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1896 Federal Election in Canada
Canadian politics had been defined by the French-English
division, and the English majority in Canada had ensured
that Sir John A. Macdonald dominated politics since 1867.
The Manitoba Schools Question threatened to deepen that
divide, and posed a serious threat to Confederation. However,
Wilfrid Laurier’s Liberals managed to assemble themselves
in an effective political party, and offered Canadians
an alternative to Conservative rule. Laurier had a moderate
approach to politics in which he addressed the concerns
of both English and French Canada without alienating a
solitary group. Laurier’s approach would prove to
be effective in Canadian politics, as the 1896 victory
marked the beginning of long period of Liberal domination
in Canadian politics.
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- Sir John A. Macdonald's Conservatives had controlled
politics since Confederation, but their mismanagement
of several controversial issues started to
damage their credibility in French Canada.
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- The two traditional parties – Liberal and Conservative – were
still divided along racial and religious lines.
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- Laurier’s French background in contrast to Tupper’s
English background would be an important
factor in this campaign.
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- The controversy over Manitoba Schools caused a deep rift
between French and English Canada, and would be the defining
issues of this campaign.
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- Laurier tried a moderate approach while the Conservatives
appealed to extreme racial and religious factions.
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- Laurier’s majority government put an end
to the Conservative dynasty.
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- Laurier’s support in Quebec ensured the
Liberal victory, and marked the beginning of
Liberal domination and the effective moderate
approach to Canadian politics.
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- Learn more about the 1896 election.
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