The South African War The South African War (1899-1902) & The Naval (1899-1902) & The Naval Crisis (1909)Crisis (1909)

Sir Wilfrid Laurier & The Challenge of British Sir Wilfrid Laurier & The Challenge of British ImperialismImperialism

Britain Pressures Britain Pressures Laurier.....Laurier.....Pre-WW I: Britain seeking to Pre-WW I: Britain seeking to strengthen ties with its strengthen ties with its colonies (Canada, Australia, colonies (Canada, Australia, New Zealand)New Zealand)

Britain expects colonies Britain expects colonies assist the Mother Country in assist the Mother Country in solving imperial problemssolving imperial problems

PM Laurier faces two such PM Laurier faces two such issues during his term as issues during his term as Prime MinisterPrime Minister

In both cases, English In both cases, English Canadians favor supporting Canadians favor supporting Britain while French Britain while French Canadians are opposedCanadians are opposed

What course of action What course of action should Laurier pursue?should Laurier pursue?

The South African (Boer) War, The South African (Boer) War, 1899-19021899-1902South Africa became British colony when it South Africa became British colony when it was obtained from the Netherlands (Dutch) in was obtained from the Netherlands (Dutch) in 18061806

Original Dutch settlers moved inland, Original Dutch settlers moved inland, establish two independent republics, Orange establish two independent republics, Orange Free State and Transvaal, clear and farm the Free State and Transvaal, clear and farm the landland

Dutch settlers known as "Boers" (Dutch for Dutch settlers known as "Boers" (Dutch for "farmer")"farmer")

1885: Gold discovered 1885: Gold discovered in Transvaalin Transvaal

Thousands of British Thousands of British settlers and prospectors settlers and prospectors pour into the region but pour into the region but are denied political are denied political rights by the Boer rights by the Boer governmentgovernment

British companies British companies mining gold are heavily mining gold are heavily taxed by the Boer taxed by the Boer governmentgovernment

Britain pressured to Britain pressured to intervene on behalf of intervene on behalf of settlers and mining settlers and mining companiescompanies

The Root Causes of the The Root Causes of the Boer WarBoer War

The war begins....The war begins....

October 1, 1899: October 1, 1899: Britain declares Britain declares war on Orange war on Orange Free State and Free State and TransvaalTransvaal

Britain asks Britain asks Canada and other Canada and other British colonies to British colonies to assist the war assist the war effort by providing effort by providing troopstroops

Laurier has to Laurier has to decide whether or decide whether or not Canada not Canada should participateshould participate

A Conflict of OpinionsA Conflict of Opinions

English Canadians English Canadians favored sending favored sending Canadian troops in Canadian troops in support of their support of their Mother Country "in its Mother Country "in its time of need"time of need"

Lord Minto (Governor- Lord Minto (Governor- General) and General General) and General Edward Hutton (British Edward Hutton (British commander of commander of Canadian militia) Canadian militia) pressure Laurier to pressure Laurier to send Canadian send Canadian soldiers to South soldiers to South AfricaAfrica

A conflict of A conflict of opinionsopinionsFrench Canadians French Canadians consider the conflict consider the conflict as "Britain's colonial as "Britain's colonial war" and none of war" and none of Canada's businessCanada's business

Opposition to sending Opposition to sending troops led by French troops led by French Canadian nationalist, Canadian nationalist, Henri BourassaHenri Bourassa

Grandson of Louis-Grandson of Louis-Joseph Papineau and a Joseph Papineau and a political colleague, political colleague, Bourassa soon Bourassa soon became Laurier's became Laurier's fiercest criticfiercest critic

Laurier seeks a Laurier seeks a compromisecompromiseCanada would raise a Canada would raise a volunteer force of 1000 volunteer force of 1000 troops and pay costs of troops and pay costs of transporting them to transporting them to South AfricaSouth Africa

Once there, troops Once there, troops would be placed under would be placed under British commandBritish command

In total, 7000 In total, 7000 Canadians served in Canadians served in the Boer Warthe Boer War

First time Canadian First time Canadian troops served in an troops served in an overseas conflictoverseas conflict

Reactions to Laurier's Reactions to Laurier's decisiondecisionNeither side pleased Neither side pleased English Canadians English Canadians accused Laurier of accused Laurier of avoiding Canada's avoiding Canada's "responsibility" to "responsibility" to BritainBritain

French Canadians French Canadians feared Laurier's actions feared Laurier's actions would result in Canada would result in Canada being dragged into being dragged into future British imperial future British imperial warswars

Bourassa breaks with Bourassa breaks with Laurier over the issue, Laurier over the issue, resigning his House of resigning his House of Commons seat in Commons seat in protestprotest

The Naval IssueThe Naval Issue1909: Imperial 1909: Imperial Defense Conference Defense Conference held in London, held in London, EnglandEngland

Britain faces rising Britain faces rising threat of Germany, threat of Germany, which is building a which is building a modern navy to rival modern navy to rival Britain'sBritain's

Britain responds by Britain responds by building fleet of building fleet of modern battleshipsmodern battleships

Britain pressures Britain pressures Canada and other Canada and other colonies to make a colonies to make a financial contribution financial contribution to help pay to help pay construction costsconstruction costs

HMS Dreadnought, British battleship

Laurier's CompromiseLaurier's Compromise

Laurier resists British Laurier resists British pressure for direct pressure for direct financial contributionfinancial contribution

1910: Laurier 1910: Laurier introduces Naval introduces Naval Service Bill, a plan to Service Bill, a plan to build a Canadian build a Canadian navy under Canadian navy under Canadian commandcommand

In time of war, with In time of war, with consent of consent of Parliament, the Parliament, the Canadian navy would Canadian navy would be available to be available to BritainBritain

HMCS Niobe, one of Canada's first naval vessels

Response to Laurier's Response to Laurier's ActionsActions

Robert Borden and Robert Borden and Conservative Conservative opposition opposition denounce Naval denounce Naval Service Bill as Service Bill as "feeble" and "feeble" and "insufficient""insufficient"

Tory humorist Tory humorist Stephen Leacock Stephen Leacock labels Laurier's labels Laurier's plan a "tinpot plan a "tinpot navy"navy"

Response to Laurier's Response to Laurier's ActionsActions

Bourassa and Bourassa and Quebec Quebec nationalists nationalists criticized plan as criticized plan as "going too far""going too far"

Bourassa feared Bourassa feared that Laurier would that Laurier would give in to British give in to British pressure if war pressure if war occurred, as had occurred, as had happened in South happened in South Africa Africa

HMCS Rainbow in drydock at Esquimalt, BC

Laurier's DefeatLaurier's Defeat1911 Election: Laurier campaigns on platform 1911 Election: Laurier campaigns on platform promising Reciprocity (free trade) with USpromising Reciprocity (free trade) with US

Combination of fear of annexation and Combination of fear of annexation and opposition to Laurier's compromises (Boer War opposition to Laurier's compromises (Boer War & Naval Bill) results in his defeat& Naval Bill) results in his defeat

Conservative Robert Borden becomes PMConservative Robert Borden becomes PMLaurier will spend the final 8 years of his life as Laurier will spend the final 8 years of his life as leader of the Oppositionleader of the Opposition