Canada Canada Goes to Goes to

WarWar

Canada’s Response To WWICanada’s Response To WWI In 1914 Canada In 1914 Canada

was still a was still a dominion of dominion of Great BritainGreat Britain

Great Britain still controlled It’s Dominions foreign Great Britain still controlled It’s Dominions foreign policypolicy

This meant that when Britain went to war Canada, This meant that when Britain went to war Canada, along with the rest of the British Empire, also went to along with the rest of the British Empire, also went to war.war.

SupportSupport Canada Canada automaticallyautomatically

entered the war as part entered the war as part of the British Empireof the British Empire

Support for going to Support for going to war in Europe was war in Europe was widespreadwidespread

Canada offered Britain a force of 25 000 men trained, Canada offered Britain a force of 25 000 men trained, equipped, and paid for by the Canadian governmentequipped, and paid for by the Canadian government

While Canada only had 3 000 regular army soldiers, it While Canada only had 3 000 regular army soldiers, it had over 60 000 militia (citizen soldiers trained for had over 60 000 militia (citizen soldiers trained for emergencies)emergencies)

Support Cont.Support Cont. In 1914, Newfoundland In 1914, Newfoundland

was not a part of was not a part of Canada, so while some Canada, so while some Newfoundlanders joined Newfoundlanders joined Canadian regiments, Canadian regiments, most became members most became members of the of the Newfoundland Newfoundland RegimentRegiment

To supplement Canadian forces, the government To supplement Canadian forces, the government sent out a call for volunteers to join for $1 a day – sent out a call for volunteers to join for $1 a day – over 10 000 Canadians volunteeredover 10 000 Canadians volunteered

The People’s ResponseThe People’s Response Responses to Canada’s involvement in the war Responses to Canada’s involvement in the war

varied.varied.

Those Canadian’s of British decent were Those Canadian’s of British decent were enthusiastic, while the Francophone (native enthusiastic, while the Francophone (native French speaking) and population and the Maritime French speaking) and population and the Maritime provinces were far less interested in Canadian provinces were far less interested in Canadian involvement in a war overseas. involvement in a war overseas.

Why would theWhy would the Canadiens Canadiens and the Maritime and the Maritime provinces be less interested in going to war in provinces be less interested in going to war in Europe than those Canadian’s of British Europe than those Canadian’s of British heritage?heritage?

Why Did They Join?Why Did They Join? Sense of Sense of patriotismpatriotism – –

Canadians felt proud to fight for Canadians felt proud to fight for their country, and many English their country, and many English Canadian felt strong Canadian felt strong sentimental ties to Britain sentimental ties to Britain (remember that recent (remember that recent immigrants from Britain were immigrants from Britain were the first to volunteer)the first to volunteer)

Feelings of excitement and Feelings of excitement and adventureadventure – many young men – many young men viewed war as a “great viewed war as a “great adventure,” a chance to see adventure,” a chance to see the world, and the opportunity the world, and the opportunity to be a heroto be a hero

War Was An Exciting Opportunity!War Was An Exciting Opportunity! The Toronto ‘The Toronto ‘Mail and EmpireMail and Empire,’ Aug 5 1914.,’ Aug 5 1914.

Cheer after cheer from the crowds of people who waited long and anxiously for Cheer after cheer from the crowds of people who waited long and anxiously for the announcement of Great Britain’s position in the present conflict in Europe the announcement of Great Britain’s position in the present conflict in Europe greeted the news that the Mother Country had declared war against Germany. greeted the news that the Mother Country had declared war against Germany. Groups of men sang “Rule Britannia,” others joined in singing “God Save the Groups of men sang “Rule Britannia,” others joined in singing “God Save the King”; some showed their sense of seriousness of the situation by singing King”; some showed their sense of seriousness of the situation by singing “Onward Christian Soldiers”…“Onward Christian Soldiers”…

Originally PM Robert Border offered Britain 25,000 Originally PM Robert Border offered Britain 25,000 troops, but 30,000 signed up in the first month.troops, but 30,000 signed up in the first month.

Largely people thought the war would be over by Largely people thought the war would be over by Christmas.Christmas.

War For Everyone?War For Everyone? Women were considered Women were considered

too frail and emotional to too frail and emotional to join in battle.join in battle.

Women were supposed Women were supposed to support their male to support their male counterparts in going counterparts in going overseas.overseas.

Hundreds of Hundreds of womenwomen joined as nurses and joined as nurses and ambulance drivers to ambulance drivers to serve overseasserve overseas

Originally no Aboriginal Originally no Aboriginal males were allowed to males were allowed to enlist. Later this was enlist. Later this was retracted. African and retracted. African and Japanese Canadians Japanese Canadians were also carefully were also carefully scrutinized.scrutinized.

Training the TroopsTraining the Troops

Sir Sam HughesSir Sam Hughes was Canada’s was Canada’s Minister of Militia Minister of Militia and Defenceand Defence at the beginning of the war at the beginning of the war

Hughes set up a training camp at Hughes set up a training camp at ValcartierValcartier, , QuebecQuebec

Troops were issued the Canadian-made Troops were issued the Canadian-made Ross Ross RifleRifle, which was good for sharp shooting, but poor , which was good for sharp shooting, but poor in trench warfare (they jammed with mud)in trench warfare (they jammed with mud)

Volunteers or Amateurs?Volunteers or Amateurs?

The majority of Canada’s volunteer military The majority of Canada’s volunteer military had no real training.had no real training. They were rushed through general training.They were rushed through general training.

Soldiers who served Canada became Soldiers who served Canada became patriotic and developed a patriotic and developed a national identitynational identity.. We had always been BritishWe had always been British The war carved out a new ‘Canadian’ image.The war carved out a new ‘Canadian’ image.

War ProfiteersWar Profiteers

War is often said to help War is often said to help economies.economies.

War ProfiteersWar Profiteers are those who are those who make a large profit making make a large profit making goods for war (shells, outfits, goods for war (shells, outfits, artillery, guns, etc.)artillery, guns, etc.)

Canadians had to use poorly Canadians had to use poorly designed Ross Rifles and boots designed Ross Rifles and boots that fell apart in the rain.that fell apart in the rain.Joseph Flavelle was

accused of profiteering

The War Measures Act (1914)The War Measures Act (1914) The War Measures Act gives the The War Measures Act gives the

government the authority to do everything government the authority to do everything necessary for the “security defense, peace, necessary for the “security defense, peace, order and welfare of Canada”order and welfare of Canada”

Under this act Cabinet does not have to Under this act Cabinet does not have to submit its proposals to parliament for submit its proposals to parliament for approval. The Cabinet can act without the approval. The Cabinet can act without the legislature.legislature.

This allows the government to intervene This allows the government to intervene directly in the economy of the country for the directly in the economy of the country for the first time.first time.

War Measures Act Cont’War Measures Act Cont’ This gave the This gave the

government the right to government the right to strip ordinary citizens strip ordinary citizens of their of their civil rightscivil rights. Mail . Mail could be censored and could be censored and Habeas corpusHabeas corpus was was suspendedsuspended..

The government also The government also used the War Measures used the War Measures Act to Act to limit the freedom limit the freedom of “of “enemy aliensenemy aliens”” - - recent immigrants and recent immigrants and even citizens of Canada even citizens of Canada originally from the originally from the countries we were now at countries we were now at war with (i.e. Germany, war with (i.e. Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Austria-Hungary, the Ukraine, etc.)Ukraine, etc.)

Many enemy aliens were Many enemy aliens were sent to sent to internment internment campscamps for the duration of for the duration of the warthe war

War Measures Act cont’War Measures Act cont’

Censorship Censorship was also was also introduced – banned the introduced – banned the publication of books and publication of books and magazines in enemy magazines in enemy languageslanguages

What is your opinion What is your opinion of the War Measures of the War Measures Act? Was it fair? Was Act? Was it fair? Was it necessary?it necessary?

Analyzing Recruitment PostersAnalyzing Recruitment Posters We know that early on Canada had many troops We know that early on Canada had many troops

volunteering to go and fight overseas. As time volunteering to go and fight overseas. As time went on these numbers dried up and it fell on the went on these numbers dried up and it fell on the government to convince men of fighting age to government to convince men of fighting age to SERVE THEIR COUNTRY!SERVE THEIR COUNTRY!

Using the sheet provided, critically analyze the Using the sheet provided, critically analyze the recruitment poster you have been given making recruitment poster you have been given making sure to write down your responses.sure to write down your responses.

This activity will help you later in this chapter This activity will help you later in this chapter when we make our own when we make our own Propaganda postersPropaganda posters..