WWI: Canada Flashcards
When did Canada enter the war and why?
They entered the war in August 4th, 1914.
They entered the war because they were a British Dominion.
What does CEF stand for?
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Were the initial troops volunteers or conscripts? Where were most of the men from?
Initially troops were volunteers.
They were British born.
What was the public opinion initially when war started?
Initially it was very supported.
Which man led the mobilization process for 3 years?
Colonel Sam Hughes
Explain at least 3 ways that Canada’s and America’s Homefronts similar.
- Conscription
- Propaganda Campaign
- Created Government Agencies
- Limited Civil Liberties
- Employed war bonds and Liberty Loans
- High demand for farming, particularly wheat.
- Women took quasi-male jobs
When were women granted the right to vote in federal elections? What were their restrictions?
May 24th, 1918.
- Had to be a citizen
- Over the age of 21
- Them or husband must own land
Wilfred Laurier
Prime minister of Canada before the war. Distrusted British imperialism, and was opposed to the conscription.
Colonel Sam Hughes
Minister of militia, operated free of government interference
Sir Robert Borden
Prime minister during the war.
Henri Bourassa
French Canadian who led the draft opposition Quebec
Thomas White
Finance Minister of Canada, appropriated government fund throughout the war.
British North America Act
Also called the Constitution Act of 1867. United all of Canada under British control, making the Canadian Constitution
War Measures Act
August of 1914, expanded government powers through wartime government agencies. Quelled civil liberties, especially against German Immigrants.
Canadian Patriotic Fund
Extremely successful, collected money for soldiers families, called a family allowance. You could get up to 50 dollars a month if a family member was fighting overseas.
Military Service Act
August 29th, 1917, when their parliament voted on putting a draft in, which would go into effect January 1st, 1918.
Wartime Elections Act
Changed who could vote:
Women related to men who were fighting in the war could vote, other than children
Conscientious Objectors could not vote
Recent Immigrants could vote
Military Voters Act
Everyone in the military could vote.
Ross Rifle
Issued to Canadian Infantry by Colonel Sam Hughes. It had problems:
- unnecessarily heavy
- Would jam in trench conditions
It was criticized by the Canadians who used it and it was replaced by the British lee-Enfield rifle.
Farming
- It was in high demand and its expanded production led to bigger profits.
- They had a region known as saskatchewan that would do their farming.
- Took land from ‘First Nations’ (Native Americans)
- Soldiers of the soil were boys who were mostly of schooling age that would volunteer to work on the farms
- Farmerettes were basically the female equivalence.
Shell committee 1915
Created by Sam Hughes. It was responsible for creating munitions for the war. Not enough shells were being made, however, and there was corruption in the committee, so it was disbanded.
Imperial Munitions Board
Joseph Flavlee was put in charge of this. It was the counter of the corrupt Shell Committee. They answered directly to Great Britain instead of Canadian Agents. they ended up creating 2 million dollars worth of munitions daily and provided 250,000 jobs for men and 50,000 for women. They eventually expanded to make airplanes, guns, cargo ships, chemicals, and engines.
Second Battle of Yrpes
Date: April-May 1915
Losses- 6,000
Other info- First major engagement for Canadian troops. They had gained a reputation for being tough fighters. Many of them died due to the chemical warfare of the Germans.
The Somme-Beaumont Hamel
Date- July 1st, 1916
Losses- Strictly from Newfoundland, and lost 710 out of 801. Lost an entire generation of Newfoundland males.
