How Canadians supported the war from home

Before the war The war increased government involvement in many aspects of Canadian Life  Small public service  NO income tax  Few forms of direct involvement in the economy

 Canadians were forced with food rations (honour rationing lbs of butter, 2 lbs of sugar per MONTH)  in farming areas, students were dismissed early to help bring in the harvest  People organized fund raisers to help fund the war effort

 Production of goods reached all-time highs to support the war effort  Citizens were urged to produce as much as possible to feed and equip the troops overseas  The fact that most of the goods were exported to Europe inflated prices domestically  Businesses made enormous profits, but workers struggled due to wage controls (big issue post-war)

Pre – World War IDuring World War I Women rarely worked outside the home – only in a few fields Nurses Teachers Servants Low skill, low- paying jobs 1.6 Million women joined the workforce during the war (approximately 40% of the female population) War production industries Jobs vacated by men ‘khaki’ vote – women related to soldiers could vote in the 1917 This strengthened the campaign for women’s vote (suffrage) Manitoba 1916 AB, SK 1916 ON, BC 1917 Except Aboriginal women and immigrants

 Canadian Women in World War I Canadian Women in World War I

 Halifax was the primary Atlantic port during the war, and was the chief departure point for soldiers and supplies headed across.  Traffic control was insufficient and caused frequent collisions  December 6, 1917, a French munitions ship carrying tonnes of explosives was hit  The resulting explosion was so intense it destroyed most of the city entirely.  Heritage Minute Heritage Minute

 Visit  1000 were killed immediately, 1000 more would die before they could be brought to a hospital  were injured and countless people were left homeless  The wealthy Richmond region of the city was completely wiped off the map  Just the Mont Blanc and its cargo alone were worth over $3,000,000 (at the time, roughly $45 million in today’s figures)

 The Canadian government couldn’t raise enough money for its contribution to the war (new technology and large number of troops made the war expensive)

 Victory Bonds – citizens could cash in after the war was over   “Temporary” income tax  Corporate tax  Loans  (from US and others)

 “Propaganda is the organized distribution of information to influence thoughts, beliefs, feelings and actions.”  Appeals to emotion, patriotism and pride  Often distorts the truth by exaggerating or downplaying details or even making them up  Often associated with war, and used to boost morale and dehumanize the enemy

 The Canadian government sponsored extensive propaganda campaigns to gain/keep/enhance the support of the people. Posters were printed for:  Recruiting soldiers  Advocating food rationing  Promoting enhanced productivity  Selling Victory Bonds

After Vimy