Post the Boer war Reforms and development Flashcards
What was the core purpose of the Haldane Reforms in Britain?
A. To reduce military spending and prioritize domestic social programs.
B. To establish a system for the creation of Empire expeditionary forces with interoperable armies
C. To withdraw British military presence from its colonies and focus on European defense.
D. To develop a nuclear weapons program to deter potential adversaries.
B. To establish a system for the creation of Empire expeditionary forces with interoperable armies. With the threat of war looming, the Haldane Reforms aimed to ensure that senior dominions, particularly Canada, could contribute more to military efforts. This involved creating interoperable armies across the Empire, ready to form expeditionary forces when needed.
What prompted the British to initiate military reforms following the Boer War?
A. The overwhelming success of the British military tactics.
B. Recognition of weaknesses in their military performance against the Boers.1
C. A desire to expand their colonial empire in Africa.
D. The need to modernize their army to compete with other European powers.
B. Recognition of weaknesses in their military performance against the Boers. The British, despite winning the Boer War, realized it was not a decisive victory. The performance against the Boers raised concerns about how the British army would handle future battles against stronger opponents.
What was the primary objective of the Elgin Commission, established in 1902?
A. To assess the effectiveness of British military leadership and organization during the Boer War.2
B. To investigate war crimes committed by British soldiers against Boer civilians.
C. To negotiate a peace treaty with the Boer republics.
D. To develop a plan for the economic reconstruction of South Africa after the war.
A. To assess the effectiveness of British military leadership and organization during the Boer War The Elgin Commission, established in 1902, aimed to investigate the reasons behind the British army’s struggles during the Boer War
What key recommendation did the Esher Committee put forth to address the issues identified by the Elgin Commission?
A. The creation of a General Staff headed by a Chief of the General Staff (CGS).3
B. The implementation of conscription to expand the size of the British army.
C. The development of new weapons and technologies to gain a military advantage.
D. The establishment of military alliances with other European powers.
A. The creation of a General Staff headed by a Chief of the General Staff (CGS) The Esher Committee recommended establishing an Army Council with military and civilian members and a Chief of the General Staff (CGS) to lead the general staff.
How did Borden’s reforms aim to transform the role of the Permanent Force within the Canadian military?
A. Shifting its focus from an operational force to primarily a training role.
B. Emphasizing its role as a combat-ready force in addition to training the militia.4
C. Reducing its size and budget to prioritize the development of the militia.
D. Integrating it more closely with the British army to prepare for joint operations.
B. Emphasizing its role as a combat-ready force in addition to training the militia. Borden believed the Permanent Force should be a real army capable of combat, not just a training ground for the militia. He created an elite training unit within the Permanent Force to train both permanent and part-time militia personnel.
What was the Canadian government’s response to Britain’s request for support in the naval arms race?
A. They immediately provided financial aid to help Britain build more warships.
B. They proposed the creation of an independent Canadian navy.
C. They refused to get involved, citing Canada’s neutrality in European affairs.
D. They offered to send Canadian troops to serve in the British navy.
B. They proposed the creation of an independent Canadian navy. While recognizing the need for a navy, Canadian political parties disagreed on the approach.
The Conservatives wanted to fund more British Dreadnoughts, while the Liberals, under Laurier, advocated for an independent Canadian navy.
What was the primary reason for the presence of British officers in key positions within the Canadian military between 1907 and 1914?
A. To enforce direct British control over Canadian military operations.
B. To standardize training and organization across the Empire’s armies.
C. To prepare Canada for eventual independence from the British Empire.
D. To suppress potential uprisings by French Canadians against British rule.
B. To standardize training and organization across the Empire’s armies.6 The presence of British officers in key Canadian military positions aimed to standardize armies across the Empire, ensuring compatibility and cohesion during conflicts.
What triggered the naval arms race between Britain and Germany in the early 20th century?
A. Germany’s aggressive expansionist policies in Europe.
B. Britain’s attempt to establish a global naval monopoly.
C. The discovery of vast oil reserves in the North Sea.
D. A series of diplomatic incidents between the two countries.
A. Germany’s aggressive expansionist policies inEurope. Germany’s initiation of a battleship-building competition with Britain.This aggressive shipbuilding program, coupled with Germany’s growing military power and ambitions in Europe, created tension and a perceived threat to British naval dominance. This context suggests that Germany’s expansionist policies contributed significantly to the naval arms race.
Why did the Naval Service Bill, which aimed to create a Canadian navy, face opposition?
A. It was seen as too costly and unnecessary by many Canadians.
B. French Canadian nationalists feared it would draw Canada into imperial wars.
C. British officials opposed the idea of Canada having its own independent navy.
D. The United States viewed the creation of a Canadian navy as a threat to its security
B. French Canadian nationalists feared it would draw Canada into imperial wars. The Naval Service Bill, creating the Canadian navy, faced opposition from French Canadian nationalists who worried about being pulled into imperial conflicts.
What was the outcome of the 1911 federal election in Canada, largely influenced by the debate over the navy?
A. The Liberals won a landslide victory, securing a mandate for their naval policy.
B. The Conservatives were defeated, leading to the continuation of the Liberal government.
C. The Liberals were defeated, partly due to dissatisfaction with their handling of the navy issue.
D. The election resulted in a hung parliament, leading to a coalition government.
C. The Liberals were defeated, partly due to dissatisfaction with their handling of the navy issue. The Liberals lost the 1911 election due to dissatisfaction with their naval plans, with opposition from both Ontario imperialists and Quebec nationalists.
Evaluate the challenges and controversies surrounding the creation of a Canadian navy in the early 20th century, considering the perspectives of both imperialists and anti-imperialists.
The creation of a Canadian navy in the early 20th century faced significant challenges and sparked controversy:
-Imperialist Perspective: Many English Canadians, driven by loyalty to the British Empire, favored directly contributing to the British navy, seeing it as a symbol of imperial unity and a more effective means of supporting British interests. They viewed a separate Canadian navy as unnecessary and potentially divisive.
-Anti-Imperialist Perspective: French Canadian nationalists opposed the idea of a Canadian navy, fearing it would entangle Canada in imperial wars and erode Canadian autonomy. They preferred neutrality in European affairs and prioritized domestic priorities over imperial obligations.
-Political Considerations: The debate over the navy became deeply intertwined with political maneuvering and the delicate balance between English and French Canadian interests. It ultimately contributed to the defeat of Laurier’s Liberal government in the 1911 election, highlighting the divisive nature of the issue.
The eventual establishment of the Royal Canadian Navy, while marking a step towards greater Canadian independence, remained contentious and revealed the complexities of Canada’s relationship with the British Empire
What was the outcome of the 1911 federal election in Canada, largely influenced by the debate over the navy?
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A. The Liberals won a landslide victory, securing a mandate for their naval policy.
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B. The Conservatives were defeated, leading to the continuation of the Liberal government.
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C. The Liberals were defeated, partly due to dissatisfaction with their handling of the navy issue.7
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D. The election resulted in a hung parliament, leading to a coalition government.
C. They abandoned plans for a Canadian navy and instead offered financial aid to Britain.8 Britain no longer saw the need for further naval expansion after winning the naval arms race with Germany.8 As a result, Canada, under Borden’s leadership, did not prioritize building its own navy and had not provided financial support to Britain.
Discuss the impact of Borden’s reforms on the development of the Canadian military, focusing on changes to the Permanent Force and the establishment of new support services.
Borden’s reforms significantly impacted the development of the Canadian military, focusing on the Permanent Force and establishing new support services:
-Permanent Force as an Operational Force: Borden shifted the Permanent Force from a primarily training role to a combat-ready force capable of operations. He created an elite training unit within the Permanent Force to train both permanent and part-time militia personnel, ensuring a higher level of preparedness.
-Establishment of New Support Services: Learning from the logistical challenges in South Africa, Borden introduced support services like logistics, nursing, engineering, and intelligence, improving operational efficiency and expanding opportunities for women in the armed forces.
These reforms enhanced the Canadian military’s professionalism, operational capacity, and readiness for future conflicts.
Explain how the Esher Committee’s recommendations aimed to modernize the British army’s organizational structure and address the shortcomings identified during the Boer War.
Addressing the Elgin Commission’s findings, the Esher Committee proposed key reforms to modernize the British Army and address the shortcomings exposed during the Boer War:
-Army Council: Establish an Army Council composed of civilian and senior military officers to oversee the armed forces, replacing the single Commander-in-Chief.
-Chief of the General Staff (CGS): Create the position of CGS, a member of the Army Council, to lead the general staff and act as the government’s senior military advisor.
-Inspector General: Appoint an Inspector General, reporting to the Army Council, to conduct regular inspections of the army, ensuring adherence to standards and identifying areas for improvement.
These recommendations aimed to professionalize the army, enhance its organizational structure, improve strategic planning, and create a more efficient and effective fighting force.
How did Prime Minister Robert Borden’s government approach the naval issue after assuming office in 1911?
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A. They immediately provided funding for the construction of new Canadian warships.
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B. They expanded and strengthened the existing Canadian navy.
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C. They abandoned plans for a Canadian navy and instead offered financial aid to Britain.8
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D. They negotiated a treaty with the United States to share responsibility for North American naval defense
B. He viewed them with disdain and considered them lazy.8 Sam Hughes, the Minister of Militia and Defence, disliked the regular forces, considering them lazy.
What was Sam Hughes’s attitude towards the regular forces within the Canadian military?
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A. He held them in high regard and prioritized their development.
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B. He viewed them with disdain and considered them lazy.8
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C. He sought to integrate them more closely with the militia.
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D. He proposed reducing their size and budget to allocate more resources to the navy.
C. He oversaw a significant increase in the militia budget and the establishment of new military bases.8 Despite his controversial nature, Hughes increased the militia budget and established new bases in Borden and Valcartier, preparing the army for deployment to Europe.
