8 th Prime Minister of Canada June 26, June 10, 1937

Born into a poor family on a farm in Grand Pre, Nova Scotia First job as a teacher when he was 14 worked as a clerk at a Halifax law office Called to the Bar He quickly becomes a successful lawyer.

 becomes a partner in a prominent Halifax law firm with Graham and Charles Hibbert Tupper (son of Sir Charles Tupper)  Married to Laura Bond  The Tupper family draws Borden into politics.

 Dislikes politics  Finds politics unorganized unlike the courts  Conservative  Strongly against reciprocity

 1901, elected by Conservative caucus to succeed Sir Charles Tupper as leader of the Conservative Party.  ten years as leader of the opposition  A lot of Canada became dissatisfied with Laurier’s policies  Borden targeted the anti-Laurier groups in the election of 1911

 Anti Laurier groups consisted of: Business people against reciprocity, French Canadians against the Naval Service Act, and Conservative provincial administrations  Used slogans: “Canadianism or Continentalism”, “a white Canada”, and “no truck nor trade with the Yankees.”  Won the 1911 election

 1914, War Measures Act  1916, Issue of war profiteering  1917, won election by creating a union government  1917, Military Service Act  1917, War Tax Act  1917, Wartimes Election Act  1917, Military Voters Act  Represented Canada at Paris Peace Conference  Convinced Britain to let all of its Dominions separately sign the Treaty of Versailles  Approved use of troops to put down Winnipeg general strike  Last Prime Minister to be knighted

 In 1920, Borden resigned due to bad health  Replaced by Arthur Meighen  Became successful businessman and chancellor of Queens University

 Protected Canada from the influence of American businesses  Made Canada less integrated with Britain  Gave the opportunity to women to vote  Gave incentives to the men who went to war  An effective Prime Minister even though he was considered to be indecisive

Sir Robert Laird Borden was a truly great Prime Minister

 Books  Title: Canadian Prime Ministers. Warts & All- Sir Robert Borden  Author: Irene Ternier Gordon  Published: 2007, Jack Fruit Press Ltd.  Publisher: Jaqueline Brown  Editor: Greg Mazlak   Websites  , researched on Jan. 2, 2010  "Sir Robert Laird Borden." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Encyclopedia.com. 2 Jan ,  “Robert Borden”, Jan , researched on Jan 2,