🇨🇦History of Canada – 1867 to Present Unit 5 – Canada in World War I: Home and Battle

Canada's Pre-War Context

• Canada was a Dominion within the British Empire with a population of approximately 8 million in 1914
• Experienced significant immigration in the early 20th century, particularly from Europe, which contributed to economic growth and cultural diversity
• Maintained strong ties to Britain politically, economically, and culturally while also developing a distinct Canadian identity
• Faced domestic challenges such as the growing divide between English and French Canada, regional disparities, and the struggle for women's suffrage
• Economy was primarily based on agriculture, resource extraction (mining, forestry), and manufacturing, with a growing service sector
  • Wheat production in the Prairies was a major driver of economic growth (Wheat Boom)
• Militarily, Canada had a small professional force and a larger militia, but lacked experience in large-scale conflicts
• Relationship with the United States was generally peaceful, despite past conflicts and ongoing border disputes

Causes and Canada's Entry into WWI

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914, triggered a series of events leading to the outbreak of World War I
• Complex system of alliances divided Europe into two main camps: the Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy)
• As a Dominion within the British Empire, Canada was automatically at war when Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914
  • However, the extent of Canada's participation was determined by the Canadian government
• Key factors influencing Canada's entry into the war:
  • Loyalty to the British Empire and a sense of duty to support the "Mother Country"
  • Belief in the righteousness of the Allied cause and the need to defend democracy and freedom against German aggression
  • Perception of the war as an opportunity to assert Canada's identity and prove its worth on the international stage
• Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden pledged full support to Britain, and Parliament quickly passed the War Measures Act, giving the government sweeping powers to mobilize resources for the war effort

Mobilization and the Home Front

• Canada's initial commitment was to raise an expeditionary force of 25,000 volunteers, which quickly grew to over 600,000 by the end of the war
  • Recruitment efforts appealed to patriotism, adventure, and a sense of duty
• The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was formed, consisting of volunteers from across the country
  • Training camps were established, such as Valcartier in Quebec and Camp Hughes in Manitoba
• Industries were retooled to produce war materials, including munitions, ships, and aircraft
  • Women entered the workforce in increasing numbers to replace men who had enlisted (Farmerettes)
• Food production and conservation became a priority, with campaigns like "Victory Gardens" and "Meatless Mondays"
• War bonds and patriotic fundraising drives were used to finance the war effort
• The war led to increased government intervention in the economy, including price controls, rationing, and the regulation of industries
• Tensions arose between English and French Canada, particularly over the issue of conscription (mandatory military service)
  • The Military Service Act of 1917 led to the conscription crisis and exacerbated divisions

Key Battles and Canadian Contributions

• Canadians fought in many major battles on the Western Front, including:
  • Second Battle of Ypres (1915): First major engagement for Canadian troops, where they faced the first use of poison gas by the Germans
  • Battle of the Somme (1916): Canadians played a significant role in the capture of Courcelette and the use of the "creeping barrage" tactic
  • Battle of Vimy Ridge (1917): Considered a defining moment for Canada, as all four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together for the first time and captured the heavily fortified ridge
  • Battle of Passchendaele (1917): Canadians fought in horrific conditions, gaining ground at a high cost in casualties
  • Canada's 100 Days (1918): A series of successful offensive operations that contributed to the Allied victory, including the Battle of Amiens and the capture of Mons
• Canadians also served in other theaters, such as the Gallipoli Campaign (Newfoundland Regiment) and the Siberian Expedition (Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force)
• Canadian nurses served in field hospitals and on hospital ships, often near the front lines
• Canadian pilots served in the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force, engaging in aerial combat and reconnaissance missions

Technological and Tactical Innovations

• Trench warfare characterized much of the fighting on the Western Front, leading to the development of new weapons and tactics
  • Machine guns, artillery, and barbed wire made frontal assaults costly and led to a stalemate
• Poison gas was used as a weapon, starting with chlorine gas and later phosgene and mustard gas, leading to the development of gas masks
• Tanks were introduced to break the stalemate, with the first successful use by the British at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917
• Aircraft evolved from reconnaissance roles to fighters and bombers, engaging in aerial combat (dogfights) and strategic bombing
• Canadians were involved in the development and use of specialized equipment, such as the MacAdam Shield Shovel (a combination shovel and shield) and the Ross Rifle (which had mixed success)
• Tactics evolved to overcome the challenges of trench warfare, including:
  • Creeping barrage: Artillery fire that moved ahead of advancing infantry to provide cover and suppress enemy defenses
  • Trench raids: Small-scale attacks to gather intelligence, capture prisoners, and demoralize the enemy
  • Combined arms: Coordinating infantry, artillery, and later tanks and aircraft for more effective offensives

Social and Political Impact

• The war had a profound impact on Canadian society and politics, both during and after the conflict
• Women's roles expanded as they entered the workforce in greater numbers and took on new responsibilities
  • Women's suffrage movement gained momentum, with some provinces granting women the right to vote during the war (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta)
• Increased government intervention in the economy and daily life, with measures such as price controls, rationing, and prohibition
• Conscription crisis of 1917 divided the country along linguistic and regional lines
  • Quebec strongly opposed conscription, while English Canada generally supported it
  • Led to the formation of the Union Government under Prime Minister Robert Borden
• Internment of "enemy aliens," particularly those of German and Austro-Hungarian descent, in camps across the country
• Strengthened Canadian nationalism and a sense of distinct identity, separate from Britain
• Increased political and economic autonomy for Canada within the British Empire
  • Canada signed the Treaty of Versailles independently and gained a seat in the League of Nations

Canada's Role in Victory and Peace

• Canadian contributions were significant in the final months of the war (Canada's 100 Days) and helped secure the Allied victory
• Over 600,000 Canadians served in the military during the war, with approximately 60,000 killed and 172,000 wounded
• Canada's wartime production and resource contributions were substantial, including food, raw materials, and manufactured goods
• Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden played a role in the Paris Peace Conference, advocating for Canada's interests and status as a nation
• Canada signed the Treaty of Versailles independently, marking a step towards greater autonomy in foreign affairs
• Canada became a member of the League of Nations, reflecting its growing international status and influence
• The war accelerated Canada's transition from a primarily agricultural economy to a more industrialized and urbanized society

Legacy and Commemoration

• The First World War had a lasting impact on Canada's national identity, with a growing sense of pride and unity forged through shared sacrifices and achievements
• Remembrance Day (originally Armistice Day) is observed annually on November 11 to honor the sacrifices of Canadian veterans and those who lost their lives
  • The poppy became a symbol of remembrance, inspired by John McCrae's poem "In Flanders Fields"
• War memorials were erected across the country, including the National War Memorial in Ottawa and the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France
• The Canadian War Museum in Ottawa preserves and shares the country's military history, with a significant focus on the First World War
• Literature, art, and music reflecting the war experience emerged, such as the poems of John McCrae and Robert Service, and the paintings of A.Y. Jackson and Frederick Varley (members of the Group of Seven)
• The war's impact on Canadian society, politics, and economy continued to be felt in the post-war years, shaping the country's development in the 20th century
  • The Roaring Twenties saw economic growth and social change, followed by the challenges of the Great Depression
  • The Second World War would once again test Canada's resilience and unity, building upon the lessons and experiences of the First World War