American Influence On Canada

own growth but from its participation as a member of the Empire of nations of the

Canada’s Relationship with Britain British influence on Canadian government Many of the political pressures in Canada today have their roots in the way the country was shaped politically over 150 years ago. How we do things now is based on institutions of government that go back even further. Eugene A. Forsey, until his death considered the foremost expert on the Canadian Constitution, wrote in how Canadians govern themselves: "it is necessary to understand that our written Constitution, unlike the American, is not a single document. It is a collection of 24 documents: 13 acts of the British Parliament, seven of the Canadian, and four British orders-in-council." Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II published that booklet in conjunction with the signing of the Canada Act. In addition to providing the Charter of Rights, The Canada Act did several things. Forsey wrote: "Under the terms of the Canada Act, the Constitution Act, 1982 was proclaimed in Canada.... "Under the Constitution Act, 1982, the British North America Act and its various amendments (1871, 1886, 1907, 1915, 1930, 1940, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1975) became the Constitution Acts, 1867-1975. "More important, it made four big changes in our Constitution. "First, it established four legal formulas or processes for amending the Constitution.... "The second big change made by the Constitution Act, 1982, is that the first three amending formulas "entrench" certain parts of the written Constitution; that is, place

Furthermore, Canada remaining under the archaic British North America Act and not drafting its own constitution meant that the composition of the nation and the government was in the hands of the British Parliament, which denies the Canadians the luxury of dictating the structure and make-up of their own country. Now, one may say that Canada weakened its economic ties with Britain and was therefore no longer economically dependent on them, but the fact of the matter is that all we did was shift our dependence onto another nation, the United States. By 1926, America’s yearly investment in the Canadian economy had risen up to $3400 million (as opposed to $2000 million in 1920) mainly in the exporting of Canadian resources to the United States. In addition to that, American companies built “branch plants”, which were made to avoid having to pay trade tariffs, making this a pretty one-sided trade

Economically, Canada was impacted immensely by WW2. WW2 changed the entire Canadian economy forever and for the good. Before the war, Canada had seen the roughest times. The Great Depression had put canadas economy into the worst shape and into $10 million of debt, everyone was unemployed and people were homeless. But this war sky rocketed canadas government when the men in the war neded supplies such as guns,cars,clothes and food to survive, so Canada manufactuered all these products that were to be sent to

Radios also provided Canadians with entertainment with home-grown and imported drama, comedy, shows, music and sports broadcasts as well as information, like the news and the weather . The radio also revolutionized communication in Canada, connecting Canadians from the east to the west, making it possible for a person in Saskatchewan to listen to a Toronto Maple Leafs game happening in Toronto . In summary, the 20s in Canada was a very roaring time socially because of the introduction of various time-saving technologies, because of a growing sense of national pride and also because of the drastic changes in wide spread entertainment.

Isolationism was a very important topic during the times before Canada. Isolationism is the policy where a country avoid alliances and affairs with foreign countries (“ Isolationism”), in this case it was Canada distancing themselves because of how insignificant they were in the League of Nations, its gaining of autonomy made it physically detached and the Great Depression intensified it (“Isolationism”). The listed factors caused isolationism which delayed Canada’s participation in the war. The reason to why it was such a significant topic to Canadians in the late 1930’s is the outcome of their decision, they can chose to help and try to defeat the Axis Powers to secure peace or continue to wait until the they attack Canada, and by that

Today Canada and the United States are major trading partners, allies, and two neighboring countries with a long history of cooperation with each other. But is it possible for Canada to protect its independence and culture living next door to the country so powerful and rich as the United States. Since the Canadian confederation, Canada started developing relations with the U.S. As the years passed by, Canada began to relay on the United States in the national defense. Many Canadians think that the military, political and economical dependence would not make a difference to their daily life. But today more then even Canadian culture is affected by the American influence. Media, American artists,

Political interferences have played a great role in economic crisis in the current world, especially in most decisions that gives the direction of the economy. Policies are made according people beliefs and the current situation and matter to address at hand. Ideologies and perceptions are made from past experiences and predictions with an aim to address the upcoming challenges. The Second World War resulted to the great depression and economy collapsed in many countries in the world. Wartime expenditure resulted to mobilization of countries funds and human resources, this resulted intervention in the economy that induced inflation.

It was known as the “baby boom” period. (Pg. 164) By 1965, over half the people were under 25 years old in North America. It developed a powerful youth culture of protest also known as a “youthquake.” The baby boomers were the largest age group in Canada which affected the economy and the culture. Many Canadians thought that the baby boom would continue endlessly and hoped that poverty and unemployment, problems of the past, would never be seen again. Families had three to four children which led to Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and junior hockey. Companies started to make new products for the millions of babies that were born. New schools had to be built which created new jobs for people. Since there were so many people, most Canadians had television. It made an artificial lifestyle that was appealing to people so that they would buy more goods. Television promoted a consumer society. It advertised toys such as Frisbees and Barbie dolls to target the youngsters. The media was used to influence other people politically. In 1957, television revealed Louis St. Laurent looking depressed and tired. It made John Diefenbaker, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party look good in comparison. Diefenbaker then proved to be a great speaker which television spread that image leading his part to an election victory. The television and media has a great effect on society just because it can change the opinions of many people.

When people look back and remember the First World War, they often remember the assassination of Franz-Ferdinand, the sinking of the Lusitania, or the Zimmerman telegram. Not often do they recall the role that Canada played in the war. However, Canadians were a significant factor of the Allies’ success. Although Canada only possessed two Navy warships at the time and was known for being a peaceful country, she supplied over 60,000,000 shells to the Allies’ troops and endured over 67,000 casualties and 173,000 men wounded across multiple battles. With that said, it could also be argued that internal political conflicts in Canada afflicted their overall contribution to the war. In fact,

In Canada, an important economic transformation accelerated as Britain was wholly supplanted by the United States as Canada's main economic partner. By the middle of the decade, economic development started to soar in Europe and the Roaring

Secondly, closer ties to America helped us form a culture we know to this day. American media was playing through Canadian televisions and radios. In the late 1950s after Canadian’s pride and joy was aggravated by the “Avro Arrow”, Canadian aviation talent went to America and helped with the man landing on the moon. This influenced Hollywood to dedicate movies and T.V shows. Some of Canadian actresses and actors stared in the playing of Hollywood shows and movies, along with American actors and actresses. Canadians started watching more television which influenced Canadian buying behaviours, clothes, behaviours, food etc. American culture had slightly influenced Canadian culture through media. Also America has always been Canada’s number one trading partner. Gordon Morton McGregor, who was head of the Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd., set up the largest automotive car company in Candaians. This car company gave many Canadians jobs since they were manufactured by Canadians however the parts that came in for the automobiles were from America. American goods were being transferred to Canada so they can manufacture cars. The Americans have a culture that is recognized as being luxuries and rich. By America trading valuable goods with Canada we gained recognition as Canada being a wealthy and luxuries country. Canada and America

War on the home front was not a shaped many Canadian negatively in WWI. The Wartime Elections Act had an effect on Canadians politically. The great influenza affected Canada socially. Lastly, propaganda and victory bonds caused Canada to fall economically. Canada’s home front during WWI had a negative impact on the Canadian people politically, socially and economically.

Canada relies greatly on its natural resources such as gold, nickel, diamonds, lead, forestry and petroleum for trade. One of the first things for trading was fur, which started in 1867. Canada started having more transportation, such as pipelines

It was in the weary war years of Mackenzie King in the 1930’s when the development of Canadian foreign policy started to take shape. Before that period Canada did not have an independent foreign policy with no international presence whatsoever and Canadian people saw themselves as part of the British dynasty. The first period in the formulation of Canadian foreign policy was in fact the ‘absence’ of policy and it was World War 1 which gave birth to foreign policy. Sixty thousand Canadians were lost which left Canadians wary of international development especially when there were very few military objectives. Canada had minimal control over her own troops and negotiations with the British were a challenge. Our troops were under control of the British and negotiating with the British was challenging. Looking back, there was almost a sense of absurdity about WW1. Therefore, Canadians came out of WW1 with a stronger than ever desire for independence. The Statute of Westminster, 1931, was the last of the Imperial Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain applicable to all dominions. It granted Canada,