1. THE WAR ON THE HOMEFRONT

2. 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

3. 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

5. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. THE KHAKI ELECTION
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

28. 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

29. 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?

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