THE WAR AT HOME Wars Fought by soldiers

THE WAR AT HOME

Wars = Fought by soldiers on the FRONT LINES The war affected the home front in three very significant ways: 1. It created a political divide. 2. It changed the Canadian Economy; and 3. It changed the lives of Canadian women.

The Conscription Crisis: The Events that led to a National Crisis in 1917

The Conscription Crisis (1917) in World War One The War Measures Act (1914) Militia Act (1916) Conscription War Voters Act Robert Borden Wilfred Laurier Quebec Premier Henri Bourassa

Canada’s Entry into WW 1 n World War One broke out in 1914 and, as an ally of Great Britain, Canada automatically found itself in the fray. Prime Minister Robert Borden declared that "when Great Britain is at war, Canada is at war, and there is no difference at all. " Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden

Borden Introduces The War Measures Act (1914) n The War Measures Act of 1914 provided that “the Governor in Council shall have the power to do and authorize such acts and things, and to make from time to time, such orders and regulations, as he may by reason of the existence of real or apprehended war, invasion or insurrection, deem necessary or advisable for the security, defence, peace, order and welfare of Canada. ” Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden introduces the War Measures Act when Canada enters WW 1

Canada Responds to Britain’s Call to Arms At the beginning of the war, Canada had a regular army of only 3110 men. However, within a mere two months, Canada could boast of an army of over 32, 000 men as men flocked to recruiting stations to “fight for the empire”, and a chance to witness the experience of a lifetime. “We’ll be home by Christmas!” Off to War! Answering the Call Victory is Certain!

Canadians Were Answering the Call n n Approximately 312, 000 men and officers had enlisted by the end of 1916. However, this amount was significantly less than Borden’s pledge to the British that he would provide over 500, 000 for the war effort.

The Realities of War n However, by 1916 the realities of the war had sunk in. 1916 was disastrous for the Allies and the situation was becoming critical. The French and the British had suffered heavy casualties, mutinies were erupting within the French army, German submarines were wreaking havoc and the Russian allies were on the brink of being soundly defeated. The Somme “Blood Bath” Typical Battle Conditions Allied POWs German U-Boats

By 1916 Canadian Troops Knew all About The Harsh Realities of War Cramped Conditions Poison Gas Attacks Fallen Soldiers Intense Close Combat Disease in the Trenches High Losses from Artillery

The News from the Trenches n n As the news from the trenches reaches Canadians back home, the number of Canadian men volunteering for the war effort drops. The Canadian Government tries to maintain enlistment levels through extensive propaganda campaigns

We Need More Troops! n n n On the front, Canadian officers were desperate for reinforcements to make up for their heavy losses; especially from the “Bloodbath” at the Battle of the Somme Prime Minister Borden was determined to maintain Canada's participation in the War. For Borden, this was the only way for Canada to be considered equal to Great Britain, rather than a mere colony.

War Propaganda Campaigns

Borden Responds with Conscription n n Despite extensive War Propaganda Campaigns Volunteers were becoming harder to find. Prime Minister Borden was convinced of the importance of establishing a forced conscription (enlistment) system to compensate for Canada’s heavy losses.

Conscription n Conscription: A recruiting system that ranks the population (as a rule, men only) by age in order to force desirable members to go to war. In Canada, conscription was established by vote in the House of Commons. When conscription becomes law, you must enlist, otherwise you go to jail.

The Military Service Act n n n In order to implement Conscription, Borden introduces the Military Service Act (1916) Military Service Act Law adopted on August 29, 1917 to gather 100, 000 men as reinforcements for the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The law, which contained numerous exceptions, was applied erratically. 99, 561 people were conscripted as a result of the law.

Extending the Vote n n n In order to get the votes he needed, Borden passed two new acts: Military Voters Act Law that extended the right to vote to all men and women in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. War-time Elections Act Law which extended the right to vote to the mothers, wives, and sisters of the soldiers serving, while at the same time refusing that right to citizens from enemy countries. Pro Conscription Poster

Military Service Act (1917) n In 1917, the government created a third piece of legislation that addressed conscription. The Military Service Act placed restrictions on who could be called upon for mandatory military service. Those exempted included farmers and farm labourers, who were needed to continue providing food in a time of shortage.

Exemptions to the Act Removed n On April 20, 1918, an orderin-council was passed that removed exemptions outlined in the Military Service Act of 1917, leaving farming operations across the country short of labour and those who were called for service wondering if their rights had been maintained.

Reaction to Conscription in Quebec n n The recruiting effort in Quebec had failed. Almost all French-Canadians opposed conscription since they felt that they had no particular loyalty to either Britain or France. When Conscription was introduced in the House of Commons, virtually every French-Canadian MP voted against it and virtually every English. Canadian MP voted for it. Lead by Henri Bourassa they felt their only loyalty was to Canada. He felt that "Canada had no business in a blatantly imperialistic European war". Henri Bourassa

Wilfred Laurier n n Canada’s 7 th Prime Minister (1896 -1911) Canada's first francophone prime minister Laurier had opposed conscription from the beginning of the war, arguing that an intense campaign for volunteers would produce enough troops. He felt that if he joined the coalition with Borden and voted for Conscription that Quebec would fall under what he perceived as a dangerous nationalism of Bourassa and lead to Quebec Separatism. Wilfred Laurier

1917 Canadian Election PM Borden called a federal election on the issue of Conscription in 1917.

Election Results on Conscription Divide Canada n n The Union Government under Borden won the election with 153 Seats. Laurier’s Liberals won only 82 seats. 62 of Laurier’s seats were from the Province of Quebec. Canada was completely “polarized” and divided with the English Canada in favour and French Canada opposed Quebec’s Anti-Conscription stance Separated it from the Rest of Canada

Riots on the Streets of Quebec n On Good Friday, 1918 a fullscale riot broke out in Quebec City. Angry Mobs attacked English Owned Businesses. Troops were brought in to restore order. Soldiers fired shots into the crowds killing four civilians. Henri Bourassa was disgusted with the Canadian Government referring to them as “The Prussians next door” (Germans next door) Riot Broke out in Quebec City

The End Result of Conscription n The intended result of the Military Service Act was to provide the war effort with an extra 100, 000 men (to reach the 500, 000 mark that Borden had originally promised the Allied Forces). However, when the war came to an un-expected halt on Nov 11 th, 1918, only 24, 000 (25% of the conscripted men) had reached Europe. If the war had continued, Conscription would have been a necessity. However, in the end, it’s real result was a serious blow to Canadian Unity (French-English Relations Conscripted Troops arrive in Europe in 1918 when war ends

The Canadian Economy WWI – Canadian government now responsible for manufacturing and shipping millions of dollars in war supplies to help support the British Army and Canadian troops: 1. Munitions 2. Shells 3. Aircraft Parts Demand for these supplies 4. Clothes was extremely HIGH! 5. Food Canada was spending more than 1 million dollars a day!

STRAIN on the ECONOMY PROBLEM: Men fighting in Europe + Women on their own trying to raise and support family = Less spending on goods and services. SOLUTION: 1. War Loans 2. Victory Bonds 3. War Income Tax

War Loans What = Government borrows money by selling bonds to Investors and private corporations. Redemption of money after 5, 10, or 20 years with 5% interest. Earnings = $500 million

Victory Bonds What = Government borrowed money by selling victory bonds to the general public. Redemption of money after 5, 10, or 20 years with 5. 5% interest. Earnings = More than 3 million Canadians bought VBs = $738 million

War Income Tax What = A direct tax established in 1917. The government collected 3% of gross earnings (before deductions) from a family that earned more than $3000 a year and from individuals who earned more than $1500 a year. This did not end with the war as the government promised!

Canadian Women and WWI IMAGINE: n The year = 1914 n n n Men went to work everyday. Women remained at home to clean the house, shop, cook, take care of children, do the laundry, etc. Women did not have the right to vote and jobs they did have were unskilled and paid very little.

NOW IMAGINE: n n The Year = August 1914 Canada is suddenly shot into an epic World Battle. Millions of Canadian men sent overseas to FIGHT. Millions of Canadian women left home to support themselves and their families and to fill the roles that men left behind.

The Role of Women Factories: n The Canadian government needed war supplies to be manufactured in Canadian factories BUT men overseas = women begin to work in factories making war supplies. Nurses: n n Over 2400 women enlisted in the army as nurses. 18 women were killed.

After the war… Propaganda bulletin [1918] TO WOMEN WORKERS Are you working for love or for money? Are you holding a job you do not need? Perhaps you have a husband well able to support you and a comfortable home? You took a job during the war to help meet the shortage of labour. You have “Made good” and you want to go on working. But the war is over and conditions have changed. There is no longer a shortage of labour. On the contrary Ontario is faced by a serious situation due to the number of men unemployed. This number is being increased daily by returning soldiers. They must have work. The pains and dangers they have endured in our defence give them the right to expect it. Do you feel justified in holding a job which could be filled by a man who has not only himself to support, but a wife and family as well? THINK IT OVER Reference: Department of Labour Archives of the Ontario Government.

After the War 1 Women were expected to give way to men returning from the forces and return to pre-war ‘women’s work’. 2 The assumption that ‘a woman’s place is in the home’ returned. 3 The percentage of women at work returned to pre-war levels. 4 More women than before worked in offices. 5 Shorter skirts and hair became fashionable. 6 Women went out with men without a chaperone. 7 Women smoked and wore make-up in public for the first time. 8 In 1919: being female or married was no longer allowed to disqualify someone from holding a job in the professions or civil service.