Conscription Crisis Not necessarily conscription but conscription if

Conscription Crisis! “Not necessarily conscription, but conscription if necessary. ” -Mackenzie King

Conscription Crisis • At the outbreak of war, P. M. King promised that there would be no conscription. • The German victories in 1940 showed that many Canadian troops would be needed to help defend Britain and defeat the Germans.

Conscription Crisis • Many Canadians (including the Conservative opposition) called for the government to send more troops overseas. • In response: The National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) was brought in 1940. • Allowed conscription for “home defense” only.

Conscription Crisis • King received continued pressure from the Conservative Party to adopt overseas conscription. • King decided to hold a plebiscite to get people’s views on conscription: April 1942. Result: • Quebec: NO Everywhere else: YES

Drawing Connections In what way was the conscription crisis of 1942 -44 the same as the conscription crisis of 1917? How did it divide the country?

Conscription Crisis • King “wishy-washy” on the issue: “Not necessarily conscription, but conscription if necessary” • For two years, conscription issue is avoided.

Conscription • In the 1944 invasion Canada lost 23, 000 troops. • A new Min. of Def. - General Mc. Naughtonbrought in to try and convince people to volunteer. He failed.

Conscription Crisis • In the final months of the war, overseas conscription brought in. • 12, 000 conscripts sent to Europe. • Not all were peaceful about leaving: in BC, conscripts refused to leave; in Montreal, there were riots(!) and the Quebec leg. passed a motion condemning the fed govt. • In the end only 2463 conscripts made it to the front.

Review Questions • How did King manage to avoid sending conscripts overseas during the war? • What pressures eventually made him decide to send conscripts overseas?