Conscription Crisis (1917) What is Conscription? Conscription. It is like the Draft. Conscription is military service by all men of a certain age. It is required by law.

A British Nation Most Canadians felt pride in Britain’s Imperial accomplishments Charles Mair and Canada First movement: English Canadians who wanted an independent Canada (small in number and resentful of the Canadiens- the only other group who supported a distinctly Canadian nationalism) On the contrary, some wanted to strengthen ties to Britain: Imperial Federation League There was no strong feeling of Canadian nationalism at the time This is not to say, however, that there were no nationalists in the dominion 2

Three Key Figures Wilfrid Laurier Robert Borden Leader of the Opposition (former Liberal PM) Robert Borden Prime Minister (Conservative) Quebec Nationalist leader (Anti-conscription)

Laurier: “Do not choose a French Canadian Laurier: “Do not choose a French Canadian. The situation of a French Canadian Prime Minister is impossible and he can do nothing for his people.”

The “Real War” was being fought over minority rights, not in Europe. Les Canadiens French Canadians felt no such strong connection to things British In Francophone Quebec there WAS a feeling of nationalism Strong tensions existed between English- and French-speaking Canadians Angry at attack on French language represented by Ontario’s school regulation #17; The “Real War” was being fought over minority rights, not in Europe. ( Henri Bourassa) 5

Henri Bourassa Henri Bourassa - key spokesperson for Quebec Resigned from Laurier’s government over the war Was re-elected as an independent party Bourassa wrote in his newspaper “Le Devoir” ; a former Laurier supporter and Liberal MP He spoke out against the war and argued for a nationalist policy for the country 6

At the Start… 1914 MUCH enthusiasm Bourassa supports the war (referring to it as a “great national crusade” capable of uniting Canada) August 4- Canada would answer the call; St. Nazaire landing of first Cdn contingent 1915; Early in the conflict voluntary recruitment was strong and the young men enthusiastic to fight 7

At the Start… 1914 Prime Minister Borden and army minister Sam Hughes promised more and more men Wealthy men and militias were responsible for raising, financing and equipping battalions for overseas service $$$ Hughes a religious bigot and committed nationalist-imperialist was especially unpopular with many French Canadians; he would be fired by Borden in 1916 after shell committee scandal; Hughes foolishly focused on making the army an English-language institution (thus further alienating the French) Quebec people bought War Bonds and some enlisted For the most part French-Canadians in the province showed little interest 8

Shift in Public Opinion 1916-1917 HIGH casualty figures regularly printed in the papers = public enthusiasm for the war declined Now aware of the horrors of the war People no longer considered it a “glorious adventure” Recruitment levels dropped Casualties GROW as Canadians engage in key and costly battles St. Eloi and other battles (Canadians escape some of the horror of the Somme; except for NFLD regiment) 9

AT HOME: Employment and wages were booming Farmers cried out for workers = Against sons leaving for war FACTS: Most pro-British already volunteered As talk of conscription grew so too did opposition for war Agricultural Quebec opposed sending its farm workers and married men to fight French also angry at official indifference to achievements of the Van Doos; Australian troops had voted against the introduction of conscription (did not want to fight alongside men who had not volunteered) 10

( PM Robert Borden in December 1914 ) Three Years On… 1917 Borden had earlier promised there would be no conscription Yet, the savage fighting (Vimy Ridge in April), lengthy war, and many deaths = TOO MANY lost troops After visiting the Western Front, Borden felt compelled to continue Canada’s strong commitment to the war “It can hardly be expected that we shall put 400,000 or 500,000 men in the field and willingly accept the position of having no more voice and receiving no more consideration than if we were toy automata.” BORDEN VISITS THE FRONT AND SEES THE NEED FOR MORE TROOPS (Recruiting levels so low wounded men were sent back to the front before they were fully healed); men 20-45 (18-42)years of age to be conscripted (as of Aug) – crowds in Q denounce it Borden introduced CONSCRIPTION (the Military Service Act) “There has not been and there will not be compulsion or conscription. Freely and voluntarily, the manhood of Canada stands ready to fight beyond the seas.” ( PM Robert Borden in December 1914 ) 11

Conscription Crisis (1917) Military Service Act = compulsory enlistment (conscription), even if someone didn’t believe in the war. Conscription divided Canada in half: English for conscription, French against it

Laurier “Ready, Aye, Ready” Wilfrid Laurier had always supported the war effort but NOT conscription Laurier urging a Quebec crowd to enlist 1916; in 1917 he would greet Borden’s request to join a coalition gov’t to introduce conscription with the above Quote; “When Britain is at war, Canada is at war. There is no distinction.” Laurier “All of my life I have fought coercion.” Laurier 13

1917 Election Prime Minister Borden called an election, and conscription would be the only issue, but he changed the rules Military Voters Act (1917) Allowed men and women serving overseas to vote Wartime Elections Act (1917) Gave the vote to all Canadian women directly related to servicemen (wives, mothers, sisters) Cancelled the vote for conscientious objectors and immigrants from enemy countries in the last 15 years

The Khaki Election… 1917 Some Liberals desert Laurier and join Borden in Unionist coalition Some independents also join the PM The Liberal party is split- as is the nation- by the bitter debate Letter encourages troops to vote for trustworthy Sir Wilfrid; photo: Borden pushing war bonds; the votes of the soldiers made a big difference (used to help win in hotly contested ridings); Borden’s Union party wins the “Khaki Election” (sweeping English Canada but losing heavily in Quebec) 16

The Aftermath… 1918 Conscription effort did not go smoothly {only 20,000 of first 400,000 actually reported for training } Borden would subsequently cancel all exemptions (including those for farmers’ sons) – EVERYONE MUST ENLIST! Conscription would lead to rioting in Quebec in 1918 Only a small number of the conscripts actually saw action Conscription issue thus had only slight military benefits Left great and lasting political consequences The nation was left split between the French and the English rioting in Quebec led to destruction of records to prevent draft (troops from ON and AB called in); there was also great anger in rural areas when Borden cancelled promised exemptions for the sons of farmers; 90% got exempted; non-Brit immigrants and farmers and workers were opposed; 380,000 of first 400,000 sought exemptions (most who did not get exemptions simply disappeared – only 20,000 reported for training); 18

Conscription AGAINST: Upset farmers losing their sons and hired hands Sent those who truly didn’t want to go Increased French/English tensions Sent married men to war (leaving their families to struggle) Hurt homefront production FOR: Send more troops to the front Honour promises to Britain Honour sacrifices of troops Fight the evil Germans Help speed the end of war

CLASS DEBATE QUESTION: Should Canada, or any other country (Korea), be allowed to use conscription during wartime? Why or why not? How about during peacetime? Example: Russia