Dominion of Canada

The Flag of Canada

## Miscellaneous

### Established

• 1867 (Union with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada)• 1931 (Dominion Status Attained, Current Form)

### Tag

CAN

The **Dominion of Canada** (**Dominion du Canada**) is a nation located in North America. It shares the longest land border in the world with the United States of America to its south, with the Pacific Ocean to its west, the Atlantic Ocean to its east and the Arctic Ocean to its north.

The Dominion of Canada is a founding member of the **Organization of Free Nations**.

## History

### The Interwar Years (1918 - 1939)

In 1918, Canada emerged from the First World War with a heightened sense of national unity and identity. The war had marked a period of significant transformation for Canada. Over 600,000 Canadians served overseas, and the wartime economy boosted industrialization and urbanization.

However, the end of the war also brought new challenges that would shape the course of the nation's history until the outbreak of World War II in 1939.

In the immediate post-war years, Canada faced a series of economic and social adjustments. Soldiers returned home to find jobs scarce, and the transition from a war economy to a peacetime one was rocky. Many factories that had been producing munitions and other war materials were forced to close or convert to peacetime operations, leading to high unemployment rates. Strikes, such as the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919, were a manifestation of the social unrest brought about by the economic hardships.

In the political sphere, the post-war era was marked by changes in Canada's relationship with Britain. The Statute of Westminster, passed in 1931, recognized Canada's autonomy, formalizing its status as an independent dominion. This statute granted Canada full legislative independence, meaning that British laws no longer extended to Canada, and the British Parliament could no longer pass laws for Canada.

The 1920s also marked the beginning of the "Roaring Twenties," a time of economic growth and cultural change. The discovery of oil in Alberta in 1924 led to a boom in the petroleum industry, contributing to Canada's economic expansion. Urbanization increased as more people moved to cities, and women, newly enfranchised, began to play a more active role in political life.

However, the prosperity of the 1920s came to an abrupt end with the Stock Market Crash of 1929, ushering in the Great Depression. Unemployment soared as industries collapsed, and many Canadians found themselves in extreme poverty. The federal government, led by Prime Minister R.B. Bennett, initially struggled to respond, and it was not until the introduction of Bennett's New Deal in 1935 that significant relief measures were implemented.

The Depression-era hardships, however, gave rise to important societal and political changes. The Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was founded in 1932, advocating for social reform and introducing the concept of a welfare state. However, by 1939, Europe was on the brink of igniting another global conflict. Despite the hardships endured in the interwar period, these years were instrumental in shaping Canada's national identity, economic resilience, and political autonomy.

### The Second World War (1939 - 1945)

As the world was plunged into the chaos of the Second World War, the fate of Canada would be drastically altered. In 1943, the Axis powers launched Operation Sealion, a successful campaign that resulted in the fall of Britain. The surrender of all British forces in England concluded by April 1945, marking a dark turning point in the war. The now-Queen Elizabeth II and the remnants of the British government found refuge in Canada, while King Edward VIII was reinstated under the new Axis-aligned regime in England.

Canada, once a dominion in the British Commonwealth, was thrust into an unprecedented role. With the arrival of the Queen and the British government, Ottawa transformed into the de facto capital of the free Commonwealth, and Canada's international standing grew considerably.

Internally, Canada faced numerous social and political changes. The influx of British officials and aristocrats reshaped the cultural landscape of the country. The shared experience of displacement fostered a sense of camaraderie between the British refugees and the Canadian citizens, redefining Canada's national identity.

The Canadian government started to assert more independence from the British government-in-exile, arguing that Canadian interests should not be subordinated to British interests given the changed circumstances. The Canadian government refused to recognize the legitimacy of Edward VIII's reign, maintaining its allegiance to the Queen in exile.

The war ended for the Allies not long after, no official surrender signed, and with no hope of reclaiming the mainland any time soon, an informal peace was understood by the remaining members of the Allies.