1. A Canadian Perspective
World War I
A Canadian Perspective

2. Curriculum Connection 11.3.4
Essential Question:
How was Canada’s identity as a nation shaped by the First World War and by its changing relationship to Great Britain and the world?
Essential Understandings:
Britain has played a significant role in shaping Canada’s history and identity
Canada continues to be influenced by issues of war and peace, and international relations
Since the beginning of the 20th C, Canada has played an increasingly active role in world affairs

3. World War I: The “Great War”
• The First World War started in August • It would last for more than 4 years. • About 9 million people in uniform were killed. • 20 million civilians were killed.

4. What Started WWI? Four Major Factors: Militarism Imperialism
Nationalism
Military Alliances

5. What Started WWI: Militarism
In the early 1900s, European nations (especially Germany) began to build up their militaries
They wanted to compete with Britain (largest navy) and Russia (largest army)
This “Arms Race” lead to a dangerous buildup of weapons
Advances in technology led to new and more dangerous weapons

6. What Started WWI: Imperialism
Britain controlled more than one-quarter of the world’s land mass
Other European countries (esp. Germany) wanted more land and resources
Animosity between nations, esp. Britain and Germany, grew

7. What Started WWI: Nationalism
Some Europeans wanted to unite with others of the same ethnicity.
Example: Austria-Hungary had 50 million Austrians, Hungarians, Bosnians, Ukrainians, Serbs, and more. Many of these groups wanted independent countries.
Many Serbs living in Bosnia and Herzegovina (part of Austria-Hungary at the time) wanted to become part of Serbia. Serbian nationalists agreed.
Serbia worried about being overtaken by Austria-Hungary.

8. What Started WWI: Military Alliances
There were two major military alliances in Europe in 1914:
Triple Entente (Allies):
Britain (and Canada!)
Russia
France
The Triple Alliance (Central Powers)
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Turkey

9. Military Alliances
A military alliance means that members will protect each other and attack enemy countries if a member is threatened = domino effect
Italy switched and joined the Allies in 1915; the U.S. and Japan later joined the Allies as well

10. The situation was so tense before the war that many called Europe a “powder keg waiting to explode”.

11. The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated on June 28, 1914.
Sarajevo, Bosnia was the scene of the Austrian Archduke's assassination, the spark that ignited the First World War.
George Metcalf Archival Collection

12. Map Activity: Pre War Europe, 1914
Using the map on page 290, outline a map with a key that indicates:
Triple Alliance
Triple Entente
Countries that “switched” camps or joined the war later
Neutral countries
Sarajevo, Bosnia

13. The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
This set off a chain of events that led to the start of WWI in early August 1914.
Activity: Make a flow chart or other graphic organizer to show the chain of events that led to the assassination of Ferdinand and WWI. Textbook p. 291 can help.

14. Flowchart Answer Key

15. Canada and WWI August 4, 1914: Canada at War
When Britain went to war on August 4, Canada and Newfoundland were automatically at war.
The Canadian Parliament unanimously decided to support Britain in the war
Canadian identity strengthened due to our involvement

17. It is not fitting that I should prolong this debate
It is not fitting that I should prolong this debate. In the awful dawn of the greatest war the world has ever known….as to our duty, we stand shoulder to shoulder with Britain and the other British dominions in this quarrel. And that duty we shall not fail to fulfil as the honour of Canada demands…for the cause of honour, to maintain solemn pledges…in the very name of the peace that we sought at any cost….we have entered into this war; and, while gravely conscious of the tremendous issues involved and of all the sacrifices that they may entail, we do not shrink from them, but with firm hearts we abide the event. -Sir Robert Borden, Prime Minister of Canada, declares his intentions regarding the First World War in the House of Commons on August 14th, 1914

18. Canada and WWI
Conservative Prime Minister Robert Borden promised there would be no conscription
Promised to provide 25,000 troops even though our army at the time was 3,000. Men volunteered by the thousands.
The first recruits went overseas on October 3, Many thought they would be home by Christmas.

19. WWI Then and Now
The Western Front

20. Workshop Topics:
Canadian Battles of WWI
A Soldier’s Life: Trench Warfare
Involvement of Aboriginal Peoples
Conscription
The Home Front: Role of Women
The Home Front: Propaganda
The Home Front: Enemy Aliens