CDN267H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Civic Nationalism, Ethnic Nationalism, English Canada
Document Summary
English canadians underwent their own quiet revolution in the second half of the 20th century. Moved from imagining canada as british domain to a country with its own distinctive identity. Shift from ethnic nationalist to civic nationalist vision. Like in quebec, the state largely drove this shift. Government actions, reforms, and policies helped construct new conceptions of the nation: stress on education. Not completely worked out by 1990s (or today), but successful enough to resonate with many canadians: english canada and britain up to 1945. English-speaking canadians largely identified the nation with great britain up to wwii. Imperial connection formed core of national identity during this period. British traditions and values were highly revered. Most subjects in the curriculum, particularly, reinforced british connection. Story of canada progressing from colony to nation under britain"s care. Emphasis that self-governance was not independence: canada"s destiny remained tied to britain. National independence was cast as an unwanted aspiration.
