What Is The Importance Of Imperialism

Daniel Francis argues that in their history classrooms, and through their history textbooks, young Canadians in the early twentieth century were educated to become citizens of empire as much as to become citizens of Canada. Through a study of early twentieth-century English-language textbooks used in Canadian schools, Francis outlines the details of early twentieth-century history curriculums as being largely political, military, and constitutional. Events outlined include early twentieth-century teaching of the Conquest and events on the Plains of Abraham, the American Revolution and migration of Loyalists, the War of 1812, Rebellions of 1837-8, the Durham Report and Lord Durham himself, and Confederation. Students were explicitly educated in the ideology of imperialism through a master narrative of Canadian history that argued the superiority of British government and way of life, and the gradual evolution of Canadian society to playing an equal part in Britain’s imperial enterprise. …show more content…
Francis explores the importance of imperialism through Empire Day celebrations that highlighted Anglo-Saxon superiority and allowed Anglo-Canadians to glorify their membership in the “Master Race.” While Empire Day provided a venue for Canadians to celebrate their British heritage, so too did Official Visits of members of the Royal Family, beginning with the 1860 tour of the Prince of Wales (son of Queen Victoria and later Edward VII) to the 1939 visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, parents of the present