1. World War I
The Home Front

2. The Homefront War Measures Act Censorship & Propaganda
Conscription Crisis
“Enemy Alien” internment
Role of Women

3. War Measures Act August 22, 1914: War Measures Act
Canada passed the War Measures Act in order to provide the government with new and intrusive powers to prosecute the war.
Look at the primary source document (next slide). What powers did the Act include?

5. War Measures Act 1914
These powers included censorship, the right to detain and arrest Canadians, and the right to take control over any property.

6. Censorship and Propaganda

7. Censorship Discussion
Pair /share:
What’s more important: country security, OR individual freedom?
Do you think censorship is a good thing or a bad thing? Why? Make a T chart with “Pros” and “Cons”
How would you feel if an or text you wrote was censored by the government? Explain.

8. Propaganda
What is Propaganda? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Make a T chart with “Pros” and “Cons”

9. Propaganda
Propaganda posters activity

10. Conscription Crisis
Despite widespread propaganda, enlistment was dropping by 1917.
On August 29, 1917, Borden passed the Military Service Act, which included conscription.
This divided the French and the English in Parliament.
Many French Canadians felt no allegiance to France or Britain
Also, some French Canadian volunteer troops reported ill treatment on the battlefield
English Canadians didn’t understand and shamed the French for lack of support

11. Conscription Crisis
Other groups, like farmers, also did not support conscription. They needed men for the farm.
Borden called an election in December 1917.
The Wartime Elections Act gave the vote to people likely to support conscription (women, soldiers overseas, etc.)
It also took the vote away from immigrants from “enemy” countries.

12. Canadian soldiers at the front voting in the 1917 election
Canadian soldiers at the front voting in the 1917 election. Canadians in the military, regardless of race, age or gender, were eligible to vote. Ninety percent of them voted for Sir Robert Borden and conscription.
Source: Canadian War Museum

13. Ballot produced by the Union government shows soldiers how to cast their votes in the 1917 election.
Borden’s Conservative / “Unionist” government supported conscription
Source: Canadian War Museum

14. Imperial War Cabinet
During the first two years of the war, Borden found out about developments through the news like everyone else
When Britain elected a new PM, policy changed, allowing for direct involvement of Canada and other dominions of Britain.
The Imperial War Cabinet first met on March 2, 1917, to discuss war policy.
Borden presented Resolution IX to the cabinet, which gave dominions recognition as autonomous nations of an Imperial Commonwealth. The resolution passed.
However, Canada still did not have a say in war campaigns involving its troops.