nterest in establishing reciprocal trade with the United States. Laurier's interest in establishing Canada's own navy as an ancillary to Great Britain caused rancor from both English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians. Henri Bourassa, a leader of the French-Canadian Nationalists, attacked Laurier's Naval Service Act of 1910. Bourassa attacked Laurier as "un vendu", as one who had sold out to the imperialists and betrayed his fellow Canadians. In attempting to forge a free trade agreement with the United States, Laurier experienced a major backlash from both Conservative and Liberal parties. Critics of the proposed trade agreement numbered among their fears, the possible annexation of Canada. In order to understand the political causes and repercussions of these issues more historical background must first be offered.
Wilfred Laurier was born in St. Lin, Quebec in the county of L'Assomption in 1841 (Wallace 395). Born near the foothills of the Laurentians, Laurier arrived as the first son of Carolus Laurier. In Laurier Joseph Schull observes "he had been born in the year that the two provinces of Canada were reunited, following rebellion, sealing a second conquest" (Schull 9). This awareness of the importance of keeping the country united, the dangers underlying its potential division, would guide his own political career. As an eighth generation French-Canadian born into a Quebecois farming community, Laurier was immersed within the customs and needs of Canada's often marginalized French community. Although the French dominated Quebec's population, a highly disproportionate amount of wealth and power was actually in the hands of their Anglo counterparts. A large degree of Laurier's success was due to the fact that he could serve as a bridge between Quebec's two distinctive and frequently divisive cultures.
Laurier's early career did not forecast the spectacular rise to power which would follow. ...