1. Funding the war at all costs
Canada & WWI:
Funding the war at all costs

2. Review: What 4 attitudes in Europe catalyzed the start of WWI?
Nationalism
Imperialism
Militarism
Alliances

3. Review: Name the two main alliances that divided European nations.
Triple Alliance & Triple Entente
Who was in the Triple Alliance?
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (for a bit)
Who was in the Triple Entente?
France, Russia, and Britain

4. Canada’s Role in the War
What series of events brought Canada into the war?
German Schlieffen Plan goes through Belgium and into France
Britain compelled to defend Belgium (neutral) by Great Powers pact
Britain required to defend France (Triple Entente)
Canada, as Britain’s Dominion, has war declared on her behalf

5. Canada Responds: Mobilization
Liberal Party Leader: Sir Wilfred Laurier pledges support for the British Empire:
“It is our duty to let Great Britain know and to let the friends and foes of Great Britain know that there is in Canada but one mind and one heart and that all Canadians are behind the Mother Country”

6. Most English-speakers in Canada were of British origin and excited for war
More than 30,000 volunteers within a month
Belief that the war would be over by Christmas

7. Unwelcomed Volunteers:
Women – ‘too frail’ and ‘emotional,’ except as nurses
Racial groups – discrimination, though eventually allowed
Aboriginal people (over 4,000 enlisted – 35% of pop)
African Canadians (over 600)
Japanese Canadians (225)

8. The War Measures Act Prime Minister: Robert Borden introduces in 1914.
Purpose: to allow the government to do everything necessary for the “security, defense, peace, order and welfare of Canada”

9. The War Measures Act
Government has power to limit the freedom of Canadians
Examples:
Censorship of mail
Allows police to detain people without laying charges (AKA suspends habeus corpus rights)
Suspected ‘enemy aliens’ could be imprisoned or deported

10. Significance: Canadians are unified by interests of national security.
The War Measures Act
Results:
100,000 people forced to carry ID cards and report regularly to registration officers.
8500 people (mostly of German or Austro-Hungarian origin) sent to Internment Camps
Fosters prejudice: German-owned clubs and businesses attacked
Significance: Canadians are unified by interests of national security.

11. Organizing the War Effort: Enter Sam Hughes
Sam Hughes, Canada’s Minister of Militia
Fought in the Boer War, dismissed for ‘military indiscipline’
Called the British military incompetent; his goal was to create a distinct Canadian army.

12. Organizing the War Effort: Sam Hughes
‘Camp Valcartier’ training facility built in just 4 weeks!!!
Brings together people from all over Canada – creates sense of unity to replace regionalism
Significance: Togetherness = emerging sense of identity among soldiers.
Camp Valcartier

13. Organizing the War Effort: Enter Sam Hughes
The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF)
Colonial (sent by a colony) army
Instead, separate unit!
Significance: CEF helps show Canadian autonomy on international stage and contributes to growing sense of identity (separate from Britain)
Trained at Valcartier for 4 months, then off to England for more training and battle
Expectation CEF would be absorbed, run by British army

14. Organizing the War Effort: Sam Hughes
Armament (building up equipment, weapons, etc.)
Hughes insists on Canadian manufacturers only
Creates Shell Committee to manufacture artillery shells
BUT, inefficient and victim to war profiteering
Shell Committee later replaced by the Imperial Munitions Board
Shell Committee a limited success – poor quality shells would sometimes blow up and kill the gunmen, lots of money invested but not a lot of product in return.

15. Organizing the War Effort: Sam Hughes
Hughes is dismissed as Minister of Militia in 1916
Significance: failed attempt at Canadian self-sufficiency maintains that Canada is not ready for full autonomy just yet.

16. Funding the War
During the war, most of Canada’s goods were exported (sent out of country) to Europe.
Leads to inflation:
Same demand for product
Available product costs more
Less of product available on domestic market
Businesses/Corporations make good money as a result of inflation

17. Funding the War
Goal: have all citizens contribute to funding the war through
Victory Bonds
Rationing
Income Tax (intro. in 1917, 1-15%)
Corporate Tax (4%)

18. How to Convince People?
Propaganda: “Ideas, facts or allegations spread deliberately to further one’s cause or to damage an opposing cause.”

19. Example: The Hunger Games
How propaganda works:
Info produced by gov’t that is presented in ways that inspire certain beliefs and/or opinions
Films, Magazines, Radio Programs, Political Speeches & Posters
Appeals to sense of Patriotism
Distorts info – exaggeration and praise
Example: The Hunger Games

20. Common Themes in WWI Propaganda
VICTORY – promote patriotism/nationalism and hostility towards the enemy
RECRUITMENT – encourage men to enlist
CONSERVATION – save money and food (rationing)
FINANCIAL SUPPORT – convince people to buy Victory Bonds or donate to help soldier’s families

21. Propaganda Close ties to Britain
Sense of patriotism and support for Britain was a theme that appeared over and over in Canadian war posters
John Bull portrayed steadfastness and dependability of Britain during the war.

22. Who is the Old Lion?
Who are the Young Lions?
What is the purpose of this poster?

23. What does this message say about Canadians of German descent?

24. Who is the target of this poster?
How does it attempt to get the target to enlist?

25. Victory Bonds
A loan to the government that could be redeemed with interest after 5, 10 or 20 years
5 different campaigns b/w 1915 and 1919.

26. Honour Rationing
Government needed to send as much food and materials as possible to the war effort. Asks people to:
Use less fuel
Eat less meat
Eat less food in general

27. Significance:
All Canadians were made accountable for successes or failures in the war effort.

28. Maintaining the War Effort:
Prior to WWI, Victorian Traditions prevented middle-class women from working
However, during the war:
Industrial production increased
Many men were recruited for the CEF
Result: women fill open positions in every
industry from fishing to farming to munitions!

29. Maintaining the War Effort
Significance of Women’s Contribution:
Good argument for Suffrage – “we contributed, we should get a say”
Granted right to vote (except Aboriginal and Immigrants):
Manitoba: 1916
Alberta: 1916
Saskatchewan: 1916
Ontario: 1917
British Columbia: 1917
Federal: 1918

30. “the mobilization of the entire resources of a nation for war”
Total War
Your definition?
“the mobilization of the entire resources of a nation for war”