Preview

The Roles and Achievements of Prime Ministers John a Macdonald and Laurier

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1003 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Roles and Achievements of Prime Ministers John a Macdonald and Laurier
Name
Tutor
Course
Date
The Roles and Achievements of Prime Ministers John a Macdonald and Laurier Sir John a MacDonald was the first prime minister of Canada and was the dominant representative of the Canadian confederation. He was born on the 11th January 1815 and passed on 6th June. His term in office was 18 years long which places him to the second longest serving prime minister in Canada. He is the only one to ever win six majority governments (Hennessy 12). As for Sir Wilfrid Laurier, he was the seventh prime minister, Born on 20th November 1841 and passed on on the 17th February 1919. He was the first francophone prime minister and was considered one of the countries superb statesmen. As compared to his counter part John a MacDonald, sir Wilfrid was also in the list of the longest serving prime ministers in Canada although him coming in as position four. Sir Wilfrid also contributed to the expanding of the confederation. Sir John MacDonald was born in Glasgow Scotland was the third in a family of five while Sir Wilfrid laurier was born in Saint-lin Canada East and was the 7th generation of his family. MacDonald’s parents decided that he should become a lawyer after his completion of schooling. It was a great choice for a boy who seemed to really admire studying and beside that he had an urgent to start earning cash in order to support his family since his fathers business ventures were failing. As compared to Macdonald Lauriers’ father was well up and by the age of eleven he was sent to study in new Glasgow. Macdonald had a rather sorrowful and tragedous private life. When Sir Macdonald first came into office he was faced with major opposition. Nova Scotia was already threatening to withdraw from the confederation; the Anglo-American relationships were in a poor state. In 1867 the first general elections were held and this is where MacDonald had his first major achievement. He was able to bring together Nova Scotia New Brunswick and the province of



Cited: Hennessy, Peter. Prime Ministers: The Office and its Holders since 1945. Cambridge: Cambridge Press, 2001. Leonardo, Gordon. Review of Prosperity and Misery in Modern Bengal: The Famine of 1923–1944. American Historical Review, 88.4 (1983): 218 – 230. Picknett, Lynn, Prince, Clive, Prior, Stephen, and Brydon, Robert. War of the Windsors: A Century of Unconstitutional Monarchy. Chicago: Mainstream Publishing, 2002.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Canadian politician leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, Brian Mulroney won election as leader of the PC in June of 1983. Born in March 20th, Mulroney pursued politics after being a lawyer and businessman. During the 9 years of his Prime Minister career, Mulroney brought in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), introduced a new consumer tax (GST), and also his change of the foreign policies — all which would nevertheless make him an effective Prime Minister of Canada.…

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Canada may have had a lot of great Prime Ministers considering they all offered something different and helped establish Canada, but Robert Borden was Canada’s best Prime Minister.…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To start off, Laurier was fluent in both English and French, and because of his upbringing, understood the dominant cultures of Canada; an asset he later used in uniting the French and English speaking settlements. In addition, he was extremely dedicated and hardworking, leading him to establish his own law firm which people greatly admired him for. Lastly, he possessed excellent interpersonal communication skills, which resulted in excellent speeches and a large platform of supporters. The years in which Sir Wilfred Laurier ruled, wouldn’t be called the Golden Age if he didn’t possess the merits needed for victory.…

    • 113 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    John Turner was a Canadian prime minister who was born on the 7th of June 1929, in Richmond, England to an English father and a Canadian mother, and still alive to this day at the age of 85. However, his father passed away when he was only three years old, so his mother decided to move to Canada with John. They first lived in Rossland, British Colombia. However, she worked her way up in the civil service until she got promoted, which required moving to Ottawa (CanadaHistory).…

    • 948 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Laurier was a dedicated nation maker and was also clever and skillful when coming to applying his skills into becoming a proficient prime minister. Throughout Laurier’s 15 years of being the prime minister of Canada, he has incorporated some effective grasp of significant disagreements against the transcontinental railway, education,…

    • 336 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Canada is one of the most developed nations in the world that carries an effective history that spans over the last 150 years. Many leaders have led Canada and helped people overcome their struggles. Mackenzie King, the 10th prime minister, is known for his strong leadership skills and his intelligence. These traits can be proven through his actions during the second world war and his actions as Prime Minister. Joey Smallwood is known for being a father of confederation as he signed Newfoundland and Labrador to join Canada. Both, Mackenzie King and Joey Smallwood, were incredible leaders. Firstly, they both impacted a grand amount of people in different ways, the quantity of their actions. Secondly, they both impacted people in a profound way,…

    • 1830 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Over the years, there have been many Great Canadians. Whether they have had numerous amazing accomplishments, or only one very grave one, they are defined as a huge role in the country. Many Great Canadians have changed Canada in a good way, or have done things for the citizens. Lester B. Pearson’s efforts and accomplishments as Prime Minister helped improve Canada. He helped create Canada’s reputation as peacekeepers. When he felt Canadians needed it, he brought Universal Health Care into Canada. Lester B. Pearson also decided to get American car dealerships in Canada.…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tommy Douglas

    • 510 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Tommy Douglas was one of the most influential politicians in Canadian history, whose contributions were monumental in shaping our nation. He began as a Baptist minister and then entered politics by becoming a House of Commons member, then premier of Saskatchewan, and finally leader of the NDP federal political party. He achieved many great goals in his lifetime as a politician, but his two main achievements were leading the first socialist government elected in Canada thereby establishing democratic socialism in Canadian politics as well as being the creator of Medicare, the most advanced health care system in the world.…

    • 510 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Conservative Party originated before Confederation and gave Canada its first prime minister, John A. Macdonald. At that time, it favoured high tariffs, assistance to big business, and a strong British presence in Canada. In the late 19th century, the Conservative Party devised a National Policy that protected Canadian industry, supported railway construction, and increased Western settlement. It sought an east– west economic axis to defend Canada from the southern pull of American…

    • 74 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why is it that when you research Canadian Prime Ministers on the internet, or in a library, Pierre Elliot Trudeau's name appears more than any other? Why is that everyone knows his name? In short, what makes Trudeau, Canada's most famous Prime Minister? The fact is without the influence of Pierre Elliot Trudeau, it is likely that Canada and Quebec would currently be two separate countries. Pierre Eliot Trudeau was able to unify Canada through the implementation of the Official Languages Act, the implementation of the War Measures Act during the October Crisis and his devoted efforts against separatism during the Quebec referendum.…

    • 882 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Charlottetown Conference

    • 556 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the 1860s, John A. Macdonald was instrumental in creating the Dominion of Canada and became its first prime minister. (Courtesy of the National Archives of Canada)…

    • 556 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Lester B Pearson

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages

    To begin, Lester B. Pearson helped make Canada. He made it to what it is to this day, he is the Prime Minister “who gave Canada the identity that we have today” (thegauntlet.ca). One of the things he did was give Canada its flag. Pearson went to the House of Commons and informed them that the Canadian government wanted to adopt a new national flag and change it from the Union Jack. He made it a priority that Canada gets a new flag. Pearson fought long to get Canada a new flag, it was a very “heated debate over the issue, all through tactful negotiation and bargaining” (thegauntlet.ca). If he did not become Prime Minister there would have been a good chance that we would still have the Union Jack as our flag. Secondly, he created Canada’s Pension plan. This plan to help those who have retired; he made it so that all that are retired can get the money they deserve. In addition he also made the Auto Pact or otherwise called the Canada-United States Automotive Products Agreement. This is a very important trade agreement between the two countries. This agreement removed all tariffs on cars, trucks, buses, tires and all automotive parts. The auto pact is very important to Canadians and Americans as it is meant, “to secure the foundations for Canadian…

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Stephen Lewis is a successful Canadian activist that has been effective in creating the possibility of a better world by taking an initiative to stop the injustice of women being diagnosed with AIDS. Stephen Lewis has dedicated his life helping out women in third world African countries who are diagnosed with AIDS. His goal is to consult and convince the leaders of these countries, to take more action to stop women from becoming a victim of AIDS. "My job specifically at the outset is to deal with that group of presidents- one by one and collectively- working and helping with their countries to make sure that the recommendations are implemented. " [quotesandpoems.com; Stephen Lewis] Lewis personally takes the initiative to arrange a meeting with the leaders where he states his ideas and recommendations in order to give these innocent women justice. Secondly, Stephen Lewis has been a part of organizations such as Board of Chair at Stephen Lewis Foundation, Co-founder and co-director of AIDS Free World in the US, Board member of International AIDS vaccine initiative and Commissioner on Global Commission on Global HIV and Law to name a few. Lewis runs a volunteering program with these organizations, where people are welcome to go to the their world African country so they can help the women and children. Along with them, he himself travels all around Africa to connect with the victims. "I think when you've traveled around a lot in Africa, you understand something that many people here don't recognize otherwise"[Great Quotes, Stephen Lewis] Lewis travels to many African countries since the beginning of his social work to talk and sympathize with the women in Africa. The pain and stories of the women gives him a better opportunity to come up with ideas to help stop the injustice. The shocking stories strive him to work harder on making an impact on this pandemic. Lastly. Lewis has used many forms of media which…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Alexander Mackenzie- thought the railway was a waste of time and money. He took to office right as a major economic depression hit North America. He was bound to Macdonald’s promise of a rail link to BC. BC politicians threatened to secede from Confederation if the railway wasn’t built. Mackenzie allowed the land survey to continue which gave the impression he was doing something about the railway.…

    • 795 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    In theory, the Parliament is the most important institution in the Canadian government and all members of the parliament are equal. The Prime Minister is supposed to be primus inter pares, meaning first among equals. But over the years, the cabinet has become more institutionalized and less departmentalized. Hence the Prime Minister’s power has increased over the years. Canada is the one of the most decentralized federations in the World. Power is swung away from the parliament and is more concentrated in the executive branch (Courtney, 1984: p. 241). The Prime Ministers is not too powerful in a global scale but it has substantial power within Canada. However the power of the Prime Minister can also be affected by many different factors. .…

    • 2075 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays