Issues in Canada 1900 - 1914
Wilfred Laurier Canadian Prime Minister from 1896 to 1911 He tried to create solutions that would satisfy French and English Canadians He was known as “The Great Compromiser” Wilfred Laurier
In 1898 Great Britain was fighting a war in South Africa and they wanted Canada’s help English Canadians wanted to help Great Britain and French Canadian did not. Wilfred Laurier’s Solution: Equip and send 1000 volunteers to South Africa. The Boer War
Britain was competing with Germany to see who could have the largest navy in the world…they wanted money from Canada to build ships Laurier’s Compromise: Canada would build its own navy and if war occurred, Britain would take control of it. The Naval Crisis
Reciprocity – is an agreement between two countries to trade certain products without taxes Wilfred Laurier wanted Reciprocity with the United States Western Canadians wanted Reciprocity (Cheap Farming Equipment) and Ontarians and Quebecers did not (They would lose money to American manufacturers) Reciprocity