1. The First World war: Shaping Canada’s History 1914-1918
The Effects of Total war
Canada Goes To War
Controversies During WWI
The war and Social Change in Canada
Aftermath of Total War

2. The Effects of Total War
Prior to WWI wars were limited to small armed conflicts fought by small professional armies with little civilian impact
With the 20th century came nationalism and industrialization
The nature of war changed to large untrained armies with great civilian impact

3. The Effects of Total War
Advances in technology led to more powerful and easily moved weapons
Merchant Marine Fleets supplies navies and transported troops and munitions to Europe
By war’s end (1918) 65 million soldiers fought and 30 million people died (from fighting – half from disease)
Canada sent soldiers – over died, wounded

4. The Effects of Total War
In most communities there wasn’t a family that was not affected by the loss
At Home
The length of the war required the entire countries participation in the war effort
Women volunteered overseas as nurses and ambulance drivers, as well as wrote letters to soldiers and held fundraisers
Young boys took over for the many farmers who went to fight

5. Canada Goes To War Most Canadians supported involvement
This was due in part by British and French Canadian ties to Europe and feelings of loyalty to these countries
Canada’s first active military force included only 3110 soldiers and 2 naval ships, plus in military reserves
The first sent over were under the command of the British military

6. Canada Goes To War
Canadian troops developed a reputation for extreme bravery
Canadian troops were often sent into battle as the first line of attack
Many key battles earned Canadians distinction in the Allied forces
The most well known is the battle of Vimy Ridge that resulted in casualties
The battle was won marking a significant step towards victory

7. Canada Goes To War On the sea, we began with only 2 ships
By the end of the war Canada had over 100 warships with 5500 naval personnel
This development of naval forces was due to the German U-boats sinking Merchant Marine vessels on the Atlantic

8. Canada Goes To War
Canadians joined the British Royal Air Force since Canada didn’t have an air force of it’s own
40% of this force were Canadian
First planes were used mainly for reconnaissance then grew into fighting aircraft
To be an “Ace” – 5 kills were required
10 of the 27 top Aces of WWI were Canadian
Most noted is Billy Bishop who had 72 victories and is credited with killing the Red Baron

9. Controversies During WWI
After war broke out the Borden government passed the War Measures Act giving the government the power to enforce marshal law
This Act allowed the development of internment camps holding those sympathetic to Germany (one was in Amherst)
These camps held suspected German and Austrian sympathizers who were treated like prisoners of war

10. Controversies During WWI
The war effort refused admittance of First Nations People’s until 1916 when more soldiers were necessary
4000 Aboriginal soldiers took part
African Canadians faced barriers when attempting to enlist
Over 1000 served in the Canadian construction battalion and never saw combat
At the end of the war the military service of marginalized groups did not improve their status in Canadian society

11. Controversies During WWI
Prime Minister Borden promised no conscription
By 1916 however, more men were needed and conscription became a central issue during the 1917 election
After many political games Borden won, and passed the conscription bill
This bill only gathered men from which only saw military service

12. The War and Social Change in Canada
The war generated a tremendous boom in the economy and transformed Canada into a fully industrialized nation
Because of a drop in the labour force, women took over many men’s jobs
This gave strength to the women’s suffrage movement resulting in women winning the right to vote
Unions gathered strength as well by capitalizing on the limited amount of skilled workers

13. The War and Social Change in Canada
The government created many social agencies resulting in the Civil Service
Victory Bonds were create to help finance the war effort
Canada’s first tax was also introduced as a temporary measure to pay for the very expensive war – they turned out to be not so temporary

14. Aftermath of Total War
WWI brought many significant changes to Canada as it developed as a Nation
Included with all we have discussed the most important is that Canada found it’s place among the Community of Nations
Canada was ultimately granted the right to make it’s own decisions in foreign affairs by British Parliament through the Statute of Westminster in 1931

15. Case 6 Please read chapter 4 and record vocabulary.
Answer question 1 on p. 57. Only discuss as a group then prepare your own answers to hand into your folder. Do not present to the class as it states.
3) What advances in Canadian military were made and why?
4) What is the War Measures Act? Do you agree with it?
5) What difficulties did Aboriginals and African Canadians have in participating in the war?
6) What was the Conscription Crisis?
7) How did war change the face of Canada domestically (at home) and abroad?