The Sense of Power : Studies in the Ideas of Canadian Imperialism, 1867-1914, Second Edition

Prior to the publication of The Sense of Power most studies of the Canadian movement for imperial unity focused on commercial policy and military and naval cooperation. This influential book demonstrated that the movement – which held that Canada could only become a great nation within the British Empire – was significantly influenced by its leading advocates’ belief in nationalism. Carl Berger explores the emotional appeal and intellectual context of this belief, arguing that these advocates’ support of imperial unity can be grasped only in terms of their commitment to certain conservative values and in relation to their conception of Canada. The Sense of Power was commended by the Toronto Star when it was first published as “entertaining as well as brilliant,” and in 2011 Ramsay Cook noted that “few first books, or for that matter few books, have made as marked an impact on the interpretation of a major theme in Canadian history.” This second edition brings to life the work’s incisive analysis and its important contribution to Canadian intellectual history. Prior to the publication of The Sense of Power most studies of the Canadian movement for imperial unity focused on commercial policy and military and naval cooperation. This influential book demonstrated that the movement - which held that Canada could only become a great nation within the British Empire - was significantly influenced by its leading advocates' belief in nationalism. Carl Berger explores the emotional appeal and intellectual context of this belief, arguing that these advocates' support of imperial unity can be grasped only in terms of their commitment to certain conservative values and in relation to their conception of Canada. The Sense of Power was commended by the Toronto Star when it was first published as "entertaining as well as brilliant," and in 2011 Ramsay Cook noted that "few first books, or for that matter few books, have made as marked an impact on the interpretation of a major theme in Canadian history." This second edition brings to life the work's incisive analysis and its important contribution to Canadian intellectual history. Frontmatter Acknowledgments (page ix) Note on Abbreviations and Use of Titles (page x) Introduction to the Second Edition (page xi) Introduction (page 3) 1 Men (page 12) 2 Canada First (page 49) 3 The Loyalist Tradition (page 78) 4 Progress and Liberty (page 109) 5 The Canadian Character (page 128) 6 Critique of the Republic (page 153) 7 Social Criticism and Reform (page 177) 8 Democracy and Leadership (page 199) 9 Mission (page 217) 10 Militarism (page 233) 11 Conclusion (page 259) Note on Sources (page 266) Index (page 271)