Canada's Road to Independence

            "Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over the territory" (Wikipedia, 2014, 1). During the years between 1914 and 1939, different Canadian events represented all of the things that make a nation independent. There were mainly five out of many things that contributed to Canada being an independent nation during these years, which include The Battle of Vimy Ridge, The Chanak Affair, The King-Byng Affair, The Balfour Report and The Statute of Westminster. These events are mostly arguing how Canada was an independent nation from a political and military perspective.
             The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a battle that took place in France against the Germans. The Canadian troops were entrusted with completing the mission of taking back Vimy Ridge in April 1917. Some considered this battle the turning point of World War I. Vimy Ridge was a chance for Canada to act as an independent nation and prove themselves to be an effective independent nation without the constant help of the British or other countries. Vimy Ridge was a well defended area, it was located on a hill so the natural slope of the hill provided barely any protection for attacking troops. There were three layers of trenches, barbed wire, and tunnels. Vimy Ridge was the first time all four Canadian divisions fought at the same time. These troops were led by Canadian appointed commander Sir Arthur William Currie. Britain and France had tried taking Vimy Ridge before the Canadians and none of them had succeeded. The Canadians had won, but not without a loss of 10,000 injured and dead men. This was a big step to Canadian independence. Vimy Ridge had given Canadians a chance to feel Canadian pride and not British-Canadian pride because Canadians had experienced a battle won all by themselves without the help of the British.