War on the Home Front WW1 and Canada at Home

The Home Front Canada and many of its citizens were committed to supporting the war effort. The production and export of Canadian goods reached record highs Resources such as lumber, nickel, copper, lead, wheat, and beef This demand for Canadian goods helped the economy boom during the war.

Supporting the War By 1918 the war was costing Canada about $2.5 million daily. The government launched several initiatives to recover these costs.

Supporting the War Victory Bonds: Government sold citizens bonds that could be cashed in for a profit after the war. Honour Rationing: Canadians were encouraged to use less resources and eat less food. Income Tax: wealthy individuals and families had to pay a tax on their income Corporate Tax: Businesses were charged 4% tax on their revenues.

Supporting the War

Propaganda During WW1 Canadians were bombarded with propaganda. Films, magazines, radio shows, speeches and posters all tried to appeal to Canadian patriotism. Propaganda often distorted the truth. While it was meant to recruit soldiers, it also fuelled prejudice on the home front.

Propaganda

Women’s Suffrage Without woman’s efforts on the home front, Canada's wartime economy would have collapsed. Many women believed that their contribution to the war effort should allow them to help make decisions about how the country was run. In 1918, women were granted the right to vote in Federal elections, with the exception of Aboriginal and immigrant women.

Halifax Explosion During the war, Halifax was a valuable base for refuelling and repairing Allied warships. On December 6, 1917, the SS Mont Blanc, a French ship carrying 2500 tonnes of explosives was accidentally hit by another ship. This caused an explosion that levelled much of the city. More than 2000 people were killed and another 9000 were injured.

Halifax Explosion

Conscription Crisis By 1917, thousands of Canadian men had been killed or wounded. Even though he had promised not to introduce conscription, Prime Minister Borden introduced the Military Service Act, which made enlistment mandatory. Conscription turned out to be very controversial and emotional issue that divided the country.

Paying for the War First case of Total War in history. –New more expensive technology –More troops than ever before –Prolonged war effort

Attempts to Recover Losses War Bonds –Asked people to buy bonds from the government and the government would then give a 5% rate of return when the bond matured. –Example: $100 bond in 1915 would be worth 5% more every year until it matured. –Raised: $1,397,000,000 during the war.

War Bonds

Borden speaking during his War Bond Campaign

Attempts to Recover Losses Taxes –Income Tax - temporary;) percentage of income based on how much you make. Taxes placed on tea, coffee, telegrams, liquor, etc. Donations –Many donations were made to the Red Cross and the Red Cross of Canada.

Major Events on the Homefront: Halifax Explosion Changing Role of Women Conscription Crisis Enemy Aliens War Measures Act

Halifax Explosion 9:04 am December 6, 1917 Largest man-made explosion in history until the nuclear age. The Mont Blanc (2500 tonnes of explosives) and the Imo (fuel) collide and a fire starts. The Mont Blanc was instantly vaporised in the giant fireball that rose over 1.6 km (1 mi) into the air, forming a large mushroom cloud. The force of the blast triggered a tsunami that reached up to 18 meters above the high- water mark. Imo was lifted up onto shore by this tsunami. An anchor from the Mont-Blanc was found 2 km from the harbour.

Changing Role of Women Involved in many ways –Munitions workers, nurses, and ambulance drivers at the front, ran farms etc. Without women, Canada’s war economy would have collapsed. The war led to an increased call for suffrage (the right to vote). By 1918 all women were allowed to vote in federal elections

Suffrage in the USA as well

Conscription Crisis Conscription: The forced enlistment (lawful) of a nation’s soldiers into the armed forces. Need for troops was growing –1917 saw 64,339 enlistments but 122,946 casualties

Why Conscription? All sides were running out of soldiers. Losses were 4 times enlistment in Canada in Dec 1916

Conscription in Canada Borden’s Military Services Act –Makes enlistment mandatory for all men –Exemptions to several groups including conscientious objectors (people who opposed fighting on moral or religious grounds) –Many French Canadians were against conscription especially Henri Bourassa.

Conscription con’t Military Voter’s Act –All British subjects (male and female) who were part of the Canadian Armed forces could vote. –Voting was done overseas (voting over 27 days) –Significance: Most people who were in the Canadian Armed Forces would vote for conscription because they were already in the Armed Forces.

The Khaki Election Canadian nurses voting in France

Conscription con’t Wartime Elections Act –All wives, sisters, mothers and daughters of soldiers who are fighting overseas or have fought overseas would be granted the vote. –The right to vote was also denied to conscientious objectors, and those of enemy birth. –Significance: All women who had relatives who fought overseas would support conscription because their loved ones had supported conscription. Anyone who would be clearly against conscription (Conscientious objectors) would be denied the vote.

Controversy On Guard: Men between the ages of 20 and 34 single or widowed without children who will not ask for an exemption from military service from now to Nov 10, will be imprisoned for 5 years had labour. Will however be forced to enter the army and will lose their right to vote. This is what Borden’s law states. By not presenting themselves in front of the exemption bureau one will not avoid military service…by losing the right to vote against the Borden government that created this tyrannical law who will impose and maintain by all means necessary if they stay in power.

Francophone Enlistment not dead Royal Vandoos! 22 nd Regiment only all French Regiment

Conscription not Canada’s Problem Alone

A Country Divided or United? The conscription crisis was successful at dividing the country along many lines. Canada was united like never before but divisions lay under the surface. FOR: -Urban -Soldiers -English AGAINST: -Rural -Civilians -French