1. Canada Relationship with Britain
Before the First World War (1896-1914), the relationship between Canada and Britain was "loyal autonomy": Canada, as a British dominion, managed its own internal affairs, but diplomacy and national defense were still controlled by Britain, sharing the King of England. When Laurier became Prime Minister, Canada's economy developed rapidly, there were more immigrants, and the country became more and more confident. However, British Canadians are very loyal to Britain, while French Canadians care more about Canada itself, and there are often conflicts between the two sides.
2. Indigenous people and government policies
Before the First World War (1896–1914), the Canadian government's policy towards indigenous peoples was mainly forced assimilation. The government adopted the Indian Law to encircle the indigenous people in small reservations and control their land and lives; it also forced many indigenous children to go to boarding schools, cut their hair, ban the speaking of their mother tongue, and wear Western-style clothes, in order to make them "become Canadians like white people". At the same time, the government continued to sign treaties with indigenous people, taking large areas of land for immigrants and railway use.
3. Immigration and Population Change
Before World War I , Canada experienced a large population change. The government strongly attracts immigrants to develop the west, mainly British, Americans and Central and Eastern European farmers. The number of immigrants has increased sharply, reaching up to 300,000-400,000 every year. As a result, the population of Canada grew rapidly from about 5.4 million in 1901 to about 8 million in 1914. Alberta and Saskatchewan were newly established in the west, and the population of grassland areas exploded.