8th Prime Minister of Canada
June 26, 1854- June 10, 1937
 Born into a poor family on a farm in Grand Pre, Nova
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Scotia
First job as a teacher when he was 14
worked as a clerk at a Halifax law office
Called to the Bar
He quickly becomes a successful lawyer.
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becomes a partner in a prominent Halifax law
firm with Graham and Charles Hibbert Tupper
(son of Sir Charles Tupper)
Married to Laura Bond
The Tupper family draws Borden into politics.
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Dislikes politics
Finds politics unorganized unlike the courts
Conservative
Strongly against reciprocity
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1901, elected by Conservative caucus to
succeed Sir Charles Tupper as leader of the
Conservative Party.
ten years as leader of the opposition
A lot of Canada became dissatisfied with
Laurier’s policies
Borden targeted the anti-Laurier groups in the
election of 1911
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Anti Laurier groups consisted of: Business
people against reciprocity, French Canadians
against the Naval Service Act, and
Conservative provincial administrations
Used slogans: “Canadianism or
Continentalism”, “a white Canada”, and “no
truck nor trade with the Yankees.”
Won the 1911 election
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1914, War Measures Act
1916, Issue of war profiteering
1917, won election by creating a union government
1917, Military Service Act
1917, War Tax Act
1917, Wartimes Election Act
1917, Military Voters Act
Represented Canada at Paris Peace Conference
Convinced Britain to let all of its Dominions separately
sign the Treaty of Versailles
Approved use of troops to put down Winnipeg general
strike
Last Prime Minister to be knighted
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In 1920, Borden resigned due to bad health
Replaced by Arthur Meighen
Became successful businessman and chancellor
of Queens University
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Protected Canada from the influence of
American businesses
Made Canada less integrated with Britain
Gave the opportunity to women to vote
Gave incentives to the men who went to war
An effective Prime Minister even though he
was considered to be indecisive
Sir Robert Laird
Borden was a truly
great Prime Minister
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Books
Title: Canadian Prime Ministers. Warts & All- Sir Robert Borden
Author: Irene Ternier Gordon
Published: 2007, Jack Fruit Press Ltd.
Publisher: Jaqueline Brown
Editor: Greg Mazlak
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Websites
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/2/4/h4-3205-e.html , 2002-01-29, researched
on Jan. 2, 2010
"Sir Robert Laird Borden." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.
2008. Encyclopedia.com. 2 Jan. 2010 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Borden#First_World_War , “Robert
Borden”, Jan 1 2010, researched on Jan 2, 2010