BELLWORK: February 11th

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BELLWORK February 11th

1. List three factors that contributed to Canadas
   changing dominion status during WWI.
2. Describe one achievement made by PMs Laurier
   Borden.
3. Explain the causes and effects of Canadas
   Military Service Act.
4. Who was Sam Hughes? What did he want from Borden?
5. List three ways Canadian minorities were involved
   in WWI.
6. THINKER WWI is considered an important event in
   the development of Canada as an independent
   nation. Why do you think this is? How can the
   experience of war foster nationalist feelings?

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Canadian Involvement in WWI
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Canada Pre-WWI

• As a Dominion of the British Empire, the British
  government controlled Canadas foreign policies
• Gained independence in domestic issues in 1867
  (British NA Act)
• In 1912, the Canadian military was integrated
  into British defense plans.
• At the outbreak of WWI, Canada had a standing
  military of 3,100 men the navy consisted of two
  warships.

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Declaration of War

• Britain declared war on August 4, 1914
• This British declaration of war automatically
  brought Canada into the conflict
• "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 (Wilfred Laurier)

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Preparation for War

• Initial commitment was 25,000 men
• Equipped delivered to Europe at Canadas
  expense..50 million
• To facilitate this mobilization, the government
  passed the War Measures Act.
• Fed.Gov. had the right to govern in times of
  war, invasion or insurrection.

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Preparation for War

• Mobilization effort was dominated by Sam Hughes
• Assembled, trained, equipped men for battle
  (100,000 by mid-1915 reserves in England)
• Organizations (YMCA Canadian Patriotic Fund)
  raised money for troops, food, uniforms, weapons

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Canadas Role in WWI

• Providing troops to the allies on Western Front
• Supplier of primary resources
• Wheat
• Lumber
• Meat
• Minerals
• Ammunition production
• Imperial War Conference (Jan. 1917) Britain
  expected more from her dominions, but they wanted
  a change in political status

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HMCS Niobe stops a liner for contraband
inspection off the American coast, 1914.
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Payment for War

• Canada was already in debt an economic
  depression prior to WWI
• Had to borrow money..not from England..who?
• Increased taxes (new items income)
• Emerged from WWI with a debt around 5 billion

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Military Service Act of 1917

• Prime Minister Borden passed the Military Service
  Act in 1917 which officially started conscription
  (the draft).
• It was modeled after Englands 1916 Military
  Service Act.
• This act required all male citizens, ages 20-45,
  to register for the draft, and if called upon,
  would be required to serve for the duration of
  the conflict.
• Why do you think Borden implemented the draft?
• Which groups in society do you think supported
  the draft? Who do you think opposed it?
• Conscription is used throughout the 20th century
  by most countries during war, including the U.S.
  and Canada. What are the advantages/disadvantages
  of conscription?
• What do YOU think? Should the government have the
  right to conscript its citizens?

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Review Canadian Involvement in WWI
https//www.youtube.com/watch?veYmsRaT6L1Y
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Conscription Crisis of 1917

• Bordens decision to implement the draft is still
  considered one of the fiercest and most divisive
  debates in Canadian political history.
• French-Canadians, as well as many farmers,
  unionized workers, religious groups, immigrants,
  and other Canadians, generally opposed the
  measure.
• English-speaking Canadians, led by Prime Minister
  Borden and senior members of his Cabinet, as well
  as British immigrants, the families of soldiers,
  and older Canadians, generally supported it.
• The conscription debate intensified pre-existing
  divisions in Canada including language education,
  agriculture, religion, and the political rights
  of women and immigrants.
• It also grew into a test of one's support for, or
  opposition to, the war as a whole. Charges of
  disloyalty, cowardice, and immorality from
  pro-conscription advocates were matched by cries
  of imperialism, stupidity, and bloodlust by the
  anti-conscription camp.
• PM Borden was re-elected in 1918 due to the
  support of the English-speaking majority and
  military. He lost in French/agricultural regions.

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Anti-War demonstration in Montreal 1917
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Conscription Results

• For many Canadians, the draft was an important
  and necessary contribution to a faltering war
  effort for others, it was an oppressive act
  passed dishonestly by a government more British
  than Canadian.
• Farmers sought agricultural exemptions from
  compulsory service until the end of the war.
  Borden's government, anxious for farmers' votes,
  agreed to limited exemptions, largely for
  farmers' laboring sons, but broke the promise
  after the election.
• French Canadians did not feel the same patriotism
  and support for Great Britain that English
  Canadians did
• Immigrants and minorities did not support it
  because they still had no political voice

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Conscription Results

• French-speaking Canadians protested throughout
  1917-18 young men by the tens of thousands
  joined others from across Canada in refusing to
  register for the selection process.
• Of those that did register, 95 applied for an
  exemption.
• An effort to arrest suspected draft dodgers was
  highly unpopular across the province and resulted
  in several days of rioting and street battles in
  Quebec in 1918. The violence left four civilians
  dead and dozens injured, and shocked supporters
  on both sides.
• Conscription would have minimal impact on
  Canada's war effort. By the end of WWI in
  November 1918, only 48,000 conscripts had been
  sent overseas, half of which ultimately served at
  the front. More than 50,000 more conscripts
  remained in Canada. These would have been
  required had the war continued into 1919

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Conscription Activity Silent Debate

• You and a partner will engage in a silent debate
  activity focusing on the pros/cons of Canadian
  Conscription.
• Partner A representing the interests of French
  Canadians
• Partner B representing the interest of English
  Canadians
• Follow the guidelines on the handout make sure
  you use evidence to back up your arguments.
• Afterwards, you and your partner must come to a
  conclusion, so make sure you are paying attention
  to counter-arguments
• Remember
• NO TALKING!!!!!

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Homework Canadian Involvement (pgs. 167-174)
due Monday!

• Canadian-British changing relationship (include
  military war conference)
• English-French divide
• Conscription Crisis
• Fighting on the Western Front
• Involvement in the Peace Conference
• Impact of WWI on
• Demobilization
• Economy
• Diplomacy

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Canadas Current Status

• As the Dominions acquired autonomy and then
  independence from Britain, the Empire evolved
  into the Commonwealth, with a voluntary and equal
  membership of independent states.
• England had a few powers to make laws for Canada
  until the new Constitution Act was passed in
  1982. Currently, Canada is technically
  independent. It just so happens that it shares
  the British monarch, as dictated by the
  Constitution Act - so Queen Elizabeth II is Queen
  of Canada
• Nevertheless, the Queen has come to acquire some
  symbolically-important roles as Head of the
  Commonwealth. Her formal functions include
  opening the Commonwealth Heads of Government
  meetings, and giving her Christmas Day broadcast
  to the Commonwealth. She is kept informed of
  political developments in Commonwealth countries
  through the heads of government.
• Furthermore, she is supplied with information by
  the Commonwealth Secretariat in London - created
  in 1965 by all Commonwealth members, essentially
  to aid inter-governmental co-operation
• All speeches which she makes in a Commonwealth
  monarchy, for example Canada or Australia, are
  made on the advice and responsibility of the
  prime minister of the country concerned.
• Canada owes its independence from Britain to
  political developments, rather than legal changes
  in the formal constitution
• This fundamental transfer of executive power,
  which brought with it complete independence in
  foreign relations, was achieved almost entirely
  by constitutional convention.
• http//thecommonwealth.org/member-countries

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DISCUSSION

1. Explain Canadas political status pre-WWI.
2. How did Canada prepare for war?
3. List 3 ways Canada contributed to the war effort.
   
4. What was decided at the Imperial War Conference?
5. THINKER As you know the implementation of the
   draft by PM Borden in 1917 led to a wave of
   opposition/protests from Canadian citizens. What
   do YOU think? Should the government have the
   right to conscript its citizens?

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HOMEWORK

• Tomorrow we will focus on US involvement in WWI.
• For homework tonight, read pgs. 42-44 in the
  packet.
• Focus any notes/annotations on
• Russian Withdrawal
• US declaration of war why?
• Its effects on the balance of power

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2013 Writing Assignment Conscription

• For this writing assignment, you are to take on
  the viewpoint of either-
• A Canadian soldier fighting on the Western front
• A Canadian Farmer
• An English Canadian
• A French Canadian
• An Immigrant (not native to Canada)
• From this persons perspective, you will write a
  letter to Prime Minister Borden expressing your
  support/opposition to the Military Service Act.
• You must include support/evidence to back up your
  opinion. Get into character! Why would that
  person support/oppose the draft? Show your
  understanding of conscription and the debate
  present during the war!
• Due Wednesday and needs to be min. 2 paragraphs