DCB/DBC Mobile beta
+

As part of the funding agreement between the Dictionary of Canadian Biography and the Canadian Museum of History, we invite readers to take part in a short survey.

I’ll take the survey now.

Remind me later.

Don’t show me this message again.

I have already taken the questionnaire

DCB/DBC News

New Biographies

Minor Corrections

Biography of the Day

LÉPINE, AMBROISE-DYDIME – Volume XV (1921-1930)

b. 18 March 1840 in St Boniface (Man.)

Confederation

Responsible Government

Sir John A. Macdonald

From the Red River Settlement to Manitoba (1812–70)

Sir Wilfrid Laurier

Sir George-Étienne Cartier

Sports

The Fenians

Women in the DCB/DBC

The Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences of 1864

Introductory Essays of the DCB/DBC

The Acadians

For Educators

The War of 1812 

Canada’s Wartime Prime Ministers

The First World War

The Election Campaign of 1896 and The Manitoba School Crisis
Original title:  Begbie Contest Society - 1st 20 years

Source: Link

 

In the general election of June 1896, Wilfrid LAURIER and the Liberals were confronted with what had been a recurring challenge in Canadian politics since 1890: the Manitoba school crisis. The right of access to separate schools for the local Catholic minority, which had been flouted, became the most important stake in this historic election. This situation alarmed, among others, many members of the francophone electorate in Quebec, whose votes were vital to Laurier’s ascent to power. Favourable to a negotiated settlement around which the Anglo-Protestant majority could rally, the Liberal leader was strongly criticized, especially by Louis-François LAFLÈCHE, bishop of the diocese of Trois-Rivières:

“[In a sermon, Laflèche] unequivocally condemned Wilfrid Laurier* as ‘a rationalist Liberal’ promoting ‘a doctrine completely contrary to Catholic doctrine’ and asked people not to support the party leader.”


For more detailed information on the federal election of 1896, we invite you to explore the following lists of biographies.

 

The 1896 Election Campaign
◀◀  6 7 8 10 11 12  ▶▶