Dominion over Palm and Pine: A History of Canadian Aspirations in the British Caribbean (Rethinking Canada in the World)

A provocative history of the enduring quest for a Canadian Caribbean. From the expansionist fervour of the late nineteenth century through the Cold War, dreamers campaigned for Canada’s union with the British Caribbean. __Dominion over Palm and Pine__ traces the transnational ebb and flow of these campaigns, situating them in the global history of colonialism and white supremacy, Black activism, and decolonization. "From the expansionist fervour of the late nineteenth century through both world wars and the Cold War, a varied and ever-changing group of dreamers campaigned for Canada’s union with the British Caribbean colonies. They hoped to diversify Canada’s climate and agricultural capabilities, spur economic development, boost the nation’s autonomy and stature in the Empire-Commonwealth and the world, temper American power, and secure a tourist paradise. Dominion over Palm and Pine traces the transnational ebb and flow of these union campaigns, situating them in the global history of colonialism and white supremacy, Black activism, and decolonization. Paula Hastings centres the British Caribbean in historical narratives that rarely take account of the region, challenging us to rethink the history of Canadian expansionism and its entangled relationship with nation building, the struggle for sovereignty at home and abroad, and Canada’s evolving role and reputation on the world stage. Widely conceived, the brokers of Canada’s international histories included a multiplicity of actors who shaped the evolving contours and outcomes of the debate: Canadian legislators, civil servants, businessmen, and social justice activists; Caribbean migrants, intellectuals, and anti-colonial nationalists; and British colonial officials, absentee planters, and politicians. Canada’s lack of an overseas empire is often vaunted as a national characteristic that sets Canada apart from the United States and the old European powers. In excavating the dogged resilience of Canadian designs on the Caribbean, Dominion over Palm and Pine unsettles notions of Canadian goodness that rest on this self-righteous observation."-- Provided by publisher.

From the expansionist fervour of the late nineteenth centurythrough both world wars and the Cold War, a varied andever-changing group of dreamers campaigned for Canada's union withthe British Caribbean colonies. They hoped to diversify Canada'sclimate and agricultural capabilities, spur economic development,boost the nation's autonomy and stature in the Empire-Commonwealthand the world, temper American power, and secure a touristparadise. Dominion over Palm and Pine traces thetransnational ebb and flow of these union campaigns, situating themin the global history of colonialism and white supremacy, Blackactivism, and decolonization. Paula Hastings centres the BritishCaribbean in historical narratives that rarely take account of theregion, challenging us to rethink the history of Canadianexpansionism and its entangled relationship with nation building,the struggle for sovereignty at home and abroad, and Canada'sevolving role and reputation on the world stage. Widely conceived,the brokers of Canada's international histories included amultiplicity of actors who shaped the evolving contours andoutcomes of the debate: Canadian legislators, civil servants,businessmen, and social justice activists; Caribbean migrants,intellectuals, and anti-colonial nationalists; and British colonialofficials, absentee planters, and politicians. Canada's lack of anoverseas empire is often vaunted as a national characteristic thatsets Canada apart from the United States and the old Europeanpowers. In excavating the dogged resilience of Canadian designs onthe Caribbean, Dominion over Palm and Pine unsettlesnotions of Canadian goodness that rest on this self-righteousobservation.

Cover 1 DOMINION OVER PALM AND PINE 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 CONTENTS 8 Figures 10 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction: Imagining a Dominion over Palm and Pine 18 1 “Possessing a Great South as Well as a Great West,” 1869–1885 31 2 Visions of Centurial Grandeur, 1898–1914 68 3 Sovereignty and the Spoils of War 107 4 A “New American Empire Headed by Canada”: Interwar Overtures 144 5 A Shifting Global Order: Anxieties and Opportunities, 1945–1966 178 6 Decolonization and Denial: The Persistence of the Union Dream, 1967–1974 210 Conclusion: A Dream Unfulfilled 246 Notes 254 Bibliography 318 Index 348