WWI - Canada Flashcards
Date Canada entered the war
August 4, 1914
What does CEF stand for?
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Were the initial troops volunteers or conscripts? Where were most of the men from?
Volunteers, most were British-born
What was public opinion when the war started?
Public opinion was initially very supportive, though this changed around 1917
Which man led the mobilization process for 3 years?
Col. Sam Hughes
Explain three ways that Canada’s homefront mirrored that of the US
- Both had conscription (Selective Service Act of 1917 for US, Military Service Act of 1917 for Canada),
- Both had propaganda campaigns ( “Every Canadian should do their bit”)
- Both created government agencies, which they micromanaged
- both took away/limited civil liberties (Espionage and Sedition Acts, War Measures Act)
- Both employed war bonds and liberty bonds (Canada more successfully than the US, Canadian Patriotic Fund)
- Both had a high demand for farming, particularly wheat
When were women granted the right to vote in federal elections?
May 24, 1918, though there were restrictions including: had to be a citizen, over 21, she or her husband had to own property
Wilfred Laurier
Prime Minister before the war, led the liberal party, lost to Robert Borden in 1917. Distrustful of British imperialism, thought they were greedy. First Francophone prime minister, prior to the war he expanded civil liberties to include other Francophone
Col. Sam Hughes
Minister of Militia, operated free of government interference before he got fired
Robert Borden
Prime Minister during the war
Henri Bourassa
French Canadian, led draft opposition in Quebec
Thomas White
Finance Minister, responsible for appropriation of government funds during the war
British North America Act
Constitution Act of 1867, Canada was three different areas (Canada, Newfoundland, New Brunswick), combined them into one dominion, established a Canadian constitution within the British Empire
War Measures Act
August 1914, expanded government power by government agencies, limited civil liberties against German citizens
Canadian Patriotic Fund
Extremely successful, collected money for soldiers’ families, took financial hardship away while soldiers were away overseas, could earn up to $50 a month
Military Service Act
August 29, 1917, Parliament voted on implementing a draft, draft would go into effect January 1, 1918
Wartime Elections Act
Allowed wives, mothers, and sisters of active soldiers vote, took away civil liberties of conscientious objectors and recent immigrants from Central Power countries
Military Voters Act
Expanded the right to vote to all military personnel, including women and nurses. Strategic to give these people the right to vote because they would be in favor of the draft, which would relieve the pressure on current soldiers
Ross Rifle
Issued to infantry by Sam Hughes, very heavy, jammed easily, criticized by soldiers who were forced to use it, replaced by the British Lee-Enfield Rifle
Farming
High demand, expanded production leads to high profits, Saskatchewan was main wheat producer, took land from First Nations (Native Americans) to increase agricultural production. Soldiers of the Soil -took volunteers of boys and made them farm hands. Farmerettes- girl version of Soldiers of the Soil
Shell Committee 1915
created by Sam Hughes, responsible for coordinating the production of munitions for the war effort. Not enough shells were being made so Hughes was fired. A lot of profiteering and corruption within the committee
Imperial Munitions Board
put in place to counteract the shell committee, by Joseph Flavelle, lead to Canada production 2 million dollars of munitions daily by 1917, created 250,000 jobs, 30,000 was women, expanded past munitions to go into airplanes, engines, guns, cargo ships, chemicals, etc.
Second Battle of Ypres
Date- April-May 1915
Losses = 6,000
Misc. info- First major engagement for the Canadians, gained a reputation for being tough fighters, however, a lot of losses were due to German gas
The Somme (Beaumont-Hamel)
Date- July 1, 1916
Losses = The group that fought here was strictly from Newfoundland, lost 710/801, Newfoundland lost an entire generation of men
