The New Imperialisms and the The New Imperialisms and the Alaska Boundary Dispute Alaska Boundary Dispute

Canadian History 11Canadian History 11

Revival of British ImperialismRevival of British Imperialism

Late 19th c.: Britain interested Late 19th c.: Britain interested in renewing ties with its in renewing ties with its colonies for several reasonscolonies for several reasons

1) Rise of Germany as 1) Rise of Germany as powerful new country in powerful new country in Europe Europe

2) European interest in 2) European interest in colonizing Africa and colonizing Africa and unclaimed parts of Asiaunclaimed parts of Asia

Britain's position as dominant Britain's position as dominant European power threatenedEuropean power threatened

Britain turns to its colonies for Britain turns to its colonies for help in dealing with this threathelp in dealing with this threat

What is Imperialism?What is Imperialism?

A policy by which one country A policy by which one country attempts to control the government, attempts to control the government, resources or actions of anotherresources or actions of another

European Colonization of AsiaEuropean Colonization of Asia

European Colonization of AfricaEuropean Colonization of Africa

Revival of British ImperialismRevival of British Imperialism1897: Queen Victoria's 1897: Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee (60th Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary)anniversary)

Colonial leaders invited Colonial leaders invited to attend an Imperial to attend an Imperial Conference in London as Conference in London as part of celebrationspart of celebrations

British Colonial Secretary British Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain Joseph Chamberlain presents proposal to presents proposal to create an create an Imperial Imperial FederationFederation - a worldwide - a worldwide country consisting of country consisting of Britain and its coloniesBritain and its colonies

Revival of British ImperialismRevival of British ImperialismPrime Minister Wilfrid Laurier Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier realizes this idea would be realizes this idea would be unpopular in Quebecunpopular in Quebec

Laurier resists British pressure Laurier resists British pressure to strengthen Canadian ties to strengthen Canadian ties with Britain in any formwith Britain in any form

Britain will continue to Britain will continue to pressure Laurier and Canada pressure Laurier and Canada for assistance during the for assistance during the years before World War Iyears before World War I

Laurier politely but firmly Laurier politely but firmly refuses to allow Canada to be refuses to allow Canada to be drawn closer to Britaindrawn closer to Britain

Emergence of American ImperialismEmergence of American ImperialismLate 19th c.: United States expands its influence Late 19th c.: United States expands its influence beyond North America in an effort to build its own beyond North America in an effort to build its own "empire""empire"

Expansion of US influence in Central America and Expansion of US influence in Central America and Pacific Ocean in particularPacific Ocean in particular

Emergence of American ImperialismEmergence of American ImperialismPresident Theodore President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt "Teddy" Roosevelt (1901-1909) known (1901-1909) known for pursuing an for pursuing an aggressive foreign aggressive foreign policypolicy

Military hero of the Military hero of the Spanish-American Spanish-American War (1898), in which War (1898), in which the US seized the US seized control of Puerto control of Puerto Rico, the Rico, the Philippines, Guam Philippines, Guam and eventually Cuba and eventually Cuba from Spainfrom Spain

Roosevelt & "Big stick" diplomacyRoosevelt & "Big stick" diplomacyRoosevelt's motto: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you Roosevelt's motto: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." - Rooseveltwill go far." - Roosevelt

American aggressiveness evident in pressure on Canada American aggressiveness evident in pressure on Canada to settle outstanding Alaska Boundary Disputeto settle outstanding Alaska Boundary Dispute

Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903)Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903)1897: Discovery of gold 1897: Discovery of gold in the Klondike creates in the Klondike creates gold rush in Yukon gold rush in Yukon TerritoryTerritory

Need for supply route Need for supply route into/out of Yukon into/out of Yukon creates need to settle creates need to settle dispute over boundary dispute over boundary between Alaska and between Alaska and British Columbia ("the British Columbia ("the Alaskan Panhandle")Alaskan Panhandle")

Focus on ownerhip of Focus on ownerhip of tiny port of Skagway on tiny port of Skagway on Pacific OceanPacific Ocean

Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903)Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903)Canadian ownership of Canadian ownership of Skagway would provide Skagway would provide access to Pacificaccess to Pacific

Shorter route for Shorter route for supplies entering and supplies entering and gold leaving Yukon gold leaving Yukon

Canadians claim Canadians claim ownership of Skagway, ownership of Skagway, drawing line close to drawing line close to Pacific coastPacific coast

Americans claim Americans claim ownership of Skagway, ownership of Skagway, drawing line further drawing line further inlandinland

Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903)Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903)Britain and US appoint 6-man Britain and US appoint 6-man Commission to settle Commission to settle boundary disputeboundary dispute

Three American Three American representatives support representatives support American positionAmerican position

Britain appoints Lord Britain appoints Lord Alverstone, Lord Chief Alverstone, Lord Chief Justice, as head of British Justice, as head of British delegationdelegation

Canada permitted to appoint Canada permitted to appoint two representatives (A.B. two representatives (A.B. Aylesworth and Sir Louis Aylesworth and Sir Louis Jetté)Jetté)

Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903)Alaska Boundary Dispute (1903)Lord Alverstone Lord Alverstone supports US claim supports US claim to a boundary east to a boundary east of the inlets, giving of the inlets, giving Skagway to the US Skagway to the US by a 4-2 voteby a 4-2 vote

Laurier and Canada Laurier and Canada angered at British angered at British effort to maintain effort to maintain friendly relations friendly relations with the US at with the US at Canada's expenseCanada's expense

Canadian Dept. of External AffairsCanadian Dept. of External AffairsLaurier convinced that Laurier convinced that Canada has to exercise Canada has to exercise greater control over its greater control over its own foreign affairsown foreign affairs

1909: Laurier 1909: Laurier establishes the establishes the Canadian Department Canadian Department of External Affairsof External Affairs

Right to negotiate and Right to negotiate and sign our own foreign sign our own foreign treaties becomes treaties becomes growing issue in growing issue in Canada before World Canada before World War IWar I

Sir Joseph Pope, first under-secretary of Dept. of External Affairs

Trafalgar Building, first location of Dept. of External Affairs