CANADIAN POLITICAL ISSUES IN
THE EARLY 1900S
-South African - Boer War
-Alaska Boundary Dispute
1. South African War
Boer War – 1899-1902
Countries Involved - British, South African-Dutch
(Boers), Canadians
Issues – Gold and diamonds were discovered in
South Africa, which made the land very valuable.
Things got very tense between the British and the
Boers and the two sides went to war over this land
Canadian Response
Conflicted viewpoints within Canada – Many
Canadians supported Great Britain and wanted to
go help fight this war.
However, there were many in Canada (especially
the French-Canadians) who did not support this war,
and did not want Canada to go at all.
Wilfred Laurier – Prime Minister of Canada
Wanted to please both French & English Canadians
Sir Wilfred Laurier
Laurier’s Response
Prime Minister Laurier of Canada did not force men
to go to South Africa.
Instead, he announced that the government would
equip, train, and transport 1000 volunteers to the
war.
Overall this move worked well and the British won
the war in June of 1902.
2. Alaska Boundary Dispute - 1903
Countries Involved – Canada, United States and
Great Britain
Issues/Facts –
The United States bought Alaska from the Russians in
1867
Some of the borders were not that clear.
No one seemed to care about this land until gold was
discovered there in the 1890’s.
Then both countries wanted the same land and a dispute
started.
Conflict for Canada
Canada & the USA were disputing over land called the
Alaskan Pan-handle
The Americans were not backing down on this issue and
Canada did not want to give up land that was rightfully
theirs.
Blue is USA claimed
border
Red is Canadian
claimed border
Yellow is the current
border after
negotiations with
Britain in 1903
The British ended up siding with the Americans and
giving them a very favorable land claim.
The British felt war in Europe might break out and
they wanted the Americans on their side.
Many Canadians were upset about this ruling,
especially after Canada had helped with troops in
the Boer war.
The Election of 1911
Laurier lost the election in a landslide, even losing in
his home province of Quebec who were weary of his
“pro-American” economic policies
Robert Borden won the election and the conservatives
took control of the Canadian government
Laurier on the election trail
Robert Borden