Revival and Change

The 1957 and 1958 Diefenbaker Elections

By John C. Courtney
Categories: History, Canadian History, Political Science, Canadian Political Science, Government & Elections
Series: Turning Point Elections
Publisher: UBC Press
Paperback : 9780774866644, 296 pages, November 2022
Ebook (PDF) : 9780774866699, 296 pages, November 2022
Ebook (EPUB) : 9780774866743, 296 pages, November 2022

Table of contents

Foreword: Turning Point Elections ... and the Case of the 1957 and 1958 Elections / Gerald Baier and R. Kenneth Carty

Preface

1 On the Cusp of Change

2 The Parties Heading into the 1957 Election

3 The Players in 1957

4 The Issues in 1957

5 The 1957 Campaign

6 A New Parliament, a New Leader, and Another Election

7 Challenges, Failures, Defeat, and Regrouping

8 Legacies

9 Turning Point for the Parties and the Party System

Appendix 1: List of Key Players

Appendix 2: Timeline of Events

Appendix 3: Data Tables

Notes; Suggestions for Further Reading; Index

Description

Revival and Change is a compelling account of the elections, accomplishments, challenges, failures, and ultimate end of the Diefenbaker era. The Liberals were widely expected to win a majority in 1957, continuing their two decades in office. But new Conservative leader John Diefenbaker completely overshadowed his opponents. In his appearances on television and at rallies, he captured the mood of the country and, ultimately, the election. A second election the following year brought him a landslide victory, and the Liberals were reduced to their smallest number of seats since Confederation. This is the story of those elections, the issues that defined the government, and the era’s legacy in politics and society.