THE WAR ON THE HOMEFRONT

Economic Transformation Canada’s economy transformed by war Munitions Industry became the biggest industry in Canada by the end of the war Forms the basis of the manufacturing sector in Ontario after the war

Women’s Changing Role Male labour shortage meant women take jobs in the workplace (munitions factories) Begin to campaign for greater equality, the right to vote

Funding & Supplying the Troops As the war progressed in Europe more and more supplies were needed It cost $1 million a day to finance the war Prices at home skyrocketed Both the government and the individual citizen helped where they could See if you can figure out ways that the Canadian government was trying to save or raise money and preserve goods.

Governmental Efforts Food rationing (i.e. butter, sugar, etc) Mandatory waste reduction programs Introduction of daylight savings time Introduction of “Meatless Mondays” & “Fuelless Sundays” Ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol (prohibition) Sale of Victory Bonds Introduction of income tax

Individual Efforts Early dismissal of students – to help with the harvests Community fundraisers – money was sent to help the soldiers Honour rationing – people limited themselves to even less than the government allowed

Recruitment & Propoganda Because of heavy casualties at the front, the Can gov’t began to recruit heavily Censorship (of letters) used to hide the realities of the war Propaganda (posters) used to help support the recruitment effort

SOLDIER CASUALTIES -1917 MONTH ENLISTMENTS CASUALTIES January 9,194 4,396 February 6,809 1,250 March 6,640 6,161 April 5,530 13,477* Vimy Ridge May 6,407 13,457* Vimy Ridge June 6,348 7,931 July 3,882 7,906 August 3,117 13,232 September 3,588 10,990 October 4,884 5,929 November 4,019 30,741* Passchendaele December 3,921 7,476 Total 64,339 122,946

The War Measures Act Gave Canada’s government the authority to do everything necessary “for the security, defense, peace, order, and welfare of Canada” Could now intervene in economic areas such as: transportation, manufacturing, trade, & agriculture Civil liberties no longer existed – i.e. mail censored, possible deportation, imprisonment / internment, identity cards People from “enemy countries” (enemy aliens) were targeted Over 500,000 enemy aliens lived in Canada Discrimination increased the longer the war lasted

ENEMY ALIENS What to do with the Canadians of German, Austrian & Hungarian decent? (500,000+) Labeled as Enemy Aliens Basic rights suspended (War Measure’s Act) Many sent to Internment Camps

THE CONSCRIPTION CRISIS As Canada ran out of soldiers & volunteers, Prime Minister Border introduced Conscription with the Military Services Act Broke a previous promise not to force people to fight Issue divided the country between English and French Canadians French Canadians opposed, don’t want to fight under British command

THE KHAKI ELECTION - 1917 PM Borden realized there was strong opposition to Conscription in many parts of Canada To strengthen his position in the upcoming election, he passed the Wartime Elections Act which allowed all women related to servicemen the right to vote He also cancelled the vote for all immigrants from enemy countries

The Halifax Explosion (1917) French munitions ship collided with another ship in the Halifax harbour and exploded Largest single explosion in history (at that time) Impact: Halifax on fire, tidal wave, >3,000 deaths, thousands injured, thousands homeless Brought the destruction of Europe home to Canada

WAR ON THE HOMEFRONT: Was it Historically Significant ? DID IT RESULT IN BIG CHANGE ? Were many people affected? How long lasting were the changes? IS IT REVEALING ABOUT THE PAST ? Does it help us understand the past? Reveal any important issues or insights at that time? WHAT IF IT DIDN’T HAPPEN ? How would things be different?

WHAT IMPACT DID WORLD WAR ONE HAVE ON CANADA ? HALIFAX EXPLOSION ROLE OF WOMEN UKRAINIAN INTERNMENT CONSCRIPTION CRISIS