Canadian and Latin American Politics in the 1St Half of the 20Th Century

IB History

Canadian and Latin American politics in the 1st half of the 20th Century

Canadian Politics in the 1st ½ of the 20th century
French-Canadian nationalism
Impact of the world wars: conscription, nationalism, sovereignty
Regionalism and minorities
Relations with the US and Britain
The Commonwealth of Nations
Latin American politics in the 1st half of the 20th century
Mexico
Brazil
Argentina: Vargas, Peron
Cuba

CANADA

-Building a Modern Nation

In 1812, there was no Canada, just 6 British provinces above the US. Eventually they would unite and become modern day Canada.
Lower Canada and Upper Canada wanted a strong government that would answer more to the interests of the people than to the British government
Lower Canada, the French led a protest, feeling they were not adequately represented in the province’s legislature.
Upper Canada wanted the government to stop changing laws that were already passed by the legislature
Both protests were put down, but their voices were heard by Britain, who did not want to lose their provinces the way they lost the colonies
Queen Victoria sent Lord Durham to Canada, who prepared a report arguing the more self government that was given, the more loyal the citizens would be to Britain
In 1864, provincial leaders and met to discuss the formation of a confederation, a system where government is divided between the national government and various provincial governments
1867 – Britain approved this idea with the passing of the British North America Act, which also served as Canada’s constitution
Canada was set up as the Dominion of Canada and broken 4 provinces with Ottawa as the capital
Ontario
Quebec
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
Canada sought to expand, but there were very few living west of the Great Lakes
In 1869, Manitoba was carved as a 5th province
By 1871, British Columbia became the 6th province
1873 – Prince Edward Island
Early 1900s, Alberta and Saskatchewan joined as well
By 1914, Canada stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific, in many ways free
Ottawa made most of the laws
Free trade with other countries
However, when Britain went to war, the Canadians were obligated to do so, with 600K serving
The war would change the way Canada viewed its relation with Great Britain
1918, they insisted on signing the Peace Treaty, not wanting Britain acting for them
1922, Britain wanted to send Canadians to fight for them in Turkey and the Canadians refused
1923, Canada signed a treaty with the US, taking charge of their foreign relations
In the early 1900s, the British Commonwealth was formed, with Canada being part of it, but as time passed, many wanted to be free from Britain
1931, Britain passed the Statute of Westminster which would allow Commonwealth nations to choose whether they wished to remain a commonwealth
Canada chose its own government, therefore would need a new constitution
April 12, 1982, Queen Elizabeth II flew to Ottawa and signed a bill that made the new constitution the law of the land
Quebec was the only province that voted against the new constitution, because most were descendents of French settlers, and wanted their own language and rites since 1970s
The new constitution made Canada a bilingual nation, so as to appease the Quebecois, and required each province to make French available in the courts and in schools
Today, Canada has a federal system of government, each of Canada’s 10 provinces have their own government that they share with the central government
Canadian Parliament makes laws and sees they are carried out
House of Commons
Voters in each province elect members who serve for 5 years, with the party having the most seats being the majority
Majority party picks the Prime Minister
Sees that the nation’s laws are obeyed
Senate
104 members are appointed by the governor-general, who represents the British Monarchy
Role is to study and publish the problems facing the nations
Courts
Judges are appointed for life, therefore they can make rulings without worrying about losing their jobs

-The Maritime Provinces

Newfoundland is the largest
1920s and 1930s business slowed, millions lost their jobs, the government did not have enough money to run the nation and had to turn to Britain
They once again became a British colony
When World War II broke out, Newfoundland became prosperous again
Located along the main supply lines between North America and Britain
Airstrips were built so that planes could refuel and make repairs
Harbors were built to shelter strips
After the war they had to decide whether to be a province or not, and voted to become Canada’s 10th province
Today, fishing is the main industry
In the 1960s, large amounts of oil and natural gas were found, causing the province to fight over ownership of the resources
Today, Newfoundland shares the profits
New Brunswick
Area makes plentiful use of timber, which is its major market
Also fishing and farming, with lobsters being the most valuable product
Today, jobs are hard to find and many have left the area
Nova Scotia
Mostly fishing, the largest fish processing plant is located there
Poor soil makes farming difficult, but fir trees have become a major cash crop
Halifax is the center of the shipbuilding industry
Prince Edward Island
Agriculture dominates this area, with strawberries, blueberries, apples and raspberries

-QuebecProvince

80% today are French speaking, with a major influence of French culture, such as buildings, homes and churches
Montreal is seen as the future
Founded by Roman Catholic nuns and was well established under the French when the British took over
Main financial district
1960s conflict broke out between the French and the English, threatening to split the area into 2
The French wanted to maintain their heritage and culture, even though the French ruled ended in 1763
1960, Jean Lesage led the ‘Quiet Revolution’ that led to the greater protection of French-Canadian rights
Separatists wanted Quebec to become their own nation, feeling they were apart from the rest of Canada
1980 they voted on the decision, with a turnout of 60% voting to remain unified
As a result, some still seek special recognition, such as making French the only language of the area
Drafted the ‘Meech Lake Accord’ that would make Quebec a “distinct cultural society.”

-OntarioProvince

Ottawa is the home of the Canadian Parliament
Toronto is the hub of cultural and economic life

-The Western Provinces

In 1914, oil was discovered beneath Alberta, bringing new wealth to the province
Edmonton and Calgary quickly grew into large cities
Today, the province produces 85% of Canada’s petroleum and 88% of natural gas

-British Columbia

In 1940s, gold was discovered in the northern mountains, making mining an important industry

LATIN AMERICA

Some background about Latin America in the 1st ½ of the 20th century

-1910-1930

The Mexican Revolution of 1910 was the 1st major effort in Latin American history to uproot the system of estates and curb foreign control of the area’s natural resources.
The constitution of 1917 spelled out the social content of the revolution, and the period was marked by struggle between agrarian and bourgeois revolutionaries, which the latter emerged victorious and would have the peasants still be subservient
Despite the faux pas, the revolution gave way to art, literature and social sciences, making Mexico a leading place in the cultural life of Latin America
World War I disrupted the import of goods needed, therefore diverted some labor to producing manufactured goods in order to compensate
The postwar era encouraged an export economy once again
The US would be the leading source of foreign investments in the area, with the government using armed intervention and economic pressure to expand US control over the Caribbean
By the end of the period, Latin American resentment forced policy makers to revisit their strategy when dealing with Latin America

-1945-1959

the postwar era would have Latin America industrialize rather quickly, but when 1950 hit, this too would slow
foreign investors would shift their money to manufacturing, since the price of raw materials was declining
foreign companies had the technology, therefore they were able to set up the manufacturing facilities in Latin America
many small national companies were swallowed by foreign ones
foreign investors favored “mixed companies” with the industry dominated by foreign investment and nationals being like a junior partner
Brazil and Argentina would see the largest gains in the industrial worlds, though their governments were oligarchies, fearful of the change in government
Once these governments fell, that gave way to the conservatives
Mexico too would instill a government that favored large land owners and neglected the peasantry
Cuba grew unrestful and there was the armed overthrow by Fidel Castro in July of 1953, and the rebel army would take over 1 January 1959

MEXICO

-Order and Progress

Porfiro Diaz came into power in from 1876 to 1910 and though elections were held, Diaz would decide who would run, who could vote, and how the votes would be counted
Silenced any political opposition, ruling as a dictator
Sought to bring progress to the nation, making business and industry grow
Expanded business, railroads and invited American and English oil companies to come and look for oil
Helped Mexico become one of the largest oil producers in the world
All helped Mexico pay off debts from the war
Other countries no longer saw Mexico as a weak nation to invade, rather they marveled at their progress
The people paid a heavy price
Foreigners became wealthy, the Mexicans became poorer
Many salaries were cut in half
Campesinos, people who were employed by large land owners but had to buy their own tools from the landowner’s stores, were a common occurrence. Though they were not slaves, they could not find jobs until their debts were paid off, essentially they were serfs (Russia)
At times they would band together and demand changes, but Diaz always sided with the land owners
1910,Mexico was ready for revolution - Mexicans cried, “Viva la Revolucion” or “Long live the Revolution.”
On the eve of the presidential election, there were many peasant uprisings and worker strikes became more frequent
Mexican Liberal Party journalist Ricardo Flores Magon intensified conspiratorial activities and divisions in the oligarchy became more apparent
Diaz, who died in 1910 at the age of 80, contributed to all this unrest in 1908 when announcing to an American journalist in an interview, that Mexico was ready for a democracyand welcomed the emergence of an opposition party
Francisco Madero took him at his word, fearing that the way things were, the poor being in their state, would lead to social revolution
He proclaimed in his book The Presidential Succession in 1910 that there was a need for democracy in order to preserve social stability, that was threatened by the absolutism of Diaz
Madero made clear that by democracy, he meant control by the elite, because he felt the ignorant masses should not take part in deciding who should run for public office
Madero was critical of Diaz
Genocidal Indian wars
Violent repression of strikes
Proposed policy of modest concessions to peasants and workers that would reduce mounting tensions and the growth of radical ideas
Saw democracy as an instrument of social control that would promote the development of capitalism by granting limited political and social reforms with a large stress on education
By 1909 Madero began touring the country and making speeches to promote his reform programs
By 1910, and anti-re-electionist party formed and announced Madero as its candidate, with Diaz refusing to take Madero seriously
Soon his popularity alarmed him and he had Madero arrested and charged with preparing an armed insurrection
September announced that Diaz and his hand picked VP Ramon Corral had been elected by an almost unanimous vote
After the election, Madero was no longer dangerous in Diaz’s eyes and was released
Madero was convinced that Diaz could not be removed by peaceful means, as he had tried before, resorted to armed struggle
He fled to Texas and from there announced the Plan of San Luis Potosi
Called the recent elections null and void and assumed the title of provisional president and promised to hold general free election as soon as conditions permitted and turn power over to the newly elected president
The plan made vague reference to the land that was taken from peasants but most articles dealt with political reforms
A revolution was allowed to form on American soil with little interference of the US government (what does this suggest about the US)
Diaz felt that American investments in Mexico were threatening economic independence and openly supported British investment over American
The revolution began at a shaky start when Madero crossed back into Mexico with only 25% of his supporters waiting for him, therefore he returned to Texas
It soon gathered momentum with 2 peasant revolts responding to his call
Chihuahua – peons and small farmers were suffering under the rule of the Terrazas-Creel clan, masters of a land empire
Began under the guidance of Pancho Villa who had a reputation of taking from the rich and giving to the poor
By the end of 1910 guerilla armies had seized control of most of the state from federal troops
In Morelos, Indian communities had waged a continuous struggle against the encroaching sugar haciendas
Here Amelio Zapata, attracted by the promise of land reform, proclaimed loyalty to Madero
In May of 1911 the rebels won 2 victories
Zapatistas captured Cuatla, an important railway center
In the north, Pancho Villa captured Ciudad Juarez
Diaz decided to reach an agreement with Madero instead of having the capital captured by rebels
Madero signed the Treaty of Ciudad Juarez on May 21st, which provided for the removal of Diaz but left in tact the all existing institutions
Completely silent on social change
May 25th, the aged dictator left presidency and headed for Europe, Francisco Leon de la Barra, Mexican Ambassador to the US assumed the interim presidency
he was close to the old regime and little changed, he had no sympathy for the revolution
the aristocracy was still trying to hold onto its allies and regain power
the Diaz bureaucracy remained in tact
social conditions remained unchanged and the provisional government sought a return to the status quo
efforts were made to disband the revolutionary troops and de la Barra sent in troops to incite hostility against the Zapatistas, who began confiscating large amounts of land and giving it to the poor
Madero was unable to do much and more hostility erupted toward the anarchist who couldn’t do much for Mexico
11 October 1911, Madero and his running mate were elected anyway

-Madero’s Presidency: Inadequacy and Revolt

Though he assumed the presidency, there was no apparent solution in sight for Mexico’s problems
He sought to give the masses the illusion of power and participation in political life but vested all decisions in land on the elite
He did allow workers to organize trade unions and to strike but his answer to the agrarian problem was inadequate
Would purchase land from large land owners to distribute among landless peasants
He was, in fact, against taking the land from the haciendas because he felt the only way for Mexican agriculture to modernize lay in large landowners
This caused a split with his most faithful supporter, Zapata
Zapata announced his own program in November of 1911 – Plan of Ayala, saying that land owned by the elite would be returned to the poor
This soon spread to other states in Central and Southern Mexico
Madero’s failure on agrarian reform lost him the trust and support of the revolutionary peasantry
The elite dreamed of return of the Paradise of Don Porfirio, when the peasants and Indians knew their place, and counterrevolutionaries took their place after Madero took office in 1911
Many small revolutions were successful and Madero faced more and more danger, and he lost the support of the US
American capitalism increased there and they regained their former dominant position
American Ambassador Henry LaneWilson became increasingly hostile to Madero and by February 1912 there were 100K troops stationed along the border, with Wilson making threats to intervene if American life and property were not protected
Preparations for a coup d’etat were underway with General Huerta the leader
The American Ambassador was secretly negotiating with Huerta and Wilson sent Madero a protest against the conduct of military operations in Mexico City because it threatened American life and property
America sent in troops but Madero said he would rather die than allow foreign intervention

-Huerta’s Dictatorship