The Home Front Canada WW1 Internment camps War Measures Act Victory Bonds Rationing Taxes Halifax Explosion

Ethnocentric Canadians Most Canadians believed their race or group was superior Disliked outsiders Led to prejudice and discrimination

War Measures Act 1914 A Government document introduced by Prime Minister Borden to meet the demands of war Gave the government the power to do anything necessary for “the security, defense, peace, order, and welfare of Canada”

War Measures Act 1914 Gave the Government power to limit freedom of Canadians Suspended Habeas Corpus “enemy aliens” imprisoned or deported Censor mail Government could now directly intervene in the economy

Immigrant Persecution in Canada! Recent Immigrants from German, Austria- Hungary, Ukraine 100 000 had to carry identity cards and report to registration offices More than 8500 held in internment camps

Wartime Economy Production and export of goods at record high Natural resources in high demand Farm production to feed the troops Companies make huge profits Yet Wages LOW! Government controlled wages to keep costs down

War Profiteering War Profiteers: person or organization that profits from warfare or by selling weapons and other goods to parties at war. Government kept wages low Easy to replace workers (women working) Made weapons cheap low quality supplies for soldiers

Honour Rationing Limits put on consumption Introduced to help combat shortages of goods Meatless Fridays Fuel-less Sundays Less sugar/Less Fat

Victory Bonds Canadians encouraged to buy government Bonds to aid war effort Raised over 2 billion in Canada Cash in Bonds after war?

New Taxes Introduced 1917 Income Tax Supposed to be temporary Individuals and families had to pay between 1 and 15% Corporate Tax Charged businesses 4% of revenues Many Canadian thought this was too low

Halifax Explosion 1917 Halifax Harbour was the chief departure point for Canadian soldiers and supplies Dec 6 1917 the SS Mont Blanc accidently hit by another ship Carried 2500 tons of explosives Explosion devastated Halifax 2000 dead 9000 injured

Demand for Labour During War Increased industrial and agricultural production created a demand for Labour Women Hired for : Farming War artillery factories Industrial factories Fishing Traditional male jobs

Women on the Western Front More than 2800 women served during WWI Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps Red Cross workers Duties: Hospitals Battlefields Ambulance Drivers

Women’s Suffrage Many Women believed that their war efforts earned them a voice in politics Manitoba 1916 Alberta, Saskatchewan BC, Ontario 1917 1918 Federal Vote **Excluding Aboriginal and Immigrant women

Conscription and The Vote One major reason women got the vote was Conscription The country needed support for the war and the 1917 election Government Knew women would support the war Wanted support for husbands overseas

Aboriginal War Effort 4000 Volunteered Gave money Volunteered for service Served as snipers or reconnaissance scouts, some of the most hazardous roles in the military. Served in support units in the CEF, including railway troops, tunneling companies and forestry units. 4000 Volunteered Despite discouragement to enlist