The New Imperialisms and the Alaska Boundary Dispute

1. The New Imperialisms and the Alaska Boundary Dispute Canadian History 11

2. Revival of British Imperialism • Late 19th c.: Britain interested in renewing ties with its colonies for several reasons • 1) Rise of Germany as powerful new country in Europe • 2) European interest in colonizing Africa and unclaimed parts of Asia • Britain's position as dominant European power threatened • Britain turns to its colonies for help in dealing with this threat

3. What is Imperialism? • A policy by which one country attempts to control the government, resources or actions of another

4. European Colonization of Asia

5. European Colonization of Africa

6. Revival of British Imperialism • 1897: Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary) • Colonial leaders invited to attend an Imperial Conference in London as part of celebrations • British Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain presents proposal to create an Imperial Federation - a worldwide country consisting of Britain and its colonies

7. Revival of British Imperialism • Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier realizes this idea would be unpopular in Quebec • Laurier resists British pressure to strengthen Canadian ties with Britain in any form • Britain will continue to pressure Laurier and Canada for assistance during the years before World War I • Laurier politely but firmly refuses to allow Canada to be drawn closer to Britain

8. Emergence of American Imperialism • Late 19th c.: United States expands its influence beyond North America in an effort to build its own "empire" • Expansion of US influence in Central America and Pacific Ocean in particular

9. Emergence of American Imperialism • President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt (1901-1909) known for pursuing an aggressive foreign policy • Military hero of the Spanish-American War (1898), in which the US seized control of Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Guam and eventually Cuba from Spain

10. Roosevelt & "Big stick" diplomacy • Roosevelt's motto: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." - Roosevelt • American aggressiveness evident in pressure on Canada to settle outstanding Alaska Boundary Dispute

11. Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903) • 1897: Discovery of gold in the Klondike creates gold rush in Yukon Territory • Need for supply route into/out of Yukon creates need to settle dispute over boundary between Alaska and British Columbia ("the Alaskan Panhandle") • Focus on ownerhip of tiny port of Skagway on Pacific Ocean

12. Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903) • Canadian ownership of Skagway would provide access to Pacific • Shorter route for supplies entering and gold leaving Yukon • Canadians claim ownership of Skagway, drawing line close to Pacific coast • Americans claim ownership of Skagway, drawing line further inland

13. Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903) • Britain and US appoint 6-man Commission to settle boundary dispute • Three American representatives support American position • Britain appoints Lord Alverstone, Lord Chief Justice, as head of British delegation • Canada permitted to appoint two representatives (A.B. Aylesworth and Sir Louis Jetté)

14. Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903) • Lord Alverstone supports US claim to a boundary east of the inlets, giving Skagway to the US by a 4-2 vote • Laurier and Canada angered at British effort to maintain friendly relations with the US at Canada's expense

15. Canadian Dept. of External Affairs • Laurier convinced that Canada has to exercise greater control over its own foreign affairs • 1909: Laurier establishes the Canadian Department of External Affairs • Right to negotiate and sign our own foreign treaties becomes growing issue in Canada before World War I Trafalgar Building, first location of Dept. of External Affairs Sir Joseph Pope, first under-secretary of Dept. of External Affairs