British Empire

These stamps from my album pictured here (catalogue values of $11, $13) are the second commemoratives issued by Canada.The same stamp was issued with two different background colours (and several variations) for Christmas 1898. Since they were issed for Christmas, they are relatively common despite only being used for a short time.


These are also the first stamps after confederation (in 31 years) issued without a picture of Queen Victoria. The image highlights all of the countries in the British Empire and is titled: "We hold a vaster empire than has been". 


In Socials 10, we talk about the concept of "imperialism" (definition: Empire building) and the difference between the terms imperialism, colonialism, and mercantilism. Canada was a large part of this empire that peaked around this time.

American Imperialism

L'IMPÉRIALISME AMERICAIN

Encore un pas et...

Americans rebelled against the imperialism of Britain to become their own country: a bulwark of "freedom and democracy" against the old world of empire-building. Ever since that successful revolution, they have been accused of doing the same thing to others. In this cartoon, we see Uncle Sam (a caricature of the stereotypical American) stepping on the Philippines and Cuba on his way to Canada.

This is a great introduction to topics that ought to help tie together historical concepts. It should raise questions such as:
1) What other countries do the US control?
2) Is what America did the same as what Britain did in building the British Empire?
3) Is imperialism (empire-building) a good thing or a bad thing? (think hard before you answer, and consider the consequences)
4) Why didn't the US take over Canada?
etc.etc.

Many of the cartoons that I use in class were taken from this book by Charles Hou (former Socials 10 teacher in BC):

Great Canadian political cartoons, 1820 to 1914