Where Once They Stood

Book excerpt: "'A masterful examination of Newfoundland-Canada relations from 18691949'-Corey Slumkowski, author of Inventing Atlantic Canada: Regionalism and the Maritime Reaction to Newfoundland's Entry into Canadian Confederation. Coming on the 70th anniversary of Newfoundland joining Confederation, as well as the 150th anniversary of its first rejection of Canada, Where Once They Stood challenges popular notions that those who voted against Confederation in 1869 and for union with Canada in 1948 were uninformed, incompetent, ignorant, and gullible. Raymond B. Blake and Melvin Baker demonstrate that, in fact, voters fully understood the issues at stake in both cases, and in 1948 women too became instrumental in determining the final outcome, voting for Canada, believing it provided the best opportunities for their children. 'Blake and Baker make a persuasive case, turn[ing] the conspiracy on its head and demonstrat[ing] how Newfoundlanders knew what they were doing and expressly acted in their own self-interest when they chose Canada. . . . It is hard to imagine any two other authors who would know more about the subject.' -David MacKenzie, author of Inside the Atlantic Triangle."--