Robert Borden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Borden
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Borden in 1918
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| 8th Prime Minister of Canada | |
| In office October 10, 1911 – July 10, 1920 |
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| Monarch | George V |
| Governor General |
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| Preceded by | Wilfrid Laurier |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Meighen |
| Leader of the Conservative Party | |
| In office February 6, 1901 – July 10, 1920 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Tupper |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Meighen |
| Member of the House of Commons of Canada | |
| In office February 4, 1905 – July 1920 |
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| In office June 23, 1896 – November 3, 1904 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Laird Borden
June 26, 1854 Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Died | June 10, 1937 (aged 82) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Resting place | Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario |
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| Signature |  |
Sir Robert Laird Borden (June 26, 1854 – June 10, 1937) was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He was the eighth prime minister of Canada, serving from 1911 to 1920. He is most famous for leading Canada during World War I.
Borden was born in Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia. He worked as a schoolteacher before becoming a lawyer. He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1896 as a Conservative. In 1901, he became the leader of the Conservative Party. He lost two elections to Liberal Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier. However, in the 1911 Canadian federal election, Borden won. He argued that a trade deal with the United States would harm Canadian identity and ties with Britain.
During his time as Prime Minister, World War I started. Borden created the Canadian Expeditionary Force to send soldiers overseas. He also passed the War Measures Act, which gave the government special powers during the war. To pay for the war, his government introduced victory bonds and new taxes, including the income tax. In 1917, Borden introduced conscription, which meant men had to join the army. This made many French Canadians angry and caused the Conscription Crisis of 1917. Despite this, his Unionist Party won the 1917 Canadian federal election.
After the war, Borden worked to make Canada more independent at the Paris Peace Conference. His government also dealt with the Halifax Explosion, allowed women to vote in federal elections, and created the Canadian National Railway. He also used the North-West Mounted Police to end the Winnipeg general strike in 1919. Borden retired from politics in 1920.
Contents
- Early Life and Education (1854–1874)
- Becoming a Lawyer (1874–1896)
- Early Political Career (1896–1901)
- Leader of the Opposition (1901–1911)
- Prime Minister (1911–1920)
- After Politics (1920–1937)
- Legacy
- Honours
- Supreme Court Appointments
- See also
Early Life and Education (1854–1874)
Robert Borden was the last Canadian prime minister born before Confederation. He was born and grew up in Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia. This was a farming community in the Annapolis Valley. His family had moved from England to New England in the 1600s. Later, some of his ancestors moved to Nova Scotia in the 1700s.
Borden's father, Andrew Borden, was described as a thoughtful person. His mother, Eunice Jane Laird, was very strong and ambitious. She passed her drive on to Robert. He worked hard at his studies, even though he disliked farm work.
At age nine, Borden went to Acacia Villa School. This private school aimed to prepare boys for life. There, Borden became interested in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew languages. By age 14, he was an assistant teacher for classical studies. In 1873, Borden taught at Glenwood Institute in New Jersey. But he didn't see a future in teaching, so he returned to Nova Scotia in 1874.
Becoming a Lawyer (1874–1896)
Even without a university degree, Borden began training to become a lawyer. He worked for four years at a law firm in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1878, he passed his law exams with the highest score. He became a lawyer in Nova Scotia.
In 1882, Borden moved to Halifax and joined a Conservative law firm. He had been a Liberal before this. But in 1886, he left the Liberal Party. He disagreed with Nova Scotia's Premier, William Stevens Fielding, who wanted Nova Scotia to leave Confederation. By 1889, Borden became the main partner at his law firm. He was only 35 years old.
On September 25, 1889, Borden married Laura Bond. She was the daughter of a Halifax merchant. They did not have any children. Laura Borden later became president of the Local Council of Women of Halifax.
Borden's law firm became very successful. It represented many important businesses in Halifax. He also served on the boards of companies like the Bank of Nova Scotia. In 1896, Borden became president of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society. He also helped start the Canadian Bar Association.
In April 1896, Charles Tupper, who was about to become prime minister, asked Borden to run for Parliament. Borden agreed.
Early Political Career (1896–1901)
Borden was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the 1896 Canadian federal election. He ran as a Conservative. However, the Conservative Party lost the election to the Liberals, led by Wilfrid Laurier.
Even as an MP in Ottawa, Borden continued to practice law in Halifax. He became an important figure within the Conservative Party.
Leader of the Opposition (1901–1911)
After losing the 1900 election, Charles Tupper resigned as party leader. He and his son asked Borden to take over. Borden was hesitant at first. He felt he lacked the experience. But he later changed his mind. On February 6, 1901, Conservative MPs chose him as their leader.
Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier suggested building new railways. Borden believed the railways should be owned and run by the government. He said people should choose between "a government-owned railway or a railway-owned government." This idea did not win over voters in the 1904 Canadian federal election. The Liberals won more seats, and the Conservatives lost some. Borden himself lost his seat in Halifax. But he returned to the House of Commons of Canada the next year after winning a special election.
In 1907, Borden announced the Halifax Platform. This was the Conservative Party's new plan. It called for changes to the Senate of Canada and government services. It also suggested stricter immigration rules, free mail delivery in rural areas, and government control of telegraphs, telephones, and railways. In the 1908 Canadian federal election, Laurier's Liberals won again. But their support dropped a bit, and the Conservatives gained 10 seats.
In 1910 and 1911, Laurier proposed a free trade agreement with the United States. Borden strongly opposed it. He argued it would weaken Canada's ties with Britain. He also feared it would make Canada too much like the U.S. and even lead to the U.S. taking over Canada. In the 1911 Canadian federal election, the Conservatives campaigned on protecting Canadian identity. They used the slogan "Canadianism or Continentalism." The Conservatives won a strong majority, ending over 15 years of Liberal rule.
Prime Minister (1911–1920)
Pre-War Canada
To help farmers, Borden's government passed the Canada Grain Act of 1912. This law created a board to oversee grain inspection. It also allowed the government to build or buy grain storage buildings.
In 1912, the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec grew larger. The Manitoba Boundaries Extension Act, the Ontario Boundaries Extension Act, and the Quebec Boundaries Extension Act expanded them into the Northwest Territories.
Borden's government tried to pass a naval bill in 1912 and 1913. It would have sent $35 million to build three large warships for the British Navy. But the Liberal-controlled Senate of Canada blocked the bill in May 1913.
On June 22, 1914, Borden was made a knight by King George V. He received the Order of St Michael and St George.
First World War
In late July 1914, Borden was on vacation when World War I broke out in Europe. He quickly returned to Ottawa. When Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914, Canada automatically joined the war.
Major Changes During Wartime
On August 22, 1914, Parliament passed the War Measures Act. This law gave the government special emergency powers. It allowed them to:
- Control and stop communications.
- Arrest, hold, and deport people without charges.
- Control transportation, trade, and manufacturing.
- Take private property during war.
This act also allowed Borden's Cabinet to make laws without a vote in Parliament.
Borden's government also created the Canadian Patriotic Fund. This fund helped soldiers' families with money and support. The government also raised taxes on some goods to help the economy.
In 1916, Borden's government created the National Research Council Canada. This group focused on scientific and industrial research. In 1918, the government created the Dominion Bureau of Statistics (now Statistics Canada). This was to collect information on Canada's population and economy.
Borden's government also set up the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). This was Canada's main fighting force in the war. At first, Borden promised there would be no conscription (forced military service). Soldiers joined voluntarily. By January 1916, the number of CEF soldiers grew to 500,000. But by mid-1916, fewer people were volunteering.
War Economy
At the start of the war, Borden's finance minister did not want to tax Canadians directly. He thought Britain would pay for Canada's war costs. But Britain soon could not lend money to Canada. So, Canada had to find other ways to pay.
In 1915, Canada got a $50 million loan from New York City. Canada also sold more Victory Bonds. These bonds raised about $2 billion for the war effort. American investment in Canada grew a lot during the war.
Borden's government started introducing new taxes. In 1915, they added taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and transport tickets. In 1916, they introduced the Business Profits War Tax. This was to tax businesses that made too much money from the war. In 1917, the government introduced the income tax. They said it was temporary, but it has been in place ever since.
Conscription and the 1917 Election
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In 1917, Borden visited Europe. He saw many wounded soldiers. He became convinced that the war had to end, and that Canada needed more soldiers. With fewer volunteers, Borden decided to introduce conscription. His government passed the Military Service Act on August 29, 1917.
This decision caused the Conscription Crisis of 1917. Most English Canadians supported conscription. But most French Canadians opposed it, leading to protests in Quebec. Borden tried to form a government with both Conservatives and Liberals. But Liberal leader Laurier refused because he was against conscription.
In October, Borden formed the Unionist Party. This was a group of Conservatives and Liberals who supported conscription. Laurier led the "Laurier Liberals", who were against it.
The 1917 Canadian federal election was held on December 17. Before the election, Borden's government passed two laws:
- The Military Voters Act allowed all Canadian soldiers to vote, even if they were underage.
- The Wartime Elections Act allowed female relatives of soldiers to vote. But it took away voting rights from German and Austrian immigrants.
The Unionist Party won a huge victory. They won the most votes in Canadian history at the time. The election showed how divided the country was. English Canadians mostly voted Unionist, while French Canadians mostly voted Liberal.
Conscription began in January 1918. To stop anti-conscription riots in Quebec City, Borden's government used the War Measures Act. They sent over 6,000 troops. There was fighting, and four civilians died.
Ukrainian Canadian Internment
Between 1914 and 1920, over 8,500 Ukrainian Canadians were held in camps. This was done under the War Measures Act. Many of them had come from countries that were enemies during the war. These people were forced to do hard labor, like building roads in national parks. Their money and property were taken and never given back.
Another 80,000 Ukrainian Canadians were not imprisoned. But they were called "enemy aliens." They had to report to the police regularly. Their freedom of speech and movement was limited.
Borden and the Treaty of Versailles
After World War I ended on November 11, 1918, Borden wanted Canada to be represented at the peace talks. He believed Canada had earned its place as a nation.
Borden attended the 1919 Paris Peace Conference. He insisted that Canada have its own seat at the conference. At first, Britain and the United States disagreed. But Borden argued that Canada had lost a larger part of its population in the war than the U.S. So, Canada deserved to be there.
Finally, the leaders agreed. Canada, along with other Dominions like Australia and New Zealand, got its own delegation. This meant Canada could sign the Treaty of Versailles on its own. It also meant Canada could become a separate member of the League of Nations. Borden left Paris on May 11, 1919. His ministers signed the Treaty of Versailles for him.
Domestic Policies and Post-War Canada
Halifax Explosion
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Eleven days before the 1917 election, the Halifax Explosion happened. This was the biggest disaster in Canadian history. It killed nearly 1,800 people in Borden's hometown. Borden promised that the government would help rebuild Halifax. He helped create the Halifax Relief Commission. This group spent $30 million on medical care, repairs, and pensions for survivors.
Women's Right to Vote
On May 24, 1918, women aged 21 and over gained the right to vote in federal elections. In 1920, Borden's government passed the Dominion Elections Act. This law allowed women to run for Parliament of Canada. However, these laws still made it hard for Asian Canadian and Indigenous Canadian women and men to vote.
Nationalizing Railways
On June 6, 1919, Borden's government created the Canadian National Railways (CN). This was a government-owned company. It brought together several struggling railways. These railways had financial problems because they couldn't borrow money during World War I.
1919 Winnipeg General Strike
After the war, many working-class people faced economic hardship. In May 1919, workers in Winnipeg, Manitoba, went on strike. They wanted better wages and working conditions. Nearly 30,000 workers stopped working.
Borden's government worried the strike would spread. His ministers met with anti-strike groups but refused to meet with the strike leaders. The government threatened to fire federal workers if they didn't return to work. They also changed the Immigration Act to allow the deportation of British-born immigrants.
On June 17, the government arrested 10 strike leaders. On June 21, Borden's government sent the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) to the strike. The police charged at protestors, using clubs and firing bullets. Two people were killed. This event became known as "Bloody Saturday." The strike ended within days.
Retirement
Borden's doctors told him to leave politics. On December 16, 1919, he told his cabinet he would resign. He took a vacation and returned to Ottawa in May 1920. Borden officially announced his retirement on July 1, 1920. He chose Arthur Meighen to be his successor. Meighen became prime minister on July 10, 1920. Borden left politics completely that same month.
After Politics (1920–1937)
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After retiring, Borden attended the 1921–1922 Washington Naval Conference. He was also the Chancellor of Queen's University from 1924 to 1930. He served as president of the Canadian Historical Association in 1930–31. In 1928, Borden became president of Barclays Bank of Canada and the Crown Life Insurance Company. He also became chairman of Canada's first mutual fund in 1932.
Robert Borden died on June 10, 1937, in Ottawa. He is buried in the Beechwood Cemetery. At his funeral, a thousand World War I veterans lined the streets.
Legacy
Borden's government introduced conscription and new taxes. He also used government power to end the Winnipeg general strike. These actions show his belief in a strong government. He is remembered as a Red Tory.
In a survey of Canadian historians, Borden was ranked as the 7th best prime minister.
Honours
- Borden was the last Canadian Prime Minister to be made a knight (in 1914). After him, no other prime ministers were knighted while in office.
- Two high schools are named after him: Sir Robert Borden High School in Ottawa and another in Toronto.
- Sir Robert Borden Junior High School in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, is also named after him.
- The town of Borden, Western Australia, is named after him.
- Borden has been on the one-hundred-dollar bill since 1975.
Supreme Court Appointments
Borden chose the following judges for the Supreme Court of Canada:
- Louis Henry Davies (as Chief Justice, 1918)
- Pierre-Basile Mignault (1918)
See also
- List of prime ministers of Canada
- Conscription Crisis of 1917
- Borden Island, named after Borden
