TOTAL WAR Conscription. CONSCRIPTION CRISIS, 1917 Initial response to the war declaration was enthusiasm by all members of Canada; Initial response to

TOTAL WARTOTAL WAR

ConscriptionConscription

CONSCRIPTION CRISIS, 1917CONSCRIPTION CRISIS, 1917

Initial response to the war declaration was enthusiasm Initial response to the war declaration was enthusiasm by all members of Canada;by all members of Canada;

By the end of 1916, there were more casualties than By the end of 1916, there were more casualties than were men enlisting in the armed forces;were men enlisting in the armed forces;

Criticisms were made against Quebec that the effort Criticisms were made against Quebec that the effort and enlistment was lowest there;and enlistment was lowest there;

Quebeckers were upset at the lack of recognition for Quebeckers were upset at the lack of recognition for the 22the 22ndnd Battalion, an entirely French battalion; Battalion, an entirely French battalion;

(the “Van Doos”)(the “Van Doos”)


Most vocal opponent of Most vocal opponent of conscription in Quebec;conscription in Quebec;

Owned the French paper Owned the French paper Le DevoirLe Devoir;;

Wanted Canadian Wanted Canadian independence from independence from Britain, but without Britain, but without obligations to the obligations to the Crown;Crown;

HENRI BOURASSA


June 1917 – June 1917 – Military Service BillMilitary Service Bill• All males between 18 and 45 eligible for service;All males between 18 and 45 eligible for service;• Exemptions: Exemptions:

Conscientious objectors;Conscientious objectors; Persons in essential war productions;Persons in essential war productions; Persons with specialized qualifications;Persons with specialized qualifications; Persons where military service caused special Persons where military service caused special

hardships;hardships;

THE HOME FRONTTHE HOME FRONT

At the beginning of war Canada did not have At the beginning of war Canada did not have many factories and were mostly agricultural;many factories and were mostly agricultural;

By 1917, there were 600 factories, employing By 1917, there were 600 factories, employing over 300,000; almost 35,000 of those over 300,000; almost 35,000 of those employees were women;employees were women;

By 1918 there were also shipbuilding By 1918 there were also shipbuilding department;department;

Natural resources were also important – Natural resources were also important – especially metals; especially metals;

THE HOME FRONTTHE HOME FRONT

Contributions from everyone were expected;Contributions from everyone were expected;• The Patriotic FundThe Patriotic Fund• Savings BondsSavings Bonds• Victory BondsVictory Bonds• Thrift StampsThrift Stamps• Canadian Red CrossCanadian Red Cross• Help in local agricultural regionsHelp in local agricultural regions• Volunteer in support groups (Boy Scouts)Volunteer in support groups (Boy Scouts)

THE HOME FRONT - THE HOME FRONT - PROPAGANDAPROPAGANDA

Primary sources of information came from the Primary sources of information came from the press and the government;press and the government;

Government had tight constraints over the Government had tight constraints over the information in the Press because of the information in the Press because of the possibility of sensitive information being possibility of sensitive information being leaked;leaked;

Information was “sanitized” (censored) prior Information was “sanitized” (censored) prior to printing to control what the public read;to printing to control what the public read;

THE HOME FRONT - THE HOME FRONT - PROPAGANDAPROPAGANDA

Early propaganda identified the glamour of war, Early propaganda identified the glamour of war, promoting the heroic and patriotic;promoting the heroic and patriotic;

Because the occurrences and realities of war were Because the occurrences and realities of war were distorted by the media, the people on the home front distorted by the media, the people on the home front never understood the soldiers experiences;never understood the soldiers experiences;

Newspapers openly shamed those who did not enlist;Newspapers openly shamed those who did not enlist; Newspaper stories identified atrocities and Newspaper stories identified atrocities and

stereotypes in order to demonize the Alliance;stereotypes in order to demonize the Alliance; Most of the stories were untrue, but served to Most of the stories were untrue, but served to

encourage those at home and on the front lines;encourage those at home and on the front lines;

HALIFAX EXPLOSIONHALIFAX EXPLOSION

December 6, 1917 – Halifax, Nova ScotiaDecember 6, 1917 – Halifax, Nova Scotia The French munitions ship, The French munitions ship, Mont BlancMont Blanc, was , was

full of over 3000 tonnes of munitions supplies full of over 3000 tonnes of munitions supplies and explosives;and explosives;

The Norwegian steam ship, the The Norwegian steam ship, the ImoImo, also , also entered the harbour;entered the harbour;

The two collide and a fire on the The two collide and a fire on the Mont BlancMont Blanc starts as a result;starts as a result;


The crew of the Mont Blanc abandoned ship as The crew of the Mont Blanc abandoned ship as soon as possible, knowing what was to soon as possible, knowing what was to happen;happen;

The people in the city of Halifax did not know The people in the city of Halifax did not know what was on the ship and what was about to what was on the ship and what was about to happen;happen;

The blast was felt in Truro, NS, Prince Edward The blast was felt in Truro, NS, Prince Edward Island and Sydney, NSIsland and Sydney, NS


The largest non-military explosion in history, The largest non-military explosion in history, until Hiroshima;until Hiroshima;

A huge wave swept across the harbour A huge wave swept across the harbour destroying almost all of the buildings or destroying almost all of the buildings or setting them on fire;setting them on fire;

Over 1,900 people were killed or would die; Over 1,900 people were killed or would die; (likley more than 3,000 killed or injured)(likley more than 3,000 killed or injured)

Glass fragments flew all over the city – many Glass fragments flew all over the city – many people are blinded by glass;people are blinded by glass;


The damages are registered within a 16 mile The damages are registered within a 16 mile radius from the harbour;radius from the harbour;

Many people are now homeless and injured;Many people are now homeless and injured; The night of the blast was also one of the The night of the blast was also one of the

worst blizzard in years;worst blizzard in years; Aid was sent from other cities in the Maritimes Aid was sent from other cities in the Maritimes

and from some Northeastern American towns and from some Northeastern American towns and naval ships;and naval ships;


Watch the following video on the Halifax Watch the following video on the Halifax Explosion:Explosion:

Why was this event so disastrous for the Why was this event so disastrous for the Canadians and the war effort?Canadians and the war effort?

WOMEN AT WARWOMEN AT WAR

The war changed the roles of women in The war changed the roles of women in Canadian society;Canadian society;

No longer on the sidelines, they began to work No longer on the sidelines, they began to work in factories and within branches of the armed in factories and within branches of the armed forces;forces;

Also played an important role in recruiting Also played an important role in recruiting men to the armed forces;men to the armed forces;

Women worked in volunteer organizations;Women worked in volunteer organizations;


Red Cross:Red Cross:• Knitting socks, rolling bandages, packing food Knitting socks, rolling bandages, packing food

parcels;parcels; Canadian Field Comforts Commission:Canadian Field Comforts Commission:

• Distributing gifts and supplies sent to soldiers;Distributing gifts and supplies sent to soldiers; Canadian Army Medical Corps:Canadian Army Medical Corps:

• Nursing Sisters (actually got paid the same rate as Nursing Sisters (actually got paid the same rate as officers) over 3,000 women in this position;officers) over 3,000 women in this position;

Hospital ward

(Helen Lauder Fowlds personal records)

WOMEN AT WAR - RECORDSWOMEN AT WAR - RECORDS

Filming for medical records

WOMEN AT WARWOMEN AT WAR By 1916, there was a developing labour shortage in By 1916, there was a developing labour shortage in

Canada in the factories as more men were encouraged Canada in the factories as more men were encouraged to enlist;to enlist;

Women, most of whom were unmarried, worked in Women, most of whom were unmarried, worked in munitions factories; munitions factories;

Working hours were the same as for men, as women Working hours were the same as for men, as women learned trades within the factory;learned trades within the factory;

Pay was still lower than that of men ($.23 to $.45 per Pay was still lower than that of men ($.23 to $.45 per hour);hour);

Women’s labour was seen as “a temporary act of Women’s labour was seen as “a temporary act of patriotism;”patriotism;”


Found employment in agriculture as fruit Found employment in agriculture as fruit pickers and harvesters, although not as readily pickers and harvesters, although not as readily accepted into the workforce;accepted into the workforce;

Civil service (government) work was found by Civil service (government) work was found by about 5,000 to 6,000 women;about 5,000 to 6,000 women;• Streetcar and train conductors;Streetcar and train conductors;• Office workers;Office workers;

U.S. ENTERS – RUSSIA LEAVESU.S. ENTERS – RUSSIA LEAVES 1917 would be a very important year in the 1917 would be a very important year in the

course of the war;course of the war; Although the Americans were remaining out Although the Americans were remaining out

of the European conflict, they were pro-Allies of the European conflict, they were pro-Allies because of the stories of civilian deaths, because of the stories of civilian deaths, invasions of neutral areas and other invasions of neutral areas and other propaganda;propaganda;

Financial and production help was also Financial and production help was also provided from American industry and provided from American industry and government;government;

U.S. ENTERS – RUSSIA LEAVESU.S. ENTERS – RUSSIA LEAVES Germany wanted to distract the US from the war in Germany wanted to distract the US from the war in

Europe, so they sent a telegram to Mexico’s Europe, so they sent a telegram to Mexico’s government stating support if they decided to invade government stating support if they decided to invade the US – the US – Zimmerman TelegramZimmerman Telegram;;

The US was still concerned about their ships after the The US was still concerned about their ships after the sinking of the sinking of the LusitaniaLusitania in 1915, and the unrestricted in 1915, and the unrestricted warfare on ships trading with the Triple Entente;warfare on ships trading with the Triple Entente;

The US declared war in April 1917, under the The US declared war in April 1917, under the instruction of instruction of President Woodrow WilsonPresident Woodrow Wilson;;

Germany wanted to end the war quickly before the Germany wanted to end the war quickly before the Americans could mobilize;Americans could mobilize;

U.S. ENTERS – RUSSIA LEAVESU.S. ENTERS – RUSSIA LEAVES

Russian troops on the Eastern Front were Russian troops on the Eastern Front were poorly equipped and poorly trained, compared poorly equipped and poorly trained, compared to the professional German army;to the professional German army;

Czar Nicholas IICzar Nicholas II was seen to be a weak leader was seen to be a weak leader and was detached from the fighting at the and was detached from the fighting at the front;front;

After the initial losses to the Germans, the After the initial losses to the Germans, the soldiers’ morale dropped and resentment soldiers’ morale dropped and resentment toward the Royal Family and their privileged toward the Royal Family and their privileged friends increased; friends increased;

U.S. ENTERS – RUSSIA LEAVESU.S. ENTERS – RUSSIA LEAVES By 1917, Russian soldiers and sailors mutinied By 1917, Russian soldiers and sailors mutinied

and refused to fight, their slogan became and refused to fight, their slogan became ““Land, Bread and Peace;Land, Bread and Peace;””

The Germans saw an opportunity and even The Germans saw an opportunity and even helped to transport a Communist leader, helped to transport a Communist leader, Vladimir Ilyich UlyanovVladimir Ilyich Ulyanov ( (LeninLenin) from ) from Switzerland;Switzerland;

Once in Russia he rallied the people and Once in Russia he rallied the people and overthrew the government in the overthrew the government in the Bolshevik Bolshevik RevolutionRevolution;;

U.S. ENTERS – RUSSIA LEAVESU.S. ENTERS – RUSSIA LEAVES

Once in power in Russia, Lenin negotiated a Once in power in Russia, Lenin negotiated a peace treaty with Germany (peace treaty with Germany (Treaty of Brest-Treaty of Brest-LitovskLitovsk) and pulled Russia out of the fighting;) and pulled Russia out of the fighting;

The Germans quickly moved their troops to The Germans quickly moved their troops to the Western Front;the Western Front;

By this time over 500,000 Americans had By this time over 500,000 Americans had landed in Europe and by November 1918 it landed in Europe and by November 1918 it was obvious to the Germans that they could no was obvious to the Germans that they could no longer hold their lines against the Allies;longer hold their lines against the Allies;

AFTERMATHAFTERMATH By the end of the war over 8 million soldiers By the end of the war over 8 million soldiers

had dies and 20 million more lived with the had dies and 20 million more lived with the wounds, shell shock, gassed lungs, lost limbs wounds, shell shock, gassed lungs, lost limbs and sight or hearing loss;and sight or hearing loss;

30 nations had participated in the fighting;30 nations had participated in the fighting; The largest nations involved in the war would The largest nations involved in the war would

decide the future for Germany – Britain, decide the future for Germany – Britain, France and the US, with Italian participation;France and the US, with Italian participation;

Canada would be their own signing member – Canada would be their own signing member – for the first time.for the first time.

Documents

TOTAL WAR Conscription. CONSCRIPTION CRISIS, 1917 Initial response to the war declaration was enthusiasm by all members of Canada; Initial response to