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At the start of the 20^th century, Canada was a young country trying to define itself at home and on the world stage.

Nicknamed the "Great Conciliator," Laurier led the country from 1896 to 1911. He rarely strayed from the middle ground in dealing with issues that ranged from the Manitoba School Crisis to the question of free trade with the United States.

Bourassa came to embody a new French nationalism, which maintained that French culture should be on equal footing with English culture throughout the country. He also believed Canada should be as independent from Britain as possible.

Canada's support of Britain imbued a sense of pride and confidence in English Canada. But in French Canada, the ties to Britain underscored Quebec�s feelings of isolation from the rest of the country.

In 1910, Henri Bourassa quit politics, founded the newspaper Le Devoir and led a fierce struggle against Laurier's naval bill, blaming him for Canada's involvement in all imperialist wars to come.

In 1911, the reign of the "Great Conciliator" ended. Laurier had been unable to mend the great divide but Canada's identity was stronger. French Canada and English Canada had starting to find their own voices � although not the united one that Laurier had sought.