1931Reputable sourceWell documented
The Statute of Westminster
On the timeline · around 1931 ·
What happened
Passed on 11 December 1931, the Statute of Westminster recognized the self-governing dominions — Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Irish Free State, and Newfoundland — as equal in status to Britain and free to control their own domestic and foreign affairs. They were now bound to the mother country by a shared crown rather than by subordination.
Why it matters
The Statute turned the old empire of command into a Commonwealth of equals, formalizing the dominions' autonomy. It was a landmark on the road from empire to voluntary association.
Sources
- The Canadian Encyclopedia. Statute of Westminster, 1931 · Reputable source