Dominion of Newfoundland

The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British dominion in eastern North America from 1907 to 1949, comprising the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the mainland. Newfoundland was one of the oldest English colonies in North America, claimed for England in the sixteenth century and granted representative government in 1832 and responsible government in 1854. The 1907 Imperial Conference elevated it to dominion status, and the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931 confirmed its constitutional equality with Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Its economy depended on fish, paper and minerals, and the 1st Newfoundland Regiment fought with distinction and heavy losses in the First World War. The Great Depression struck the country hard; facing default in 1932, Newfoundland gave up self-government in 1934 and was administered by an appointed Commission of Government. After the Second World War, referendums in 1948 narrowly chose confederation with Canada over the restoration of dominion status. On 31 March 1949 Newfoundland became Canada's tenth province. Its capital throughout the dominion period was St. John's.