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Canada Confederates
British colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick unite as one, into the Dominion of Canada. Upon confederation, the old Province of Canada divided into Ontario and Quebec. This event marks the very beginnings of Canada as an independent nation. -
Post-WWI
Canadian bravery at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, The Somme, and Passchendaele, which would later be known as 'Canada's Hundred Days' became a defining moment in Canada's military history. Many also argue that this was the moment that the colonies finally came together as a nation. As a direct result of Canadian actions on the battlefield, Canada was allowed a seat at the Paris Peace Conferences -
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Balfour
At the 1926 London Conference, Britain and its dominions decided that they were equal in status, with none being subordinate to the other. All were now members of the British Commonwealth with the decision of whether they wanted to stay being up to their own governments. Britain and its former dominions were now to be known as the British Commonwealth. (Olson, 297) -
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Fall of Empire
After the Second World War, Britain's dominions slowly became more and more self-governing. The great sacrifices the Dominions made for freedom coupled with Britain's imperialist interests slowly diminishing saw Britain's influence gradually receding from its former colonies. Slowly but surely, Britain allowed the vast majority of its Dominions to self-govern, even changing the name of the 'British Commonwealth' to just 'Commonwealth. -
NATO and ANZUS
The Commonwealth, in theory, was a sound idea. However, the reality was that the Commonwealth had allowed Britain to gradually lose power and influence over its former territories. NATO saw the British and Canadians in a military alliance without its other Commonwealth members, and ANZUS saw Australia and New Zealand allied with America. It became clear now that the Commonwealth would only ever become a ceremonial alliance for those of Britain's Empire. -
Beginnings of the Modern Term
In a 1959 address to Canada on Dominion Day, which would later become known as Canada Day, Queen Elizabeth II pointed out that upon confederating in 1867, Canada had become the "first independent country within the British Empire." Furthermore, she declared that "it marks the beginning of that free association of independent states which is now known as the Commonwealth of Nations." As such, modern name for the Commonwealth was born. (Queen)
