Comments on: Visualizing the Rise and Decline of Four Empires http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/20/visualizing-the-rise-and-fall-of-four-empires/ The Neat Side of the Web Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:40:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dude96 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/20/visualizing-the-rise-and-fall-of-four-empires/comment-page-1/#comment-1892505 Dude96 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:31:52 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=27662#comment-1892505 What?! Canada is not a part of Great Britain? When did this happen? Anyway, we don't care here in the USofA. What?! Canada is not a part of Great Britain? When did this happen? Anyway, we don’t care here in the USofA.

]]> By: Graystone2000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/20/visualizing-the-rise-and-fall-of-four-empires/comment-page-1/#comment-1892487 Graystone2000 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:02:05 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=27662#comment-1892487 Today I learned something... Thanks KJ... Today I learned something… Thanks KJ…

]]> By: K.J. http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/20/visualizing-the-rise-and-fall-of-four-empires/comment-page-1/#comment-1892398 K.J. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:37:10 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=27662#comment-1892398 I think many Canadians are taught to exaggerate the important of 1867 for patriotic reasons. But after 1867 there was still a) no such thing as "Canadian citizenship," b) no independent Canadian foreign policy (including no Canadian embassies), c) no independent Canadian military, and d) no self-alterable Canadian constitution. The British parliament also retained the ability to legislate for Canada directly, and thus override the Canadian government, if they deemed the cause necessary. Read the words of any 19th Century Canadian politician and you'll see they speak quite openly and proudly of their country's status a "colony," and are actually very down on the idea of "independence" as it implies a split from the Empire. Famous quote from Robert Borden- "The Empire first, and within the Empire, Canada first." The Statute of Westminster in 1931 saw Canada (and the other dominions of the British Empire) finally gain most of those above powers. There never really was a super-clean break with the Empire (the monarchy still remains, even) but the SoW is probably the best date to recognize what most people would consider "true independence." I think many Canadians are taught to exaggerate the important of 1867 for patriotic reasons. But after 1867 there was still a) no such thing as “Canadian citizenship,” b) no independent Canadian foreign policy (including no Canadian embassies), c) no independent Canadian military, and d) no self-alterable Canadian constitution. The British parliament also retained the ability to legislate for Canada directly, and thus override the Canadian government, if they deemed the cause necessary. Read the words of any 19th Century Canadian politician and you’ll see they speak quite openly and proudly of their country’s status a “colony,” and are actually very down on the idea of “independence” as it implies a split from the Empire. Famous quote from Robert Borden- “The Empire first, and within the Empire, Canada first.”

The Statute of Westminster in 1931 saw Canada (and the other dominions of the British Empire) finally gain most of those above powers. There never really was a super-clean break with the Empire (the monarchy still remains, even) but the SoW is probably the best date to recognize what most people would consider “true independence.”

]]> By: GeekMan http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/20/visualizing-the-rise-and-fall-of-four-empires/comment-page-1/#comment-1892337 GeekMan Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:50:07 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=27662#comment-1892337 I second Carpus. Canadian confederation occurred in 1867. However, the author seems to be lumping Canada's independence in with the Statute of Westminster (1931) which granted many colonies independence and affirmed Canada's independence. However, very few historians will see the Statute of Westminster as having anything to do with Canadian independence. Frankly, the most likely second place answer you will get is the signing of the constitution in 1981. I second Carpus. Canadian confederation occurred in 1867. However, the author seems to be lumping Canada’s independence in with the Statute of Westminster (1931) which granted many colonies independence and affirmed Canada’s independence. However, very few historians will see the Statute of Westminster as having anything to do with Canadian independence. Frankly, the most likely second place answer you will get is the signing of the constitution in 1981.

]]> By: Carpus http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/20/visualizing-the-rise-and-fall-of-four-empires/comment-page-1/#comment-1892333 Carpus Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:46:32 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=27662#comment-1892333 Cute, but I don't completely understand whey the 'splits' occur when they do. E.g. why is Canada blebbing off from Britain in the early 20th century? It's been an independent country since 1867. Cute, but I don’t completely understand whey the ‘splits’ occur when they do. E.g. why is Canada blebbing off from Britain in the early 20th century? It’s been an independent country since 1867.

]]> By: Christophe http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/20/visualizing-the-rise-and-fall-of-four-empires/comment-page-1/#comment-1892307 Christophe Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:55:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=27662#comment-1892307 France wins. Amazing! France wins. Amazing!

]]> By: pwscott http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/20/visualizing-the-rise-and-fall-of-four-empires/comment-page-1/#comment-1892285 pwscott Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:55:22 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=27662#comment-1892285 I would rather see a more readable breakdown. I was most surprised to that the Portugese had at one point became the largest of the four. :l I would rather see a more readable breakdown. I was most surprised to that the Portugese had at one point became the largest of the four. :l

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