturity • Canada had gained the right to sign the Treaty of Versailles as an independent nation. • Canada joined the League of Nations separate from Britain. (after WWI) • Canada was still a dominion of the British Empire though and Britain had the final say in foreign affairs.

  4. New Prime Minister • In 1921, Mackenzie King became Prime Minister. • He was determined to push for Canadian autonomy. • A number of events over the next 10 years provided him with many opportunities.

  5. (1) The Chanak Affair (1922) • Britain became involved in a conflict with Turkey at Chanak (small town that links the Aegean and Black Sea) • Turkey was on the losing side in WWI. They threatened to take control of the area. • Britain sent troops and ships and asked Canada for help if war developed. • PM King was convinced that Canadians did not want to be involved in a faraway European war again.

  6. Canada and the USA became more “isolationist” in the 1920’s and 30’s. • They did not want to become entangled in foreign conflict. • When Britain asked for help, the PM said Parliament would have to decide. • This was a huge change from WWI when Canada automatically joined. • PM King made it clear that Canada would determine its own foreign policy. • Britain’s interests were not always the same as Canada’s anymore.

  7. Do I Understand? • Autonomy? • Canada vs. USA path to autonomy? • Canada’s maturity during/after WWI? • Who became Prime Minister? • Where Chanak is? • Why Britain was involved with Turkey? • What Parliament is? • The change that has occurred in determining foreign policy?

  8. (2) The Halibut Treaty (1923) • Canada/USA came to an agreement on the fishing season for halibut in the Northern Pacific. • This matter was of no direct concern to Britain. • But Britain had always signed treaties on Canada’s behalf. • PM King insisted that it be between Canada and the USA only. • Eventually Britain agreed and Canada won the right to sign treaties with a foreign country on their own.

  9. (3) The King-Byng Crisis 1926 • King = PM Mackenzie King • Byng = Gov. Gen. Julian Byng vs. King Byng

  10. Canada had a minority government at the time. • PM King requested that another election be called early. • The only person who could grant this request was Byng. He refused it. • The PM accused Byng of ignoring the advice of the government. • The PM said that it was a breach of responsible government. • At the next Imperial Conference, PM King was determined to clarify the role of the Gov. Gen.

  11. (4) The Balfour Report 1926 • At the next Imperial Conference…. • PM King insisted that the agenda include discussions on… • - the powers of the dominions • - the relationship to each other • - the relationship with Britain

  12. Agreements were made and became known as the Balfour Report. • Dominions were declared “self-governing” • They were independent nations • They would no longer be called dominions of the B.E. • They agreed to remain part of the “Commonwealth of Nations”. • The Gov. Gen. would only be a representative of Britain and not an active agent. • Canada could deal directly with Britain and not through the Gov. Gen.

  13. (5) Foreign Embassies 1927/28 • In 1927, Canada opened its own embassy in the United States. • Vincent Massey became Canada’s first foreign diplomat. • In 1928, Canada opened embassies in France and Belgium.

  14. (6) Statute of Westminster 1931 • Dec 11th 1931 • British Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster • This made the recommendations in the Balfour Report into law. • Canada was now completely self-governing. • Canada had its own laws. Britain could not make any laws for Canada.

  15. British parliament could no longer nullify laws in the Dominions. • Dominions could make their own extra-territorial laws. • British law no longer applied to the Dominions.

More Related