The Canada First movement was organized in Toronto in the 1870s to promote the creation of a Canadian nationality in the new country. It was at first supported by Goldwin Smith and Edward Blake. The movement was strongly attacked by supporters of a continuing tie to the United Kingdom, although Canada First never proposed breaking ties with the UK, and Smith and Blake eventually withdrew their support, Smith becoming a proponent of annexation to the United States. Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength Image:Toronto, Ontario Location. ... // Events and Trends Technology The invention of the telephone (1876) by Alexander Graham Bell. ... Goldwin Smith (August 13, 1823-June 7, 1910), was a British historian and journalist. ... Edward Blake The Honourable Dominick Edward Blake, PC (October 13, 1833 – March 1, 1912), (known as Edward Blake ) was Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1871 to 1872 and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1880 to 1887. ...
Canada First did not have a program that was particularly attractive outside Protestant circles in Ontario. It was an exclusive secret society rather than a broad-based organization. Its vision of Canada was really that of Canada West writ larger.
The Movements chief accomplishment was to turn Ontario public against the Metis of Red River by arousing sentiment over the 'murder' of Thomas Scott. Canada's First nationalism, was in several senses, racist. Nova Scotian Robert G. Haliburton was one of the earliest exponents of the notion that Canadians were the heirs of Aryan northmen of the Old World. They looked down on Aboriginals and Metis and they saw the french as the great 'bar to progress, and to the extension of a great Anglo-Saxon Dominion across the Continent.' Though this group was more well known, it was a poor representation of the sentiment of the majority of those in Canada West.
CanadaFirst, nationalist movement founded 1868 by Ontarians George DENISON, Henry Morgan, Charles MAIR and William FOSTER and by Robert Grant Haliburton, a Nova Scotian living in Ottawa.
Inspired by the recently assassinated Thomas D'Arcy MCGEE and viewing CONFEDERATION as a political transaction among elites, CanadaFirst sought to promote a sense of national purpose and to lay the intellectual foundations for Canadian nationality.
The Canada Firsters were dedicated to Canadian independence from the US and to the British connection, but after Britain concluded the 1871 Treaty of WASHINGTON with the Americans, CanadaFirst placed greater emphasis on Canadian autonomy and self-reliance, though the aim was some form of imperial federation, not separation from Britain.
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