Which Canadian leader served as Conservative Prime Minister from 1911 to 1920 and supported women's suffrage, conscription, and a Canadian seat at the League of Nations?

Which Canadian leader served as Conservative Prime Minister from 1911 to 1920 and supported women's suffrage, conscription, and a Canadian seat at the League of Nations?

• A. William Lyon Mackenzie King
• B. Robert Borden
• C. Arthur Meighen
• D. Wilfrid Laurier

Answer: (B)

This question looks at who led Canada during World War I and pushed for moves that increased Canada’s autonomy on the world stage, including suffrage, conscription, and a separate seat at the League of Nations. Robert Borden was the Conservative prime minister from 1911 to 1920. He steered Canada through the war and faced the tough choice of conscription, ultimately passing the Military Service Act in 1917 to field enough troops for the Allied effort. This period also saw a push for broader voting rights for women as part of the wartime mobilization, with measures that extended suffrage to certain groups of women connected to servicemen and, more broadly, during the postwar period. In foreign affairs, Borden championed Canada having its own voice at the League of Nations, arguing for a distinct Canadian seat rather than a role solely through Britain, which reflected Canada’s growing status as an autonomous actor in international diplomacy. The other leaders listed either did not lead as Conservatives during this exact period or did not pursue these specific policies in the same way, so Borden is the one who matches all three aspects.

This question looks at who led Canada during World War I and pushed for moves that increased Canada’s autonomy on the world stage, including suffrage, conscription, and a separate seat at the League of Nations. Robert Borden was the Conservative prime minister from 1911 to 1920. He steered Canada through the war and faced the tough choice of conscription, ultimately passing the Military Service Act in 1917 to field enough troops for the Allied effort. This period also saw a push for broader voting rights for women as part of the wartime mobilization, with measures that extended suffrage to certain groups of women connected to servicemen and, more broadly, during the postwar period. In foreign affairs, Borden championed Canada having its own voice at the League of Nations, arguing for a distinct Canadian seat rather than a role solely through Britain, which reflected Canada’s growing status as an autonomous actor in international diplomacy. The other leaders listed either did not lead as Conservatives during this exact period or did not pursue these specific policies in the same way, so Borden is the one who matches all three aspects.