1. Canada and WWII Canada’s Response to Fascist aggression prior to British entry into WWII n Economic concerns overshadow fascist aggression in Europe u The Great Depression caused Canadians to look inward u The vast majority of Canadians did not condemn the Japanese for Manchuria in 1931. Even though they were in the League of Nations they did not recognize the oil embargo placed on Italy because of Ethiopia

2. Canada and WWII n Appeasement-Canadian Style u PM King supported Britain and France in appeasement to avoid war F King also wanted to avoid the feud between French- Canadians and British-Canadians during WWI over conscription (draft) and Canada’s involvement u King visited Nazi Germany in 1937 and came away believing that Hitler was not a threat and further that he was an ally in the fight against Communism u He refused to commit Canadians to any action that could be taken as a sign he wanted to fight F this even led to refused admission of Jewish refugees who fled Nazi Anti-Semitism Canada let in 4,000 Jews, Mexico-20,000

3. Canada and WWII n Joining the War u Canada joined a week (10 September, 1939) after the British declared war to show their independence as a member of the Commonwealth u There would be no conscription this time according to King F Conscription as an issue in Quebec never died after WWI. Liberal politicians found it a useful tool to combat against the Conservative Party at election time. F King can be criticized for his refusal to take a position against fascist aggression, his stand was brilliant politics.

4. Canada and WWII Canada’s contribution to the war n Prior to Pearl Harbor, Canada devoted diplomatic energy to the US support for the allied cause u 1940: Canada and US sign Permanent Joint Board of Defense u 1941:Hyde Park Resolution allowed Canada to help finance war materials being made for Britain in the US under the Lend-Lease Act.

5. Canada and WWII n Canada hoped its primary contribution would be the production of war material and not giving troops. u Canada agreed to accept the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan F 131,533 Commonwealth airmen, and 72,835 Canadians graduated from Canada’s air training schools F French-Canadians liked it because it was not oversees and it brought in nearly $1.3 billion (Canadian) to the economy u Canada was Britain’s major ally until the invasion of the USSR in 1941 F Army grew from 4,000 to 700,000 men and women F Navy grew from 17 ships to 900

6. Canada and WWII u Canadians overseas were mostly stationed in the UK to help fight against a Nazi invasion u One example of Canadians in combat was at Dieppe, France. The 2nd Canadian Division led an unsuccessful raid there, they lost 2,700 of the 5,000 troops u The Canadians had the 3rd largest navy, and the 4th largest air force and army among the Allies u They were treated as a minor power, however, by the British, Soviets, and the US n Canadian Women u increased employment in agriculture and industry (much like the US)

7. Canada and WWII u Canadian Economy F regulated by the Dept. of Munitions and Supply WWII caused Canada to become a world power in industry F Consumer items were rationed and the production of nonessential items were halted F The economic boom helped the labor movement and union membership doubled wages were frozen to help prevent inflation strikes were put down by government u Canadian Society F political dissenters were jailed F Japanese-Canadians were interred in much the same way they were in the US 20,000 were sent to British Colombia for prison (the majority were Canadian citizens)

8. Canada and WWII Still others were sent to farms so as to exploit their labor At war’s end many were not permitted access to their homes and their property was auctioned off. F Increasing casualties in 1942 led to the public asking for conscription Under the leadership of Arthur Meighen, the Conservative Party demanded conscription be instituted (English speaking Canadians were in favor) King decided that the only way to undercut the Conservatives was to ask the Canadians to release the gov’t from its pledge not to introduce the draft. –Country approved conscription; left Canada divided: 72% of voters in Quebec opposed; 80% of the rest of Canada approved –French speaking Canadians felt betrayed

9. Canada and WWII Hoping to keep Canada united King held off on conscription until autumn of 1944 when the first conscript's were sent abroad F King was re-elected in 1945, in part, because of the way he avoided controversy with conscription u King was also re-elected because of his social and economic policies for after the war. F 1940: unemployment insurance provision was added to the Old Age Pension Plan of 1927 F 1944: family allowances introduced mothers were given $5-8 for child care F During the war the federal gov’t took over the provincial authority to levy income and business taxes was not around after the war

10. Canada and WWII Legacy of WWII for Canadians n Laid the future basis for the Canadian welfare state n WWII was, for the most part, a unifying and positive experience for Canadians n Full employment became the norm n Canada proved itself as a strong and independent nation upon the world’s scene n The stage was set for a significant post war economic boom