Fighting the War at Home
The Role of Govt in Wartime regular roles but also coordinate & finance the war effort War Measures Act (August 1914) gave gov’t control over many areas of life in Canada recent German, Austrian, Italian immigrants suspected as “enemies of the state” (“enemy aliens”) - arrested & interned (prison)
Berlin, Ontario City has large German population Anti-German violence & vandalism
Berlin, Ont. 1916: Vote to change name to something more ”patriotic”
The Role of Govt in Wartime Gov’t dictates to farmers & factory owners what to produce for the war effort Ex. 1917: gov’t limits use of grain by distilleries IMB – controls munitions production Food Comptroller – food quotas/rationing - legal penalties for hoarding
Effects on Everyday Life “Do your bit”: sacrifice, contribute to victory “Victory Gardens”: produce as much food as possible
Women during the War Years become essential component of Canada’s war effort Organized fundraisers, knitted socks, & packaged parcels for the war effort & to support the troops overseas “Bluebirds”: front-line ambulance drivers & nurses
Women during the War Years 35,000 women work in munitions factories by 1917 drove buses/streetcars, worked in banks, on police forces, in civil service jobs, on farms
Women during the War Years women with husbands overseas became heads of households for the 1st time Responsibilities included feeding, clothing, housing their families “War widows” grow in numbers as war drags on
Women during the War Years Due to participation/sacrifice for war effort, women should have equal share in political decision making Suffrage – getting the right to vote
The Economics of War 1918: war costing gov’t over $1 million a day how to finance the war ? Income tax introduced as a “temporary” measure (yeah, right…)
The Economics of War Victory Bonds: citizens loan money to the gov’t ; cashed in after the war for a higher profit/interest private & commercial investors loan gov’t over $1 billion
New Industries Industrial production reaches new heights over 300,000 Canadians employed in war plants (airplanes, shells, ship production) Sparks the establishment of new industries Mining, forestry, textile, agricultural sectors boom
Canadian Homefront Mainly agricultural Canada 1914 Canada 1917 Mainly agricultural No munitions industry within Canada 600 munitions factories with over 300,000 workers Completing over $ 2 million / day in orders 800, 000 shells/month sent from Canada to Europe
But, all was not well…
But, all was not well…
The 1917 Conscription crisis and the “Khaki Election” Read p. 101 – 104 in text Define: “conscription” Why did PM Borden feel it was necessary? Who opposed Conscription? Why? What were: The Military Voters Act & The Wartime Elections Act? What was the result of the “Khaki Election”? How did Canadians react to the results?
Why Conscription?
Losses were 4 times enlistment in Canada in Dec 1916 All sides were running out of soldiers. Losses were 4 times enlistment in Canada in Dec 1916
Conscription in Canada Military Services Act enlistment mandatory men 18-45 exemptions for conscientious objectors (opposed fighting on moral or religious grounds) many French Canadians against conscription (ex. Henri Bourassa.
Conscription con’t Wartime Elections Act wives, sisters, mothers,daughters of soldiers granted the vote right to vote was also denied to conscientious objectors and those of “enemy birth” women who had relatives overseas would support conscription anyone who would be clearly against conscription (Conscientious objectors) denied the vote.
Canadian nurses voting in France The Khaki Election Canadian nurses voting in France
A Country Divided or United? FOR: -Urban -Soldiers -English AGAINST: -Rural -Civilians -French