Canada In The Twentieth Century

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Canadian Identity and the Twentieth Century Have you ever wondered which events in Canadian history have been the most significant in shaping Canadian identity? Many significant events in the twentieth century left a lasting legacy for Canada. Canada would not be the culturally rich, prosperous and progressive nation that it is today, without its immigration patterns in the past. World War I (WWI) was also a significant event as it united Canada and left behind a legacy of sacrifice and national pride. Economic development during the post war period contributed to Canadian success nationally and globally. Immigration, WWI and economic development were significant events in Canadian twentieth century history. Each event brought new and powerful …show more content…

This is because it shaped Canada’s social, economic and political culture. As Wilfrid Laurier, prime minister of Canada from 1896-1911, said in 1904 “…The nineteenth century was the century of the United States. I think we can claim that Canada will fill the twentieth century.” (Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Jan 18, 1904). And indeed it did; Wilfrid Laurier opened the gates to immigration and changed the twentieth century for Canada from that point forward. In the ten years between 1906 and 1916, two million newcomers immigrated to Canada. It was the country’s largest population boom. This population increase was immensely beneficial as it led to industrialization and urbanization. It also boosted the economy as new jobs were created. After the population boom, Canadians were now Irish, Italian, Polish, Ukrainian, Dutch, Scandinavian, Japanese and Chinese. The various cultures of new immigrants affected Canada socially and culturally, as new languages, traditions, foods and arts appeared in Canada. Moreover, not only did immigrants contribute to massive cultural growth but they also changed perspectives on diversity; changing Canadian identity for years to …show more content…

One of the most significant changes was economic development. The war had changed Canada’s economy greatly both during and after the war. After the war, Canada transitioned from a war based production economy, to a peacetime supply and demand economy. New jobs were created in different sectors of the economy. As R.B Bennett said in a speech “By any economic test you may employ, Canada is more prosperous today than it was two years ago...” (Bennett, Richard Bedford, 1870-1947) Canada’s manufacturing industry had grown which allowed it to become a leader in industries such as automotive manufacturing and chemical processing. Besides manufacturing, many other sectors of the economy gained success. For example, the production of newsprint became Canada’s largest industry after agriculture. Moreover, the Prairie Provinces enjoyed huge success with wheat. New mining discovers were also made in the 1920’s. By 1929, Canada was producing almost 80 percent of the world’s supply of nickel. Furthermore, the 1947 discovery of oil in Alberta made Canada a petroleum superpower. The growth of manufacturing changed the global perspective on Canada and gave Canadians a significant

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