The Great War Racism in Canada

The Canadian Army Sam Hughes decided that instead of building a uniquely Canadian Army, he wanted to model the British Army He assumed that a British-Style Canadian Army could best fit into the British Chain of Command Therefore, he actively discouraged French Canadians and Ethnic minorities from joining the Army

French Canadians in the Army French Canadians were encouraged to join the Army However, Hughes refused to have French instructors or create all-French Units Therefore, French Canadians were divided into English speaking units and trained only in English

Non-White Soldiers There was no official policy discriminating against anyone However, in order to join a military unit, a recruit needed approval from the unit commander A commander could deny entry for any reason and without explanation Therefore, most non-white soldiers were simply turned away

Native Soldiers Native Soldiers volunteered in large numbers Many were turned away but they were increasing accepted as the war dragged on Natives were come of the best soldiers in the war They won more medals per person than any other ethnic group

Black Soldiers Black men faced the greatest discrimination of all While some units accepted Natives, Asians and Southern Europeans, almost no one would accept Black men As the amount of new recruits dropped, the need for soldiers increased However, black men were still not trusted to fight alongside whites

The No. 2 Construction Battalion In 1916, the Canadian Army authorized the creation of an all-black unit with white commanders Black volunteers from across Canada and the USA rushed to join However, the battalion was placed in “non-combat” roles only They built roads and trenches, cleared land mines and carried wounded men

Racism on the Home Front When the war started, the Canadian government declared the “War Measures Act” This law suspended the rights of Canadians and give almost unlimited power to the government The government used this power to go after “Enemy Aliens” (people born in countries that Canada was at war with) Germans and Austria/Hungarians were spied on and forced to register and report to the police on a regular basis Sometimes they were arrested, placed in internment camps and had their possessions taken away Ukrainians suffered the worst treatment of all