Did Canada become more or less independent during the 1920’s? Carmen Wilson Canada went through many exciting and revolutionary changes during the 1920s. Treaties were signed, trades were made and ties were broken and created. Although Canada became more independent from Britain by separating from them, they became even less independent during the 1920’s because of their economics and entertainment. During the 1920’s several historically important events occurred that resulted in Canada cutting ties from Britain. In 1922, the Chanack Affair took place. Britain had a disagreement with Turkey. Britain asked Canada for military support if needed to which King, the current Prime Minister, said no. He decided this because he felt Canadians didn’t want to go back into foreign conflicts right after the great war. This made Canada less tied from Britain we said no to Britain for the first time and that Canada would create its own foreign policy instead of listening to their mother country. The next liberating event was the Halibut Treaty in 1923. King urged that only representatives from Canada and the US should sign the treaty, leaving Britain out of it. Britain later agreed and Canada won the right to sign treaties with a foreign country on its own. Third, in 1926, was the King-Byng Crisis. After a conflict between the Prime Minister and the Governor General, King was determined to, at the next Imperial Conference, clarify the role of the Governor General. After that, the Governor General never interfered again. Next was the Balfour Report in 1926 where Canada and other dominions were declared self-governing and independent nations. Also, the role of the Governor General became only a ceremonial one. By 1931, the Statue of Westminster made the Balfour report official. Canada was no bound by no other law then its own and now had complete autonomy. The economics of Canada shifted greatly after WWII. They almost completely stopped trading with Britain and replaced them…
