Additionally, his professional background features a position as project coordinator for Weigl Education Limited, the publishers for this book (1). Donald Wells presents thorough information about Canada’s road to independence, covering the events from their by a distant monarch, to their transformation into an autonomous nation. Correspondingly, the authors’ main point is that this ascendance into sovereignty was not from one event, rather a buildup of events that proved to the British Empire that Canada were capable of independence. This is revealed chronically, going through significant events like Vimy Ridge, where Canadian troops fought under Canadian command, then the Chanak Crisis and Statute of Westminister, gaining more autonomy along the way. The author uses straightforward texts without extraneous information and significant images, like one of Canadian troops celebrating the victory at Vimy. This book reinforces…
The First World War invoked feelings of pride in the hearts of the Canadian citizens for the nation as victories were gained on the battlefields by Canadian armies. The victory at Vimy Ridge is one of the battles that stirred within the hearts of Canadians’ a strong pride for their nation, because “for the first time, all four divisions of the Canadian Corps had attacked and triumphed together”. In the battle there were 10 602 casualties, but this did not stop the Canadian army from defeating the enemies and taking command over the whole crest of the Ridge. This victory was a major event that instilled within the hearts of Canadians a great pride for their nation who had taken command over the whole crest of the Ridge by defeated their enemies…
Although Canadian soldiers operated with British overseers at Vimy Ridge, the Canadian led victory demonstrated to the world that Canada had become a sovereign nation. Firstly, the victory at Vimy Ridge is recognized by many Canadians and other people from around the world as an important point in the war, and in the sovereignty of Canada. As stated by the Ministry of Public Works and Government Services in Canada in the First World War and the Road to Vimy Ridge: “The success at Vimy marked a profound turning-point for the Allies. A year and a half later, the Great War was over. The Canadian record, crowned by the achievements of Vimy, won Canada a separate signature on the Versailles Peace Treaty ending the war.” This quote includes that Canada gained a separate signature from Britain on the Versaille Peace Treaty, marking the beginning of them becoming their own nation as this was one of the first times that Canada was considered to be a separate nation from Britain. Later after the war, likely due in part to their contributions at Vimy ridge, Canada gained their own vote at the League of Nations separate from the vote of Britain. As said by Pierre Berton in a publication titled Vimy: “It is a historical fact that Canada entered the war as a junior partner of Great Britain and emerged as an equal, her status confirmed when she, with the other Dominions, was given her own vote at the League of Nations.” As we can see from this quote, Canada gained recognition as an equal to Great Britain in the eyes of the people of the world through the respect granted to them, and with…
As one of Canada’s most prominent historians, Jack Granatstein regularly comments on historical questions and public affairs in the media, including issues such as foreign and defense policies, Canadian-American relations, the military and public service. In his book Who Killed Canadian History?, Granatstein continues his tradition of scholarly discussion on the progressively increasing deterioration of Canadian history. It is because of this dire state, as Granatstein argues, that Canadians have such a fragmented view of themselves, and subsequently national unity remains obscure.…
The act of warfare has never been and will most likely never be celebrated and perceived as a beneficial act for humanity. In most instances throughout history, the act of war has represented loss of life, a loss to great for any wartime triumph to overcome. Despite the negative connotations that warfare implies, a nation which goes through a major war can often emerge positively transformed. The Second World War represents a colossal juncture in Canada’s history as a nation. The war propelled Canada into the latter part of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century as one of the prodigious, western industrialized nations. From an economical standpoint, the Second World War ignited Canada’s ascension into a fully modern and mechanized country. Furthermore, the war changed the social landscape of Canada, fully transforming the roles of women and evolving the immigration policy, which eventually lead to Canada becoming one of the most culturally diverse and interracial nations by modern accounts.…
Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier spoke of the truth “As the 19th century was that of the United States, so I think the 20th century shall be filled by Canada.” Canada gained recognition worldwide during the 20th century as a powerful country which helped our country to grow as a whole. Canadian victories during the First World War put Canada on the map, Vimy Ridge; where pride and awareness of our country and its strength was born. The Last Hundred Days, the sense of nationalism grew as Canadians become fearless, throughout the battle until the end. The fighting and the strength of Canadians and our impact on the World War earned us the honor to have a separate signature on the Treaty of Versailles. The 20th century is for Canadians, the…
The article “Women in Between”: Indian Women in Fur Trade Society in Western Canada”, written by Sylvia Van Kirk presents the lives of Indian women in the fur trade. The article title Women in Between is correctly named as it focuses on explaining the role of Indian women in the fur trade and their ability to play an essential part in fur trade society. The article conveys both the positive and negative aspect of being an Indian woman in the fur trade as well as their reasons for marrying European fur traders. The article helps us more to understand the fur trade society by focusing on the motives and actions of Indian women in the fur trade which furthers our knowledge of Canadian history prior to confederation. Women in Between examines through multiple sources of traders observation, the life of an Indian women in the fur trade based on the accounts provided by men. Since it was noted in her article that Indian women, coming from a non-literate society, have not left us with any writings of their own views and their motive for being in the fur trade or deciding to leave. The only historical reference of the lives of women in the fur trade is written by men and mostly European men. Women in Between discusses the unique and complex interactions between the two racial groups, white and Indian and the important role that Indian women played in this interaction. The article makes the argument that Indian women had a preference for living with and marrying the white man. Sylvia also argued that traders perhaps did not treat these women well and that the treatment of these women was disgraceful. The article also points out that Indian women had many advantages from the fur trade and their position as women in between, and therefore they manipulated the situation to improve their lives.…
The most significant event in Canada’s history would be the building of the railway. It opened…
The 1920s were happy and prosperous times for Canada. This time period was an era of innovation and discovery, economic growth, and independence. Many things were invented in the 1920s including the telephone, car, and radio, which shrank distances. The radio brought people together and broadcast stories and information across the country. Cars “helped people move out of the city and live farther away” (Inventions).…
All throughout Canada in the 20th Century there have been numerous events actions and decisions that we call defining moments. Canada has been through many battles, very hard chosen decisions, and gone through many changes that have changed the way Canadians live today. Certain people have influenced the country in a positive way and made Canada a stronger nation. Events such as the battle of Vimy Ridge, the formation of NATO, the creation of the Canadian flag and people such as Lester B. Pearson all assisted in defining Canada as a nation.…
The bloody Vietnam War of the 1950’s was fought by the brave American troops with the help of the Canadian citizens. Though, sources claim that Canada had a limited amount of contribution in the war, facts state otherwise. The Vietnam War took place during the Cold War era where a military conflict had occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from November 1 1955 to April 30 1975. Canada became officially involved in the Vietnam conflict in 1954, as part of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Vietnam. However, Canada did not post troops to Vietnam until 1973, in which Canadian troops remained under the United Nations banner to enforce the Paris Peace Accords. The War had persisted for more than nineteen years, five months, four weeks and one day. During the Cold War era, Canada remained associated with the main stream western powers. Many Canadians who truly wanted to fight in the War had served along the U.S Military. Canadians serving with the United States had occurred as far back as the Civil War. In addition, Canada was part of many organizations such as “N.A.T.O” (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) which guaranteed Canada would not partake in the Vietnam War. Even though people around the world contemplate that Canada had no contribution in the Vietnam War, various facts state that Canadians did have excessive amount of involvement towards the Vietnam War that was never taken into consideration. Throughout this essay, the reader will be able to grasp a general understanding of the ways in which the Canadians had part in The Vietnam War, regardless of what bias sources claim. To start with, Canada sent more than thirty thousand troops into the Vietnam War with the Americans – these troops volunteered and died there. Canadians had also sent plenty amounts of supplies…
The nineties was a very significant decade because it had many crucial moments in Canadian history. Some defining moments would include the battle of Vimy Ridge, the on to Ottawa track, and the persons case. Without the nineties Canada wouldn't really be what it is today.…
The significant twentieth century has made Canada, Canada. Several events in the 1900s have had a huge impact on the creation of Canada and Canadian autonomy. These events have put Canada through many stages and have created this great nation that exists today. A strong sense of Canadian nationalism has also become present in Canadians overtime (Marked, 2004), and the desire to become independent from Britain has only grown. For the most part of the century, Canadians felt proud to be British subjects rather than proud to be Canadian (Free, 2007). Throughout the twentieth century, this mindset had slowly changed. Through political laws and battles, through social events of the time, and through the economical hardships and profits, Canada has…
On July 1st, 1867, a new country was born. From then on, she has been through moments of glory, pride and warmth, and moments of darkness, defeat and helplessness. All these moments have made Canada the nation as it is. A nation’s identity is not only forged in moments of victory, but also is defined in moments of adversity. There are no historical events that better formed the Canadian national identity than Vimy Ridge, or the October Crisis.…
Canada was a known performer internationally as a peacekeeping force, and the international requests kept flowing in. Peacekeeping became a source of national pride. It was also in Canada's interest to support these missions to prevent escalation and involvement by the superpowers.…