1. Canadian Political Issues in the Early 1900s
South African - Boer War
Alaska Boundary Dispute

2. 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

3. 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.

4. Wilfred Laurier – Prime Minister of Canada
Wanted to please both French & English Canadians

5. Sir Wilfred Laurier

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Blue is USA claimed border
Red is Canadian claimed border
Yellow is the current border after negotiations with Britain in 1903

10. 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.

11. 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

12. Laurier on the election trail

13. Robert Borden