Turning Point Elections

General Editors: Gerald Baier and R. Kenneth Carty

Since Confederation, Canadians have gone to the polls over forty times in general elections. Sometimes the ruling party was re-elected, other times the government changed hands, but, more often than not, the country would carry on as if little had happened. However, some elections were different. They stirred up underlying divisions, generated debates, gave rise to influential personalities, and energized and reshaped the electorate – ultimately changing the direction the country would follow. Those elections were “turning points.” The volumes in this series tell the stories of these turning point elections, focusing on the players, the issues at stake, the campaigns, and the often surprising outcomes that would fundamentally reshape Canadian politics and society.

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Times of Transformation

The 1921 Canadian General Election

UBC Press

Uniquely focused on Canada’s 1921 federal election, Times of Transformation recounts the many firsts that made this a watershed event and situates these within the global zeitgeist of post–Great War disillusionment and hope.

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Ballots and Brawls

The 1867 Canadian General Election

UBC Press

Ballots and Brawls, the first book dedicated solely to Canada’s inaugural election in 1867, is an engaging look at the main players, regional concerns, and nationalistic ideals that characterized the country’s beginnings.

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King and Chaos

The 1935 Canadian General Election

UBC Press

King and Chaos is the first close study of the issues, personalities, and significance of the 1935 federal election, a turning point that fractured the two-party system and permanently changed Canada’s political landscape.

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Revival and Change

The 1957 and 1958 Diefenbaker Elections

UBC Press

Revival and Change is a compelling account of the elections, accomplishments, challenges, failures, and ultimate end of the Diefenbaker era.

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Pivot or Pirouette?

The 1993 Canadian General Election

UBC Press

Pivot or Pirouette? The 1993 Canadian General Election tells the story of the most surprising election in Canadian history.

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