Topic > History of the Statute of Westminster - 1327

The history between the British Empire and its dominions has always stood out significantly through the strong ties people had to the British homeland. However, as always in history, changes were about to happen as each domain pushed to become more and more independent. The end of this process was marked by the Statute of Westminster passed in 1931 which guaranteed the former dominions full legal freedom and established legislative equality between the now autonomous dominions of the British Empire. Therefore, the Statute of Westminster is one of the most notable acts in Canadian history as it paved the way for the development of the Canada we live in today. Towards the Statute of WestminsterObviously, the passing of the Statute of Westminster did not happen unexpectedly suddenly and without any serious reason as it was one of the most fundamental changes in the relationship between the British Empire and its dominions. It was the consequence of a substantial process of granting more and more rights to the dominions, which eventually led not only to Canada but also to Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa and the Irish Free State to their independence. After the end of the First World War a great desire arose in Canada to become more independent from Great Britain and Canadian politicians sought to take advantage of the enormous sacrifices Canada had made during the war, as nearly 60,000 Canadian soldiers died on European battlefields waiting to end the war. the war against Germany. At the time Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden said that “the dominions fought the war on the principle of national equality. That principle has been consecrated by efforts and sacrifices” and “must be maintained… in the middle of the paper… of their perspective. Until 1982, the power to amend the Canadian constitution would therefore remain with the British parliament. To draw a conclusion it is inevitable to highlight the significant change not only in Canada's self-understanding, but also in the appearance of the world. which the Statute of Westminster has caused. It was the last of the Imperial Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain applicable to all dominions and therefore marks the end of the great and superordinate British Empire which was a major force throughout many centuries of history. While the Commonwealth technically exists, the newly autonomous countries have finally managed to be more than just an extension of the homeland. Therefore, many of them have become extraordinary powers with their own identity and intentions on the world stage, like the country we live in, Canada..