Example research essay topic: Prime Minister Boer War - 1,552 words

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Henri Bourassa (Canadian Politician) For the duration of Henri Bourassa's political career, he was viewed botany as a great educator and a stable critic. Although Bourassa was not an intelligent man, he succeeded in making a variety of ideas a reason for debate for nearly thirty years, which would raise the opportunity for him become a well known political leader. Subsequently, Bourassa's views and opinions were sometimes deemed as unethical and negative. Many Canadians viewed him as a proud Canadian nationalist, as others labeled him an unpatriotic traitor.

If anything, Henri Bourassa in many minds, should believed as a reformer, instead of the mass amount of hallmarks that have surrounded him. Basically speaking, Henri Bourassa should be perceived asa Canadian nationalist due to his views on conscription, his anti-imperialistic outlook, and his fight against Canadian annexation tothe United States. First of all, Henri Bourassa is appropriately viewed as a Canadian nationalist due to his views on conscription. Bourassa's greatest campaign was evident on the issue of conscription, which he was recognized outside his own province of Quebec, for fighting for Canadian nationality. The conscription of Canadians into the First World War, was due to the small size of the British professional army, which was once labeled by GermanysKaiser Wilhelm that contemptible little army. As the fighting dragged on, more and more men were slaughtered, and Canada was first introduced to conscription.

Bourassa was quick to counter the use of conscription in their, although he did not oppose Canadas participation, but was in favor ofthe equal proportion of Canadians in the war. Canada, once conscription took place, had raised an army of 420 000 men, from a total population of 7000 000. The equivalency of such, would produce an army of 2 700 000 for Britain, due to its population and size. Also, Bourassa opposed the increase in taxes, which helped pay for such conscription issues, which conclusively meant Canadian men, women and children paid $ 100 in taxes, as oppose to the $ 7 that Americans were spending. Bourassa felt that To ask Canada to do more, would be an outrage, and should be treated as such. Another period, when Bourassa was forced to deal with conscription, was during the Second World War.

Prime Minister Mackenzie King, and his infamous slogan Not necessarily conscription, but conscription if necessary, proved to be a factor which pulled Bourassa out of retirement to battle. The National Resources Mobilization Act, gave the Canadian government full rights to order conscription for service overseas. Whether need for reinforcements in the war overseas was needed, King adopted conscription, taking 16 000 men from the National Resources Mobilization Force and placed them overseas. The Canadian public decided to support the continued war effort, and therefore, fought more possibilities of conscription due to the volunteering of Canadians.

Bourassa once again had engaged in a battle with conscription, which he felt would destroy Canadian unity, and force a civil war. Bourassa also felt that if Canada was forced into conscription, that many Canadians would be unhappy and disloyal their country. Bourassa in turn, fought against conscription to provide Canada a more stable base, in which she could expand upon. Second, when Wilfrid Laurier was crowned Prime Minister, he immediately named Bourassa the French speaking secretary of the Canadian delegation to the joint high commission and his job was to resolve Canadian-American differences. After a short dispute with his own party, Henri was in the process of the Boer War of October 1899. When the volunteer forces section, the need for more troops were obvious.

Bourassa was unhappy and disagreed with Laurier's plans of sending Canadian troops back to Britain to defend, and therefore, resigned his seat in the Parliament. Henri felt that if Canadian troops were sent into Britain, then in further confrontations, Canada would be expected to send troops to aid Britain. Such mental promises set forth by Canada would create an imperialistic label towards Canada, always needing their Mother Country to be of aid. Bourassa kept this in mind during the Britain-Canada naval talks, and again, stated that participation by Canada in the naval talks would mentally insure them to be at the side of Britain in any other confrontations.

Bourassa also showed anti-imperialistic views during the Boer War. Bourassa disagreed with the idea of sending Canadian troops into South-Africa due to the wars importance or lack thereof towards Canada. Bourassa again felt that if they participated with Britain, that it would only set up more demands and favors asked by Britain, which in turn, would keep Canada imperialistic. When Bourassa decided to oppose traditionaimperialistic ties with Britain, he felt that Canada was growing to be armstrong, self-reliant country, which did not need to commit herself to anything that was considered to be related to Britains needs. The sovereignty that Canada possessed, could possibly be tarnished, if the uncertainty of Canada placing herself in a conflict which did not necessarily regard her. These feelings and views expressed forth by Bourassa proves that he is caring for Canada and her people, and also her participation in any further wars, which could ruin a nations power, politics and rights.

Finally, Henri Bourassa felt that Canada was being carefully watched and evaluated by her American neighbors. Bourassa had already held strong opinions, and as he progressed in politics, came to fear the gigantic United States, which threatened Canadas independence. Bourassa wanted self-government and liberty for Canadians without interference from either America or Britain. Bourassa became very nervous when Wilfird Laurierannounced that a mutual free trade agreement between the United States and Canada was being considered, Bourassa reacted upon the topic with true passion. Bourassa felt that the true purpose of the reciprocity treaty, was camouflaged by the American government as a grounds for equal trade. In reality, Bourassa felt that annexation was in the future for Canada.

The reciprocity deal, which was proposed by President Taft, of the United States, granted both Nations equal trade without import taxes, or tariffs, on natural products. The trade deal was created to form a lower cost offers produce, and the near extinction of the tariffs on manufactured goods, there was apparently no fear of that the developing Canadian manufacturing industry would be taken over by its American competitors. Unfortunately, Laurier viewed trade with America as an opportunistic way to improve relations and boost the Canadian economy. The Imperial Nationalists of English speaking Canada and Henri Bourassa were against it, deciding thatthe only reason America wanted to induce trade was to slowly gain control Canada.

This was apparent when Champ Clark stated We are preparing tanned Canada, and the day is not far off when the American flag will float over every square foot of the British North American possessions clear tothe North Pole. Bourassa expanded on the view of Clark, Canada is note a nation and is heading towards annexation. Both of these quotes soothe mistrust that Bourassa had toward the Americans. Bourassa tried to inform the government of such strategies by the Americans to try and preserve Canadian sovereignty, and after the fall of the Laurier government, the reciprocity talks were ceased and nationality was saved. Henri Bourassa's proposals for a more stable and productive Canada showed genuine interest by Bourassa to keep Canada independent. Bourassasuggested that the Grand Trunk Railway should be privately operated but owned purely by the state, the state meaning government owned.

Also, Bourassa and F. D. Monk adopted the fear that any north-south trade via the Canadian Pacific Railroad, would ruin the efforts of east-west trade within Canada. This idea would apparently create more money, keep the interest ofthe railway by the people, and forming a higher level of trade within Canada, which seems to be vital with regards to the reciprocity trade agreement.

Also, Bourassa wanted to end the ordeal involved with Canada and the stock market, claiming that the stock market was Americas evil. Immigration wise, Bourassa felt that the immigrants deriving from America into Canada, were moving to Western Canada for the money, and its industry, instead of for a pure love of the country. Bourassa felt that this type of immigration should not be allowed, and was another minor detail in the annexation of Canada. In conclusion, these ideas show how Bourassa brought forth specific views to try and keep Canada independent from America, which at the time, was a large issue, that was not being interpreted precisely to the Canada public, by the Canadian Government...

In conclusion, Henri Bourassa's reign in government proved to be available one. His way of predicating other countries needs, helped him decide that the first loyalty of Canadians should be to Canada and not the Empire. This can be perceived by evaluating his views on conscription, his anti-imperialistic outlook, and his fight against Canadian annexation tothe United States. Henri Bourassa, in his views on nationalism and patriotism was quoted There is Ontario patriotism, Quebec patriotism, or Western patriotism but there is no Canadian patriotism, and we can have Canadian nation, when we have no Canadian patriotism.

In the quote stated, Henri Bourassa has inclined many people to believe that Bourassahimself to the end of his life, was committed to the Canadian state and Canadian nationhood, and thats why he was a Canadian Nationalist as opposite an unpatriotic traitor. 34 f

Research essay sample on Prime Minister Boer War