World War I The Home Front

The Homefront War Measures Act Censorship & Propaganda Conscription Crisis “Enemy Alien” internment Role of Women

War Measures Act August 22, 1914: War Measures Act Canada passed the War Measures Act in order to provide the government with new and intrusive powers to prosecute the war. Look at the primary source document (next slide). What powers did the Act include?

War Measures Act 1914 These powers included censorship, the right to detain and arrest Canadians, and the right to take control over any property.

Censorship and Propaganda

Censorship Discussion Pair /share: What’s more important: country security, OR individual freedom? Do you think censorship is a good thing or a bad thing? Why? Make a T chart with “Pros” and “Cons” How would you feel if an email or text you wrote was censored by the government? Explain.

Propaganda What is Propaganda? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Make a T chart with “Pros” and “Cons”

Propaganda Propaganda posters activity

Conscription Crisis Despite widespread propaganda, enlistment was dropping by 1917. On August 29, 1917, Borden passed the Military Service Act, which included conscription. This divided the French and the English in Parliament. Many French Canadians felt no allegiance to France or Britain Also, some French Canadian volunteer troops reported ill treatment on the battlefield English Canadians didn’t understand and shamed the French for lack of support

Conscription Crisis Other groups, like farmers, also did not support conscription. They needed men for the farm. Borden called an election in December 1917. The Wartime Elections Act gave the vote to people likely to support conscription (women, soldiers overseas, etc.) It also took the vote away from immigrants from “enemy” countries.

Canadian soldiers at the front voting in the 1917 election Canadian soldiers at the front voting in the 1917 election. Canadians in the military, regardless of race, age or gender, were eligible to vote. Ninety percent of them voted for Sir Robert Borden and conscription. Source: Canadian War Museum

Ballot produced by the Union government shows soldiers how to cast their votes in the 1917 election. Borden’s Conservative / “Unionist” government supported conscription Source: Canadian War Museum

Imperial War Cabinet During the first two years of the war, Borden found out about developments through the news like everyone else When Britain elected a new PM, policy changed, allowing for direct involvement of Canada and other dominions of Britain. The Imperial War Cabinet first met on March 2, 1917, to discuss war policy. Borden presented Resolution IX to the cabinet, which gave dominions recognition as autonomous nations of an Imperial Commonwealth. The resolution passed. However, Canada still did not have a say in war campaigns involving its troops.