The External Conditions of the Canadian Situation
The Late Nineteenth Century [in contrast, not necessarily in substance]
Canada had strong economic and political ties with Britain. Trade flowed
more east and west in association with Britain, than it had during the
Reciprocity Treaty Period, 1854-1866. Primary product exports, decreasingly
forest products, increasingly wheat, were the policy basis of expansion.
Porfolio capital flowed into Canada from Britain to build transcontinental
railways. In short, the expansion of industrialism around the globe, and
the force of the British Empire, developed and integrated Canada, with
primary product exports the leading element in expansion. To Sir Wilfrid
Laurier it seemed like the twentieth century belonged to Canada.
The Late Twentieth Century [in contrast, not necessarily in substance]
By 1990, the British Empire was irrelevant. Canada had strong economic and
diplomatic ties with the United States. The frontier of global industrial
expansion had moved from America to Asia, and to developing countries in
South America. This is not to say that the United States had fallen into
permanenet relative decline. The stagflation of the 1970s and 1980s
evaporated in the 1990s. With innovations in information technology
leading the advance, by 2000, the United States was enjoying one of the
longest expansions and increases in productivity in its history.
Canada's primary product export industries were no longer forceful engines
of expansion, though they experienced continuing development. Canada was
a settled frontier, a permanent northern frontier. Compared to frontiers
in Information Technology, its resource frontier was a dead frontier.
Its finished goods export...
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...ble balance with the rest of the world. The balance with
the United States easily outweighs the balance with the rest of the world.
Still, the value of the Canadian dollar continues to fall, as it has since
the nineteen seventies. Past foreign investment, particularly from the
United States, still has to be serviced, and profits flow out to foreign
owned companies. Net unfavourable monetary flows, including net outflowss
of investment (about $130 billion over the past decade) outweigh net
favourable commodity flows, making it difficult to hold the value
of the Canadian dollar. Falling
interest of foreign investors in Canadian industry, particularly with the
unreliability of recent reverses in the fall in "commodity" prices,
including oil prices, has kept the Canadian dollar under attack, even with
lower rate of inflation that that of the United States
Prior to the World War 1, United States of America was just a developed country, which was lagged behind other countries, such as, Britain, France, and Germany, with a large land and ample natural resources. However, as the World War 1 was caused, USA was required to produce war materials by France and Britain and exported to those countries. Hence, USA gained a huge amount of money and technical skills, and so the country has grown into one of the world’s economic powers. As a result, USA could invest in Canada in order to get raw materials for its secondary industries. However, USA’s investments in 1920s brought more benefits to USA itself than to Canada. There are three major reasons for the statement. First, since branch plants were established, Canadian own businesses lost their opportunities. In addition, the ultimate purpose of USA’s investments in primary industries was to enhance USA’s secondary industries. Lastly, the skyrocketing growth of Canadian economy by the middle of 1920s resultantly benefited USA than Canada.
Quebec’s social identity and defining characteristics contradict and conflict with those of rest of Canada. Since the genesis of our country, the political, social disagreements, and tensions between Quebec and the rest of Canada have been unavoidable. Utilizing Hiller’s key contradictions in the analysis of a Canadian society, we will compare and contrast the nature of the societal identity in Quebec compared to that of rest of Canada, emphasising on the major differences and tensions between the province and the rest of the country.
Canada became increasingly autonomous throughout the 1920's and 1930's. Being established officially as a nation apart from Britain certainly helped, but there were more than just official pieces of paper at play. The negotiation of the Halibut treaty was a large push towards become an autonomous nation from Britain. The final push were the seats Canada was given at various significant events.
The Cold War was a period of tension between the USSR and the US; although at one point the Soviet Union and the United States were allies due to the enemy they had in common, Nazi Germany. The Cold War was not an actual physical war, only the Korean War was the physical war. This time of tension started due to distrust between the two nations. Canada as a founding member of NATO played a significant role in the Cold War, and contributed greatly during the period of tension. As well as NATO, Canada was also heavily involved in many other aspects of the Cold War such as NORAD, the Korean War, and the Gouzenko case.
Before the war, Canada’s most important sector in its economy was agriculture. However, this was changing drastically after and during the war as industry began to take over as being more important. Canadian production of war material, food supplies, and raw materials had been crucial during the war. After the war, it was only natural that big investments were being made in mining, production, transportation, and services industries. Canadian cities were becoming very important contributors to the economy. This was also bringing in waves of post-war immigration, the backbone of Canada’s multicultural society we know today.
The history of Canada was flooded with many influential and incredible events, particularly during World War 1 and World War 2. During the 20th century, Canada got more involved in worldwide events. It was a very important period for Canada; it was where they gained their independence and progressed as a country. After this century, Canada was considered an important and powerful country.
... the American economy for trade rather than their own country. The shift to a national highway in Canada supported trade and the economy in giving motorists the ability to travel through Canada without having to leave like which had to be done in previous years.
The economic progress Canada made after the war lead to the growth of the country. New industries emerged from innovations of products like automobiles, radios, television, digital computers and electric typewriters (Aitken et al., 315). Canadians quickly adapted back to the “buy now, pay later” strategy rather than careful budgeting during the Great Depression (Liverant). Almost everything that Canadians did was influenced from new inventions; television was the most influential. Canadians conversations, humour, and lifestyle were influenced from television (Aitken et al., 315). Trade relations between the United States and Canada had become more efficient due to the St. Lawrence Seaway. The mass development of the St. Lawrence Seaway, in 1954, was to provide a large wate...
...nguage, and religion all make up Canada’s human face, but also front how the cultural accommodation will continue with the risk of losing Canada’s main traditions. Faultlines again come into perspective within demographic issues, especially with newcomers/old-timers, aboriginal population expansions, and French/English language. The core/periphery model is also represented. The end of the chapter places a focus on Canada’s economic face as well, dealing with stresses inside the global economy as well as its strong dependency on the U.S markets (Bone, 169) especially with the stimulating global recession. Canada’s economic structure leans on the relative share of activity in the primary (natural resource extraction), secondary (raw material assembly), tertiary (sale/exchange of goods and services), and quaternary (decision-making) sectors of the economy (Bone, 166).
Canada ruled the 20th century through science and technology and advanced more than any other country in this time period. Prime Minister Laurier was correct when he stated in his speech “that it is Canada that shall fill the 20th century.” Technology and science were one of the huge factors for Canada being a successful country compare to the world. In technology and science, there were many inventions that were developed in Canada that wowed the world and made Canada feel incredible. Even though war is sad and cruel, the crazy need to survive and the confidence to strive for success has made Canada’s technology and science advance greatly. During the near closing point of the 20th century, Canada’s environment and living is being more advanced and they are thinking about the future generations to come.
In conclusion, Canada was influenced throughout the 1920's by America, that by 1929 Canada became very similar to America in social trends, economics and produce. But has this stopped in modern day era? Canada continues to be heavily influenced by the amount of American products and media outpouring into Canada. Canada has made attempts throughout time to impede the onslaught of American invasion but American invasion is seen on a huge global scale. Hit movies, tv shows, products among others are generally based on American culture, views, or based within American domain. It is a reign yet to be stopped.
Thompson, John Herd, and Mark Paul Richard. "Canadian History in North American Context." In Canadian studies in the new millennium. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2008. 37-64.
Canadians were frustrating, wonderful, and hard. Soldiers returning from the war expected jobs, but were faced with unemployment, inflation and strikes. Inflation had doubled the cost of living where wages had not and those fortunate to be employed still faced immense financial difficulty. Many people joined unions for better pay and working conditions, 1919 saw the most strikes at a staggering three hundred and six, people were angry and discontented. The 1920s were a time of crime corruption and extreme poverty, yet by mid era difficult conditions began to improve. Foreign investors gained confidence in Canada and as a result new industries were developed, The twenties really did 'roar' and with this boom of change Canada underwent the transformation that was the gateway to the future.
Currently, Canada remains the world’s second largest country, full of vast and rich resources from all corners of the nation. None of the accomplishments and achievements that Canada has made to date would have been possible without Confederation. Without intense pressure from the Americans, and without the common goal that a few men shared of unifying a country, Canada would not be the strong, free, independent and united nation that it is today.
Canada and Quebec have always been in conflict from the confederation of 1867 to the Supreme court judgement on the secession of Quebec in 1998. Quebec faces several challenges in terms of constitutional relations with the rest of Canada. Quebec is seeking a special status to preserve and protect its culture and language, while the rest of English-speaking Canada accepts the view of provincial equality. There have been attempts to recognize Quebec's concerns through constitutional amendments, but these attempts have not lived up to Quebec's expectations and for the most parts have failed. Quebec has threatened Canada throughout history with separation from Canada. These threats have not been ignored, the rest of Canada realizes the devastating impact economically and politically if Quebec did separate but they cannot reach a compromise. Canada has as tried to encourage Quebec not to separate from Canada. In 1995 Quebec held its second referendum on sovereignly and the separatists narrowly lost the province wide. The province brought the case to the Supreme court of Canada to rule on the legal guidelines of unilateral secession under Canadian and international law, in the end some say the federalists (those not wanting to separate) came out on top. In this essay I will discuss the various historical attempts made by government to keep Quebec a part of Canada. I will also attempt to explain the impact of the Supreme Court Ruling on the Quebec secession. Many argue that the federalist won in the decision but that statement is debatable. Both Quebec and the rest of Canada won in the ruling. I believe that English Canadians should spend some time getting to know their French neighbors and vice ...