Unit 7: WWII Flashcards
Final Exam (Post-Confederation)
The Path to War
Germany ends WWI being blamed for the horrors and the Great Depression, and is also going through a Depression itself. They are in a desperate, humiliating, economic crisis.
Fascism begins to rise as a result, and the fear of communism allows fascism to rise with little opposition.
Hitler begins to rise as early as 1933 taking moves to rebuild Germany and possibly move towards war. Germany is rearming and taking land, but the allies do not do anything.
To stand up against war would put the world on the brink of war again, which for most political leaders such as Mackenzie King, was unfathomable, having just come out of war 20 years earlier. There were warnings around the world to stand up against Germany and Hitler, warning that he would not stop and that Germany would take over, but they were ignored (though correct) because people could not imagine war again.
How does Mackenzie King view Hitler?
King is fond of Hitler and is taken by Hitler’s charisma, but by 1937, he began to see the horrors of Hitler’s policies
How many Jews will Canada let in during WWII?
“None is too many”
For no other reason than anti-semitism, Jewish refugees were not permitted into Canada from Germany and Austria. Canada fears riots (especially in Quebec) if Jews are allowed into Canada. The opposition to Jews comes primarily from Quebec. The Roman Catholic Church is closely related to Fascism during this time period, and fascist movements are rising in Quebec during this time.
1938: Idly-By Speech
Franklin D. Roosevelt accepts an honorary degree at Queen’s University, Kingston in 1938 and gives his “Idly-By Speech.” He says: :I give you the assurance that the people of the US will not stand idly by if domination of Canadian soil is threatened by any other Empire.”
This speech became important symbolic moment for Canadian-American Relations
We see a much closer relationship between Canada and US and Canada becomes less and less of a British nation, and more and more of a Canadian nation. This also represents the rising power of the US as the leading global super power (even over Britain), rising almost unquestioned, right next to Canada.
What does this mean for Canada?
This speech indicates, for the first time, the closeness that Canada is considered a part of the American orbit. The US is promising that it will not allow Canadian soil to be threatened. Canada is closer than it has ever been to the US .
When and Why does WWII begin?
September 1 1939: WWII Begins when Hitler invades Poland
After Hitler had made move after move, Britain says to Germany, and that if Hitler invades Poland, Britain will declare war.
When does Canada decide to go to war?
Unlike WWI, Canada does not immediately go to war.
As a result of (1) the statute of Westminster and, (2) the Imperial Conferences, Canada has gained autonomy and has control of its own foreign policy
However, this is no question or debate of what Canada is going to do.
September 3: Britain declares War
September 10: Canada declares War
What does the US do at the beginning of the War?
American Isolationism
US maintains policy of isolationism, and is not at war during this time
Mackenzie King has spent time in the US studying for his PhD and working for the Rockefeller family
Lynchpin Role
Mackenzie King is serving his “Lynchpin” role
How can the US not declare war but still support Canada? Trade
The Royal Canadian Navy plays a critical role in moving war supplies from US, to Canada, to Britain. The North Atlantic becomes a battleground.
Early Enthusiasm
There is an allied sense of common support in WWII; a sense of excitement that comes along in going to war again (despite fears).
We can see this through the propaganda. This represents, again, the rising power of the state in Canada.
The state has gained power from WWI, and even more so, from the Great Depression. We see a much more powerful and regulatory Canadian State, and it is backed by all of the (white, anglo, male) political scholars
So, the question becomes, how successful will Canada be in this war compared to WWI with a more powerful State?
No Conscription
The Liberal government promises no conscription, as they did in WWI. Robert Manion, leader of the Conservatives, married to a French Catholic, promises no conscription.
War Measures Act
The War Measures Act is declared (again, like in WWI) which suspends civil liberties. The right to the justice system, and judicial review is suspended, and the freedom of press is suspended.
But, the propaganda is much different in WWII than in WWI. There has been an agreement between the Federal Government and the Press: the press says that they will censor themselves (and this largely works for the duration of WWII).
Gender Advancement
Increased number of women in war, but there is a change from WWI. There is an increase in auxiliary, administrative and nursing roles
Limited Liability
Although Canada does not have a military, Canada has a distinct Canadian army of soldiers lead by Canadian generals. Canadians sign up in massive numbers as Canada goes to war one week after Britain. They are getting on ships, heading to Britain to be trained, but the point here, is that Mackenzie King has a strategy for the role that he wants Canada to play.
King’s strategy in WWII is to fight a war of “Limited Liability.” He wants to do everything he can to avoid casualties, because casualties will lead to conscription. The ideal role of Canada in the Second World War is to be the supplier to Britain, and this worked for Canada through the “phony war.” September 1939-June 1940 became known as The Naval War (i.e. The “Phony” War) due to the lack of major military operations. Canadians see little action until the middle of the war, and Canada is doing everything they can to hold back the troops, and keep them in Britain in training positions.
British Commonwealth Air Training Program (BCATP)
Canada becomes the base for the Royal Air Force.
Canada was rebuilding, financing the war differently and playing a limited liability role, especially through the British Commonwealth Air Training Program (BCATP).
Canada will serve as the training ground for pilots across the British training ground, and so about half of the British pilots (Britain, Australia, New Zealand) come to Canada to train. Canada must set up pilot training bases, and this is excellent for the Canadian economy. Canada holds dances for these men and invites Canadian women (and we see “War Brides”: Canadians going overseas and finding brides and bringing them back to Canada; and Canadian women falling in love with and marrying these pilots from overseas).
When and why does the economic recession end?
Canada rebuilds over the winter of 1939-1940, to head into the Spring and Summer prepared for War. Canada is pulled from Depression; the Great Depression ends overnight as unemployment goes from 34% to 0%.
Canada is preparing its military, and there are jobs everywhere for everyone. Canada is trading with the US and buying way more than we are selling (we are buying from the US, and then sending it to Britain, who is buying more than they are selling). This creates a major economic imbalance and the solution becomes the “Trade Lease.”
How does Canada finance the war differently than WWI?
We see victory bonds rise, and people are encouraged to do their part in the war by buying victory bonds.
The government is setting up boards before the war has ended to reconstruct after the war. Canada did not do this in WWI.
Canada believes that after this war ends, Canada will go into economic recession and depression. The state is changing the way they finance the war.
Their mentality changes, and they believe that the generation that fights in the war, pays for the war. They do this through massive taxation, budget after budget, imposing taxes on everything and controlling wages and prices (with seals).
The government is controlling inflation and spending to control the economy, and the people at the time are being rationed and regimented. This strategy succeeds massively, even though people are very unhappy (and show their unhappiness).
The Fall of France
Despite King’s strategic successes, things look dark very early in the war (unlike in WWI).
The fall of France in June 1940 is a huge blow to the allied effort, and things looked very dark; they thought it was over (even with Britain’s new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill).
It looks like Hitler will win and his armies move through Scandinavia with ease and are moving towards France in the Spring. The darkest day of the war for the allied effort is when Germany sweeps through France, and this causes despair. France is taken out of the war and Britain stands alone.
Mackenzie King writes that Britain is done. The German Air Force is bombing the British cities in an attempt to prepare Britain for the final assault.
