Canadian Nationalism: The good, the bad and the ugly

Canadian Society and the Rise of Xenophobia

What is Nationalism?

Nationalism is...
the attitude nations have when they care about their national identity. I.E. A sense of pride in the being of a certain Nationality BUT Raises questions about the concept of a nation (or a nation's identity)
What defines a nation's identity?
Race? Common Origin? Ethnicity? Cultural Ties? How do you decide a person's membership in a nation?

What does it mean to be a Canadian?

Canada in 1920

Strong ties to Great Britain and the United States

fear and mistrust of foreigners
particularly Asian, Irish and Italian Immigrants worry that they will take Canadian Jobs, as they will work for less The Government instituted a series of acts that greatly restricted who could immigrate to Canada

Immigration To Canada 1921-1945

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Nationalism can lead to Xenophobia

Xenophobia: a dislike or fear of people from other countries, or a dislike of what is perceived to be foreign or strange
Come from Greek Work Xeno meaning foreign or strange, and phobia meaning fear Largly directed at countries that are perceived as being different or of having foreign customs to those of Canadians

Canadian Immigration Laws

1921, 22% of the Canadian population is composed of Immigrants
January 1923, order issued excluding any immigrant of any Asiatic Race (meant in the broadest sense)
BUT

Doors opened for British, Americans and citizens form other "Preferred Countries" ( Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Belgium)
June 1923, Chinese Immigrant Act introduced, prohibited all Chinese Immigration except for diplomats, students, or children of citizens

Becomes known as Humiliation Day

Chinese Immigration Act

Proceeded by years of institutionalized racism
the head tax
Several provinces pressured the government to extend the restrictions, especially British Columbia

Immigration was controlled for other countries, but only the Chinese were prohibited
Not only limited to Chinese immigrants from China, applied to ethnic Chinese with other Nationalities

Xenophobia not just limited to Immigrants

Treatment of the Aboriginal Community in Canada

Government continues to make decisions Not allowed to vote Standard Government policy was still "assimilation" Residential Schools still widespread and accepted Missionaries and teachers at these school preached Christianity, while suppressing and mocking Aboriginal Beliefs Schools become sources of widespread abuse and suppression of Aboriginal culture Read Letter on pg. 77 of Text book