1. Canada’s Response to the War
Canada and the First World War

2. Lesson Outline and Objective
Today we will look at how Canada initially responded to the war.
you will learn:
Canadian attitudes toward the war
How Canadian soldiers prepared

3. World Leaders Canada – PM Robert Borden
Great Britain – PM David Lloyd George
France – PM Georges Clemenceau
Russia – Czar Nicholas II
United States – President Woodrow Wilson
Germany – Kaiser Wilhelm II
Austria-Hungary – Emperor Franz Joseph

4. Canada’s Response
Aug 4, 1914: Britain declared war on Germany and Canada was automatically at war.
PM Borden’s Gov’t drafted a War Measures Act.
The War Measures Act is an Act that gives the federal government emergency powers during wartime, including the right to detain people without laying charges.

5. Liberals pledged a political truce
Many hoped this would unite the English and French.
By Sept there were 32,000 volunteers, (it sounded like a grand adventure!)

7. Britain still controlled Canada’s foreign policy
When Britain declared war on Germany, Canada was included automatically
Most English Canadians supported the war because of patriotic feelings towards the British Empire
French Canadians were not so enthusiastic in their support.

8. Prime Minister Borden promised 25,000 troops
30,000 Canadians enlisted in the first month
Reasons: British patriotism, adventure, honour, travel, a job
Women – Supporting roles; nurses or ambulance drivers
Minorities – at first not allowed to enlist; eventually accepted. More on that later.

12. A National Identity Emerges
When Canada joined the war, its army swelled from 3,000 to 30,000 soldiers.
Young men from all over Canada went to Camp Valcartier, Quebec training centre
Brought Canadians together, developed unity and identity.
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF)
Fought as an independent unit during the War

13. Google Images: Valcartier-

15. Sam Hughes
Minister of the Militia

16. Sam Hughes Gave manufacturing contracts to friends- war profiteering.
Issued $ 170 million in contracts, only $5.5 million worth of shells were produced.
Poor quality, faulty equipment and supplies (the Ross Rifle)
Behind schedule.
Fired in but he had already been knighted by the King.

17. The War Measures Act
Prime Minister Borden introduced the War Measures Act in August 1914.
This Act was a law meant to ensure “security, defence, peace, order, and welfare of Canada”.
But what did it mean to the average Canadian?
What effect did the War Measures Act have on the legal rights of Canadians?

18. Gave the government sweeping powers.
It could pass bills without parliamentary debate.
It could intervene in the economy: business, transportation, trade, production, etc.
Limited civil liberties; habeas corpus was suspended- this meant that the police could detain people without laying charges.
Habeas corpus

19. “Enemy Aliens” recent immigrants from certain countries (Germany, Austria) could be detained and deported or imprisoned.
Also had to carry special ID cards and report regularly to registration officers.
More than 8500 people were held in isolation in internment camps.

20. These policies may have fostered Canadian nationalism, but they also reinforced prejudice.
Led to attacks on German owned clubs and business.