Sir Wilfrid Laurier | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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1874."},{"filename":"23a32e8e-805a-4228-9cad-e6b9cf4bb2c6","title":"Sir Wilfrid Laurier","alt":"Sir Wilfrid Laurier","source":"Library and Archives Canada \/ C-015568","creator":"Library and Archives Canada \/ C-015568","caption":"Sir Wilfrid Laurier (courtesy Library and Archives Canada \/ C-015568)."},{"filename":"b986c81a-40a2-47a7-b7a1-4665377e2f5f","title":"Sir Wilfrid Laurier Campaigning","alt":"Sir Wilfrid Laurier Campaigning","source":"(courtesy Library and Archives Canada\/C-5598)","creator":"","caption":"Laurier ran successful campaigns for prime minister in 1896, 1900, 1904 and 1908."},{"filename":"91f88706-78ec-4915-9656-9b34cb02140c","title":"Sir Wilfrid Laurier","alt":"Sir Wilfrid Laurier","source":"(Courtesy Library and Archives Canada, C-001971)","creator":"","caption":"A clever and eloquent politician, a true legend in his own time, Laurier has been judged in a variety of ways."},{"filename":"91f88706-78ec-4915-9656-9b34cb02140c","title":"Wilfrid 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Sir Wilfrid Laurier was the dominant political figure of his era. He was leader of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/liberal-party/">Liberal Party</a> from 1887 to 1919 and <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prime-minister/">Prime Minister of Canada</a> from 1896 to 1911. A skilful and pragmatic politician with a charismatic personality, he unceasingly <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/laurier-the-first-canadian-feature">sought compromise</a>. Above all, he was a fervent promoter of national unity at a time of radical change and worsening cultural conflict. Laurier also promoted the development and expansion of the country. He encouraged <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/immigration">immigration</a> to Western Canada; supported the construction of transcontinental <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/railway-history/">railways</a>; and oversaw the addition of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta/">Alberta</a> and <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/">Saskatchewan</a> to <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/confederation">Confederation</a>.</p> </div> <div class="article-content-body"> <div id="article-content-def"> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/91f88706-78ec-4915-9656-9b34cb02140c.jpg" title="Sir Wilfrid Laurier" alt="Sir Wilfrid Laurier"> <figcaption>A clever and eloquent politician, a true legend in his own time, Laurier has been judged in a variety of ways.</figcaption> <figcaption class="source">Courtesy Library and Archives Canada, C-001971</figcaption> </div> <h3>Education and Early Career</h3> <p>Wilfrid Laurier studied law at <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/mcgill-university">McGill University</a>. While there, he established close ties with radical members of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/parti-rouge/">Parti Rouge</a>. This included one of his professors, Toussaint-Antoine-Rodolphe Laflamme. Laurier also became vice-president (1864–66) of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/institut-canadien">Institut canadien</a>; a literary society with Rouge links.</p> <p>After graduating from McGill in 1864, Laurier briefly practiced law in <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/montreal/">Montreal</a>. In 1866, he went to live in L’Avenir and then in <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/arthabaska/">Arthabaska</a>, <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/quebec/">Quebec</a>, where he ran the newspaper <em>Le Défricheur</em>. Like the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/liberal-party">Liberals</a> of <a href="https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-east">Canada East</a> (present-day <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec/">Quebec</a>), Laurier opposed <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/confederation">Confederation</a>. He argued that the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/federal-government">federal government</a> would have too much power and that French Canadians would be overwhelmed.</p> <p>In 1871, the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/catholicism/">Catholic Church</a> in Quebec, led by Bishop <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/ignace-bourget/">Bourget</a>, was ferociously attacking the Rouges and <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/liberalism/">liberalism</a>. In response, Laurier became the Liberal member for Drummond-Arthabaska in the Quebec legislature. Earlier, he had embraced radical <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/liberalism">liberalism</a>; but now he became more moderate. He hoped this would be more acceptable to the Catholic clergy. (<em>See also </em><a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wilfrid-laurier-parliamentary-debut-1871">Wilfrid Laurier Speech: Parliamentary Debut, 1871</a>.) </p> <p>Like many other Liberals, Laurier also decided to accept Confederation as a <em>fait accompli</em> and to work within the new system. In 1874, he resigned his provincial seat and ran for election to the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/house-of-commons/">House of Commons</a>. He held his seat in <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont">Ottawa</a> uninterrupted for some 45 years.</p> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/a265e0b6-e833-4ee3-a885-4d68778eb8db.jpg" title="Sir Wilfrid Laurier" alt="Sir Wilfrid Laurier"> <figcaption>Wilfrid Laurier, as an MP in 1874.</figcaption> <figcaption class="source">(courtesy William James Topley/Library and Archives Canada/PA-026430)</figcaption> </div> <h3>Federal Politics</h3> <p>In October 1877, months after giving a vigorous <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wilfrid-laurier-speech-on-political-liberalism-1877">speech in defence of liberalism</a>, Laurier was appointed minister of inland revenue in <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/alexander-mackenzie/">Alexander Mackenzie</a>’s <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/cabinet/">Cabinet</a>. Laurier was the most prominent Liberal from his province. He became the recognized leader of the Quebec wing of the party. However, his party’s defeats in the elections of 1878 and 1882 curbed his ambitions. He was re-elected in Québec-Est; but he took less interest in political debate.</p> <p>In 1885, Laurier’s ardour was aroused by the hanging of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/louis-riel/">Louis Riel</a>. He vigorously defended the cause of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/metis">Métis</a> leader and the need to unite the French and English in Canada. (<em>See also</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wilfrid-laurier-speech-in-defence-of-louis-riel-1874">Wilfrid Laurier Speech: In Defence of Louis Riel, 1874</a>.) In 1887, <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/edward-blake/">Edward Blake</a> was disappointed by the recent electoral defeat. He chose Laurier to succeed him as leader of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/liberal-party">Liberal Party</a>, despite the opposition of various eminent Liberals. They believed Laurier was too easygoing and too physically weak to be an effective leader. (Laurier suffered from chronic bronchitis for much of his life.) They also feared that Ontarians would associate him with Riel, and that <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/catholicism/">Catholic</a> clergy in Quebec still viewed him as a radical.</p> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/2e3d031c-76d9-49d8-80ab-47043facdef5.jpg" title="Sir Wilfrid Laurier" alt="Sir Wilfrid Laurier"> <figcaption>Wilfrid Laurier, 1882.</figcaption> <figcaption class="source">Library and Archives Canada / C-001965 | (courtesy Library and Archives Canada / C-001965)</figcaption> </div> <h3>Leader of the Liberal Party</h3> <p>From 1887 on, Laurier devoted himself to building a truly national party and to gradually regaining power. His efforts were divided into two distinct phases. In the first and less successful, 1887–91, he pursued the policy of unrestricted <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/reciprocity/">reciprocity</a> with the United States. Announced in 1888, the program was rejected in the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/election-1891-a-question-of-loyalty-feature">1891 general election</a>. Laurier was perceived as a <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/continentalism">continentalist</a> and as anti-British. He was rejected by the Canadian electorate; but for the first time since 1874, Liberals won a majority of the seats in Quebec.</p> <p>The second more fruitful phase took place between 1891 and 1896. This was the period when Laurier, more sure of himself, built a strong national Liberal Party. At the time, the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/conservative-party/">Conservatives</a> were mired in difficulties after the death of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-john-alexander-macdonald/">Sir John A. Macdonald</a>. In 1893, Laurier organized an impressive political convention in Ottawa; there, the party approved a new program and the basis for a truly national structure.</p> <p>In the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/election-1896-feature">1896 election</a>, the education rights of the <a href="https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/catholicism">Catholic</a> minority in <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/manitoba">Manitoba</a> became an important issue. In 1890, Manitoba Liberals had established a uniform school system in place of the separate school system enjoyed to that point. This prompted protest from the Catholic minority. (<em>See</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/manitoba-schools-question/">Manitoba Schools Question</a>.) Laurier avoided taking a definite stand; but French Canadians believed he would be more supportive of minority rights than the Conservatives. On 23 June 1896, Canadians chose Laurier over Conservative <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-charles-tupper/">Charles Tupper</a> to lead the country as <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prime-minister/">prime minister</a>. (<em>See also</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wilfrid-laurier-the-sunny-way-speech-1895">Wilfrid Laurier Speech: “Sunny Ways,” 1895</a>.)</p> <p> <iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DPIqlu7NwZ4" width="640" height="360" class="note-video-clip"></iframe> <br> </p> <h3>Prime Minister of Canada</h3> <p>Contrary to the expectations of many French Canadians, Laurier did not champion the minority rights of <a href="https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/catholicism">Catholics</a> in <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/manitoba">Manitoba</a>. Instead, his focus as <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prime-minister/">prime minister</a> was on the country’s development and on healing the wounds to national unity. In 1896, he signed the Laurier-Greenway agreement. It decided the fate of educational rights for Manitoba’s Catholic minority. This group would never again have the separate schools it enjoyed prior to 1890; although it would be possible to obtain religious instruction during the last half-hour of the school day and instruction in a language other than English. (<em>See also</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/history-of-education/">History of Education</a>; <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/francophone-anglophone-relations/">Francophone-Anglophone Relations</a>; <a href="https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/francophones-of-manitoba">Francophones of Manitoba</a>.)</p> <p>In the name of national harmony and the politics of the “lesser evil,” Laurier launched his policies of compromise. (<em>See </em><a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/laurier-the-first-canadian-feature">Sir Wilfried Laurier: The Politics of Compromise</a>.) This approach kept him in power for many years. But it never completely redressed the wrongs committed against the Catholic minority.</p> <p>Laurier adopted a similar approach to relations with Britain. Shortly after becoming prime minister, he began to reorganize the <a href="https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/immigration-policy">immigration system</a> with <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-clifford-sifton/">Clifford Sifton</a>. With <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/william-stevens-fielding/">William Fielding</a>, he finalized the details of a <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/customs-and-excise">tariff</a> policy based on <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/imperialism">imperial</a> preference. In 1897, Laurier went to London, England, to participate in his first <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/colonial-and-imperial-conferences">colonial conference</a>. He also received a knighthood.</p> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/e90e0bdd-a0d0-4752-8a94-52946de0b4d9.jpg" title="Sir Wilfrid Laurier 1841-1919" alt="Sir Wilfrid Laurier 1841-1919"> <figcaption>A statue of Sir Wilfrid Laurier (the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from July 11, 1896, to October 7, 1911) shot against the roof of the east wing of the parliament buildings in Ottawa.</figcaption> </div> <p>Guided by his desire for Canada’s independence, Laurier resisted every effort Britain made toward federation of the empire in political, economic, or military terms. (<em>See also</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/commonwealth" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Commonwealth</a>.) Nonetheless, in 1899, he agreed to help defray the costs of transportation and <em>matériel</em> of Canadians wishing to fight for England in the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/south-african-war/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">South African War</a>. This conciliatory stance was criticized by French Canadians who were fiercely opposed to any participation. However, Laurier and his Liberals easily won the 1900 election. They were well supported by Quebec; it gave the Liberals 57 of its 65 seats. Laurier’s personal popularity in Quebec likely played a key role in this result. </p> <p>After this victory at the polls, Laurier led his country forcefully. Within <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cabinet">cabinet</a>, he directed policy and did not hesitate to push aside dissenters; these included the powerful <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/joseph-israel-tarte/">Israël Tarte</a>, who was forced to resign in 1902. That same year, Laurier also commanded attention outside the country. At the colonial conference in London, he again opposed all proposals to unify the Empire. In 1903, shortly after the failure of the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/alaska-boundary-dispute/">Alaska Boundary</a> discussions with the US, Laurier revealed the most important policy of his second term; the construction of a second transcontinental railway.</p> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/23a32e8e-805a-4228-9cad-e6b9cf4bb2c6.jpg" title="Sir Wilfrid Laurier" alt="Sir Wilfrid Laurier"> <figcaption>Sir Wilfrid Laurier (courtesy Library and Archives Canada / C-015568).</figcaption> </div> <h3>The Transcontinental Railway</h3> <p>The <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/grand-trunk-pacific-railway">Grand Trunk Pacific Railway</a> would build the section from <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg">Winnipeg</a> westward. The <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/federal-government">federal government</a> would undertake the construction of a line (called the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/national-transcontinental-railway/">National Transcontinental</a>) from <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/moncton">Moncton</a> and <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-city">Quebec City</a> to Winnipeg. Laurier was so optimistic about the nation’s progress that he allowed the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/canadian-northern-railway/">Canadian Northern Railway</a> to build a third transcontinental line. By agreeing to multiple railways, much of it at public expense, Laurier mortgaged the future with a heavy financial burden. At the peak of his prestige, he allowed nothing to check his ambitions. Canadians re-elected him with a comfortable majority on 3 November 1904. (<em>See also</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wilfrid-laurier-canadas-century-1904">Wilfrid Laurier Speech: Canada’s Century, 1904</a>.)</p> <h3>The Creation of Alberta and Saskatchewan</h3> <p>In 1905, Laurier succeeded in adding two new provinces to the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/dominion">Dominion of Canada</a>: <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/alberta">Alberta</a> and <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/saskatchewan">Saskatchewan</a>. (<em>See also </em><a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wilfrid-laurier-let-them-become-canadians-1905">Wilfrid Laurier Speech: Let Them Become Canadians, 1905</a>.) However, the addition of these provinces also meant that a decision had to be made regarding the educational rights of the <a href="https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/catholicism">Catholic</a> minority. Once again, Laurier yielded to pressure from <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/anglophone">anglophones</a> and <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/protestantism">Protestants</a>. But in deferring to the status quo of one uniform school system, he deprived a minority group of separate schools. As a result, the last chance to establish genuine <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cultural-dualism">cultural duality</a> throughout Canada was lost.</p> <p>Offended by this retreat, <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nationalisme-francophone-au-quebec">French Canadian nationalists</a> bitterly criticized Laurier. His prestige in Quebec began to fade. This led to the progressive decline of the Laurier government. In the years that followed, Laurier mainly sought to counter accusations of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/corruption">corruption</a> and <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/patronage">patronage</a> within his administration and to rebuild his <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/cabinet/">Cabinet</a>.</p> <p>In the 1908 general election, Canadians once again entrusted him with their destiny. His party’s majority was somewhat reduced, but it was still quite strong in Quebec. After 1908, Laurier focused his attention primarily on two bills. They ultimately led to his defeat.</p> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/6d628c6c-859f-462a-86bb-e96af37cefad.jpg" title="Sir Wilfrid Laurier" alt="Sir Wilfrid Laurier"> <figcaption>Sir Wilfrid Laurier, campaigning.</figcaption> </div> <h3>Controversial Policies and Defeat at the Polls</h3> <p>In 1910, the <em><a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/naval-service-act/">Naval Service Act</a></em> established a <a href="https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/royal-canadian-navy">Canadian navy</a> of five cruisers and six destroyers. They would be ready to fight with Great Britain anywhere in the world. However, this was insufficient in the eyes of English Canadian <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/imperialism">imperialists</a>. French Canadian nationalists led by <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/henri-bourassa/">Henri Bourassa</a>, meanwhile, considered it excessive. This moderate measure would cost Laurier precious support, especially in Quebec.</p> <p>The second bill concerned <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/reciprocity">reciprocity</a> with the US; the old Liberal dream of 1891. Brought to the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/house-of-commons">Commons</a> early in 1911, it permitted the free trade of most natural products; but only a small number of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manufacturing">manufactured</a> products. Despite the attractions of the plan, it raised the ire of Canadian industrialists. As such, it provided a weakness for the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/conservative-party/">Conservative Party</a> under <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-robert-borden/">Robert Borden</a> to exploit. They accused the Liberals of disloyalty toward England and of leading the country toward political annexation. To settle the issue, Laurier called a general election. On 21 September 1911, he suffered a bitter defeat.</p> <div><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/b986c81a-40a2-47a7-b7a1-4665377e2f5f.jpg" title="Sir Wilfrid Laurier Campaigning" alt="Sir Wilfrid Laurier Campaigning"> <figcaption>Laurier ran successful campaigns for prime minister in 1896, 1900, 1904 and 1908.</figcaption> <figcaption class="source">(courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-5598)</figcaption> </div> <h3>Leader of the Opposition</h3> <p>Laurier proved to be an energetic and vigilant <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/leader-of-the-opposition/">leader of the Opposition</a>. He failed to adapt his <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/liberalism/">liberalism</a> as progressive Liberals would have wished; but he kept his troops united until at least 1916. He also relentlessly attacked the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/sir-robert-borden/">Borden</a> government’s failure to address problems such as the rising cost of living. (<em>See</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/standard-of-living">Standard of Living</a>.)</p> <p>Laurier achieved some success in rebuilding the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/liberal-party">Liberal Party</a>. Prior to 1914, he fought mainly against the emergency contribution of $35 million offered to Great Britain to help strengthen its navy. He also opposed the financial assistance given to the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-northern-railway">Canadian Northern Railway</a>. In 1916, he defended the rights of <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/franco-ontarians">Franco-Ontarians</a> to <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bilingualism">bilingual</a> instruction in schools. This increased his popularity among French Canadians. (<em>See also</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wilfrid-laurier-faith-is-better-than-doubt-and-love-is-better-than-hate-1916">Wilfrid Laurier Speech: Faith Is Better than Doubt and Love Is Better than Hate, 1916</a>.)</p> <p>Out of personal conviction, Laurier vigorously supported Canadian participation in the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/first-world-war-wwi/">First World War</a>. He ardently promoted voluntary enrolment and proposed a political truce. In 1915–16, at age 75, he held several recruiting meetings. In 1917, the country was plunged into national crisis following the imposition of military <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/conscription/">conscription</a>. Laurier again turned to compromise. To save Canada’s threatened unity, he refused to support this measure, which was so repulsive to Quebec; instead, he proposed a <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/referendum">referendum</a> and continued voluntary enlistment. This time, however, his proposal was not supported by the majority of English Canadians. The formula collapsed in general bitterness.</p> <p>Laurier was opposed by English Canadians and idolized by French Canadians; he became a symbol of division within the country. His own party disintegrated when several eminent English Canadian Liberals crossed the floor to join the <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/article/union-government/">Union Govenment</a>. Laurier refused to participate. In the general election of December 1917, he was overwhelmingly defeated by Borden’s Unionist Party. The vote was divided along distinctly cultural lines.</p> <p>After the Armistice was declared on 11 November 1918 and the First World War came to an end, Laurier began his attempts to restructure his party and to rebuild Canadian unity; but he died on 17 February 1919.</p> <p> <iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Zw5bqS2bqKk" width="640" height="360" class="note-video-clip"></iframe> <br> </p> <h3>Legacy</h3> <p>Under Laurier’s leadership, Canada successfully continued to <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/industrialization">industrialize</a> and <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/urbanization">urbanize</a>. It was strengthened by the addition of two provinces and two million inhabitants. A clever and eloquent politician, Laurier was a true legend in his time. He has been judged in a variety of ways. For some, he was the spiritual successor to <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-john-alexander-macdonald">Sir John A. Macdonald</a>, who pursued and consolidated <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/confederation">Confederation</a>. For others, Laurier, in the name of national unity and necessary compromise, too often sacrificed the interests of French-Canadian Catholics to those of the majority. Conversely, some think he too often governed the country with only Quebec’s interests in mind. Support for each of these opinions can be found in Laurier’s actions in Ottawa; but the last view is most open to argument.</p> <p><em>See also</em> <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadas-century-sir-wilfrid-lauriers-bold-prediction">Canada’s Century: Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s Bold Prediction</a>; <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wilfrid-laurier-house-national-historic-site-of-canada">Wilfrid Laurier House National Historic Site of Canada</a>; <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/sir-wilfrid-laurier">Collection: Sir Wilfrid Laurier</a>; <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/sir-wilfrid-laurier">Timeline: Sir Wilfrid Laurier</a>; <a href="https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/studyguide/sir-wilfrid-laurier-education-guide-and-worksheets">Education Guide: Sir Wilfrid Laurier</a>; <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/elections-and-prime-ministers">Timeline: Elections and Prime Ministers</a>.</p> <p> <iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/tWqnatIuu1A" width="640" height="360" class="note-video-clip"></iframe> <br> </p> </div> </div> <div id="def" class="article-content-body hide"></div> </div> <div id="article-definitions"> <definitions route="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/json/define" id="sir-wilfrid-laurier"></definitions> </div> <div class="article-widget widget-adsense"> <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:468px;height:60px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3964766461879185" data-ad-slot="1946780682"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> <div class="article-widget widget-itunes"> <div class="title-container"> <h3>Read More // Sir Wilfrid Laurier</h3> </div> <div> <script language="javascript" src="https://www.awltovhc.com/widget-5835d20de4b0311361cbd49a-7406579?target=_top&mouseover=Y" type="text/javascript"></script> </div> </div> <h3 class="article-widget-title">Interested in politics?</h3> <p> <a href="http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/elections/"><img src="https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/widgets_collections/Elections%20EN.jpg" style="opacity: 1; background-color: initial;" alt=""></a> </p> </article> </main> <div id="modal-overlay" class="overlay"></div> <div id="article-image" class="article-img-modal" role="dialog" aria-labelledby="article-modal-title"> <button class="article-img-modal__close" aria-label="close image modal"></button> <div id="js-article-modal-image" class="article-img-modal__container"> <div class="image-container"> <img class="article-img-modal__img" src="" alt=""> </div> <div class="text-container"> <span role="heading" aria-level="3" id="article-modal-title" class="article-img-modal__title"></span> <span class="article-img-modal__description"></span> <span class="article-img-modal__creator"></span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="main-grid article-related"> <ul class="article-tags-list main-grid__content"> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Quebec&tag=quebec">Quebec</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Prime%20Minister&tag=prime-minister">Prime Minister</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Francophone&tag=francophone">Francophone</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Liberal%20Party&tag=liberal-party">Liberal Party</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Saskatchewan&tag=saskatchewan">Saskatchewan</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=French%20Canadian&tag=french-canadian">French Canadian</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Alberta&tag=alberta">Alberta</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Louis%20Riel&tag=louis-riel">Louis Riel</a> </li> <li class="article-tags-list__item"> <a class="article-tags-list__item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/search?query=Wilfrid%20Laurier&tag=wilfrid-laurier">Wilfrid Laurier</a> </li> </ul> <div id="furtherreading" class="article-related-two-column main-grid__content--wide"> <h3 class="article-related-two-column__title">Further Reading</h3> <ul class="article-related-two-column__list"> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item">Kelly Mellings and Corey Lansdell, <em>The Life and Times of Sir Wilfrid Laurier</em> (2018).</li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item">Laurier L. LaPierre, <em>Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the Romance of Canada</em> (1996).</li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item">André Pratte, <em>Extraordinary Canadians: Wilfrid Laurier</em> (2011).</li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item">Arthur Milnes, <em>Canada Always: The Defining Speeches of Sir Wilfrid Laurier</em> (2016).</li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item">Roderick Stewart, <em>Wilfrid Laurier: A Pledge for Canada</em> (2002).</li> </ul> </div> <div class="article-related-two-column main-grid__content--wide"> <h3 class="article-related-two-column__title">External Links</h3> <ul class="article-related-two-column__list"> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item"><p> <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7406579-10532739?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chapters.indigo.ca%2Fen-ca%2Fbooks%2Fproduct%2F9780773729797-item.html&cjsku=978077372979"><strong>Sir Wilfred Laurier & the Romance of Canada</strong>Check out Laurier LaPierre’s biography of former prime minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier at indigo.ca.</a> </p></li> <li class="article-related-two-column__list__item"><p> <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7406579-11736488?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chapters.indigo.ca%2Fen-ca%2Fbooks%2Fproduct%2F9780670066216-item.html&cjsku=978067006621"><strong>The History Of Canada Series: The Destiny Of Canada: Macdonald Laurier And The Election Of 1891</strong>This book chronicles the events of the 1891 election, Sir John A. Macdonald''s last political campaign. From indigo.ca.</a> </p></li> </ul> </div>  <div class="callouts-layout main-grid__content--full"> <h3 id="recommended" class="callouts-layout__title">Associated Collections</h3> <div class="callouts-layout__grid"> <div class="callout-item"> <div class="callout-item__container"> <h6 class="callout-item__title"> <a class="callout-item__link" href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/sir-wilfrid-laurier" > Sir Wilfrid Laurier </a> </h6> <span class="callout-item__category">collection</span> </div> <div class="image-container"> <img src="https://d14fiu1i7ba797.cloudfront.net/340x207/media/media/6d628c6c-859f-462a-86bb-e96af37cefad.jpg" class="image-container__image" alt="Sir Wilfrid Laurier" loading="lazy" /> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="callouts-layout main-grid__content--full"> <h3 id="recommended" class="callouts-layout__title">Recommended</h3> <div class="callouts-layout__grid"> <div class="callout-item"> <div class="callout-item__container"> <h6 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Sir Wilfrid Laurier | The Canadian Encyclopedia