Questions to ask yourself:
How does government use its power?
What you will be able to do:
Describe the measures implemented by the government of Canada during wartime.
Explain the different points of view on the conscription crisis of 1917.
Explain the Canadian war effort.
Engage: Imagine war experiences by reacting to images
Look deeply at one or more of some selected pictures, from a wide range of different locations during the First World War. Consider titles given to the images by your teacher, any available texts or web site links, zoom in and around the documents when necessary. Observe shapes, colours, textures, the position of people and/or objects in the frame. Observe the foreground, middleground and background too. Respond to the images! Use an organizer available already on our Google drawing sample images, that you can copy and edit to use. Work collaboratively to note down your questions, connect any historical events you already know about, share your impressions!
An Industrial War:
The First World War is the first conflict that can be described as industrial.
The success depends not only on the army but also on the capacity to produce food and other war related materials and on the efficient use of new technologies.
Now, industries must meet the needs of the government before they can meet individual needs. All industrial sectors must support the war effort in order to meet all the demands.
Factories were not the only ones helping in the war effort. In order to help in the war effort, farmers increase their production to ensure the food supply of the troops.
In 1914, the First World War broke out in Europe. Since Canada is a British colony, we also participated in the war. We supplied Great Britain with agricultural products and we used our industrial production to make objects needed to help the war effort. We produced guns, uniforms, bombs, etc.
Text by Caroline Clarke (LBPSB)
Image via a collection of Victory Bonds posters at http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/explore/online/posters/bonds.aspx
Government intervention to help the war effort:
During the war, the Government of Canada intervened in the economy and society to help the war effort. Here is a quick list of some of the things it did:
a) Advertised for recycling and against waste.
b) Sold victory bonds.
c) Censored information in the name of security.
d) Controlled consumption by rationing products (rubber, gasoline, meat, butter and sugar).
e) Increased the federal income tax.
f) Imposed compulsory enlistment.
Photo by Flickr user Special Collections Toronto Public Library. License: by-sa/2.0/
It was not an easy time for anyone. The Canadians who remained at home were forced to go without various products, in order to send them to the troops that were fighting in Europe: Gasoline was rationed, butter was limited, bakers had to make bread with a substitute flour, made from a mixture of wheat and other substances, such as potatoes, and fruits were no longer imported.
Text by Caroline Clarke (LBPSB)
Explore:
Watch an overview video about World War 1 and its soldiers.
Consider also guiding questions like: How does government use its power?
One option is the video “Canada World War 1”. “This video tells the story of Canada's role in World War One, both overseas in the trenches of the Western Front and on the home front. While this global conflict forged a new sense of nationhood in the British colony, the cost to Canada in killed and wounded was high. This history is recounted using archival footage, photographs, posters, songs from the period and soldiers' letters home.”
In small groups review how the war started, how Canada got involved, and where and how they fought. Review any other personal experiences of soldiers and other participants that you had not thought of in the image analysis activity earlier.
Write down and share any questions you have. Consider using an organizer like this 5W's organizer.
Longer and older overview video by "Classroom Video" . Note that this video is an Age-restricted video (based on Youtube Community Guidelines)
Explore: Imagine the Life of a Canadian Soldier
"The war on the Western Front was fought in trenches – long, narrow, deep, and muddy ditches. The Canadian infantry were rotated in and out of the trenches as it was the most dangerous place on earth to be, and it was extraordinarily uncomfortable. The soldiers lived with vermin such as rats, lice, maggots, and flies which created serious health risks. The trenches were also constantly exposed to the weather. Here is what a day in the trenches looked like for soldiers."
Learn more about the "The Realities of War" at https://jemesouviens.org/
The War Measures Act: Suspending of Civil Liberties
The War Measures Act was a federal law adopted by Parliament on 22 August 1914, after the beginning of the First World War. It gave broad powers to the Canadian government to maintain security and order during “war, invasion or insurrection.” It was used, controversially, to suspend the civil liberties of people in Canada who were considered “enemy aliens” during both world wars. This led to mass arrests and detentions without charges or trials. Source: Smith, D., War Measures Act (2020). In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/war-measures-act
Volunteers or Conscription?
"For the first two years of war, Canada relied on a voluntary system of military recruitment. [...] Throughout the war, but especially in its early months, Canadians rushed to enlist for reasons of patriotism, adventurism, opposition to German aggression, or personal ties to Great Britain. Public attitudes also influenced individual decisions, in particular the widespread view in many parts of the country that those who failed to enlist were cowards."
Read more at Voluntary Recruitment at https://www.warmuseum.ca/
What is conscription?
“Conscription is the compulsory enlistment or “call up” (sometimes known as “the draft”) of citizens for military service.
… “Under conscription, all males of a certain age must register with the government for military service. In some countries, females are also conscripted. Once registered, these people may be “called up” for military service. Some people may be exempt (or excused) from mandatory military service. This could include people in certain occupations or who suffer from physical or mental illness or disability.
Source: Granatstein, J.,, & Jones, R., Conscription in Canada (2020). In The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Conscription? “A Momentous Debate"
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of citizens for military service. The federal government decided in 1917 to conscript young men for military service overseas.
The debate over conscription raged through most of 1917 and into 1918. The Military Service Act was debated in Parliament during the summer and passed in late August. It stipulated that all male citizens between the ages of 20 and 45 would be obliged to do military service, if called up, until the end of the war.
Parliament passed the Military Service Act on July 24, 1917. Almost all French-speaking MPs opposed the law, while almost all English-speaking MPs took the opposite position.
In Québec, the adoption of the law on conscription raised strong protests and riots occurred. On April 1, 1918, QuÉbec City experienced a violent demonstration. Canadian soldiers were ordered to shoot into the crowd and several men were killed.
Text by Caroline Clarke (LBPSB)
"The 1917 conscription debate was one of the fiercest and most divisive in Canadian political history. French-Canadians, as well as many farmers, unionized workers, non-British immigrants, and other Canadians, generally opposed the measure. English-speaking Canadians, led by Prime Minister Borden and senior members of his Cabinet, as well as British immigrants, the families of soldiers, and older Canadians, generally supported it."
Source: Conscription, 1917 at https://www.warmuseum.ca/
View various "Objects & Photos" at https://www.warmuseum.ca/
Anti-Conscription demonstration, 1942. © National Archives of Canada / PA-107910, via Louis S. St. Laurent National Historic Site https://www.pc.gc.ca/
Explore the Conscription Crisis
Consider this new approach which asks you to view images generated with artificial intelligence applications! Click to complete this task with your classmates!
The conscription crisis seen through the eyes of artificial intelligenceInvestigate Further:
Compare Different Reactions and Perspectives.
Compare Different Reactions and Perspectives.
Research further, always considering key questions like: How do individuals experience war, and how do those efforts affect the outcomes of wars? and Why were certain historical events “significant”?
Use available documents on this page or in our larger collection specifically here. Follow links to the various online sources to research the various contexts for the need for conscription, the efforts of the Canadian government to recruit soldiers, the reactions of different peoples in Canada, etc.
To go even further, you could compare different conscription and volunteer experiences in other countries at the time (some documents in our collections refer to these experiences). Reflect on whether this process was needed, was good for the country, and on the significance for Canadians, Québécois, and other groups.
Use an organizer like this one to take notes and gather examples that could be then shared with the class or used in discussions and debates on the issues.
Archived image from BANQ, via Battle Lines Drawn by Marian Scott, Montreal Gazette via https://www.pressreader.com/
image via Conscription Crisis, Brantford, Brant at www.doingourbit.ca/
Land, Air and Sea: The Canadian War Effort and Contributions
"Contribution on Land: Canadian infantrymen were on the Western Front in January 1915 and in March the 1st Canadian Division took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. In April Canadians fought in the Second Battle of Ypres [...] From April to August 1916 the corps fought in the defence of Ypres, until it moved to fight in the Battle of the Somme. On 9th April 1917 it captured Vimy Ridge, which had withstood all attacks for two years. Though this victory cost the Canadian Corps 10,000 casualties, it was certainly a great military success, and ensured that Vimy Ridge would later be chosen as the site of Canada's National Memorial. [See source for dates for ] Hill 70, north of Arras. … Passchendaele on 6th November 1917 suffering 15,000 casualties in the process. … Amiens, when the Germans launched their last big offensive… and others
Contribution in the Air: As events soon proved, Canadians excelled in aerial combat. In providing many members of the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Naval Air Service and later the Royal Air Force, Canada made a great contribution in this field. More than 23,000 Canadian airmen served with British Forces and over 1,500 died. The Commonwealth's highest scoring airman to survive the war was a Canadian: Lieutenant Colonel W.A. Bishop VC, with 72 victories.
Contribution on the Sea: Canadian naval participation in the 1914-1918 War was limited, as its newly formed navy possessed only two old cruisers. However, many thousands went to serve with the Royal Navy. Fleets of Canadian trawlers and small craft carried out mine-sweeping and anti-submarine operations in coastal waters."
Text snippets from Courage Remembered, by K. Ward & Major Edwin Gibson. Via Canada's Role in WWI
Lieutenant-Colonel W A 'Billy' Bishop VC, of No 60 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, one of the leading fighter aces of the First World War, standing in front of his Nieuport 17 Scout at Filescamp, France.
Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/ via Wikipedia.
Investigate the Canadian War Effort:
Describe Facts and Situate a Battle, and Explain the Consequences of that battle, both immediate and long-term!
In partner-groups research various battles in which Canadian soldiers were involved. Try this Google Search for battles in which Canadian soldiers were involved or view our document section here.
With your findings on a particular battle event during the war, map out the locations, events and players of that/those particular battle(s), using Cartograf or Google Maps, or another mapping or presentation technology. For each battle also explain the Canadian involvement and role, and the significance of their efforts.
This task is explained in greater detail in our main document collection here. And... a demonstration Cartograf map has already been started (It was for teacher use and for information on the MAIN causes of WW1, but feel free to take a look!)
Educator guide:
An overview of some student task suggestions has also begun in Google slides document here and below:
Document Collections and Curated Web Sites:
Other tasks and the rest of our main document collection are here and below.
Explore the Conscription Crisis ... and A.I.
Tthis new approach (2023) by RECITU invites students to view images generated with artificial intelligence applications! Click to access this student task here!
Note that a teacher guide is available here only if you are member of the Social Sciences teacher group. If you are an educator, you can FILL OUT THE FORM HERE to join.
The conscription crisis seen through the eyes of artificial intelligence