THE THE CONSCRIPTION CONSCRIPTION

CRISISCRISIS

Recruitment Recruitment

Canadians needed 20,000 replacements Canadians needed 20,000 replacements each yeareach year

Most of the willing soldiers had already Most of the willing soldiers had already gone to wargone to war

Farmers wanted their sons to stay to help Farmers wanted their sons to stay to help on the farmon the farm

CanadiensCanadiens had little interest in had little interest in participating in the warparticipating in the war

Quebec and RecruitingQuebec and Recruiting

Quebec had supported the war in 1914 Quebec had supported the war in 1914 and many hoped that the war might and many hoped that the war might encourage national unity.encourage national unity.

Recruiting in Quebec was difficult Recruiting in Quebec was difficult because many men married young and because many men married young and were often employed in labour intensive were often employed in labour intensive farm jobs.farm jobs.

There were no separate French speaking There were no separate French speaking units until late in the war.units until late in the war.

Source of Volunteers in Source of Volunteers in Proportion to Proportion to

PopulationPopulation% of Volunteers in Proportion to Population

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Per

cen

t (%

)

Native Native CanadiansCanadians

Nearly 4,000 of the 11,500 Nearly 4,000 of the 11,500 Native Canadians eligible for war service enlisted.eligible for war service enlisted.

They were much sought after for their skills as They were much sought after for their skills as infantry and snipers.infantry and snipers.

Johnny Norwest, a Cree sniper, personally killed Johnny Norwest, a Cree sniper, personally killed 115 of the enemy before losing his own life in 115 of the enemy before losing his own life in 1918.1918.

Conscription and The Conscription and The Military Service ActMilitary Service Act

Mounting casualties forced the government to Mounting casualties forced the government to introduce a introduce a conscriptionconscription bill in 1917. bill in 1917.

All men between the ages of twenty and forty-five All men between the ages of twenty and forty-five could now be forced to enlist.could now be forced to enlist.

There was widespread opposition to the There was widespread opposition to the Military Military Service ActService Act particularly in Quebec. particularly in Quebec.

Borden was forced to fight the election of 1917 Borden was forced to fight the election of 1917 on the issue of conscription.on the issue of conscription.

Casualties and Casualties and Enlistments 1917Enlistments 1917

-5,000.00

10,000.0015,000.0020,000.0025,000.0030,000.0035,000.00

Troo

ps Casualties

Enlistment

The Election of 1917The Election of 1917

Borden entered the election with a Borden entered the election with a Union Union GovernmentGovernment. .

This was a coalition of Conservatives and English This was a coalition of Conservatives and English speaking Liberals.speaking Liberals.

Debate on the conscription issue divided Canada.Debate on the conscription issue divided Canada. Borden’s victory was assured by the Borden’s victory was assured by the War Time War Time

Elections ActElections Act giving votes to female relatives of giving votes to female relatives of soldiers and the soldiers and the Military Voters ActMilitary Voters Act which allowed which allowed soldiers to vote outside their home ridings.soldiers to vote outside their home ridings.

Results of the Results of the 1917 Election1917 Election

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Liberal Union

P.E.I

N.S.

N.B.

Quebec

Ontario

Manitoba

Sask.

Alta.

B.C.

Yukon

What was Achieved by What was Achieved by the Military Service Act?the Military Service Act?

404,395 men were 404,395 men were called up.called up.

380,510 men applied 380,510 men applied for exemptions.for exemptions.

In all only 24,000 In all only 24,000 conscripted men saw conscripted men saw service in France.service in France.

Contributions by Contributions by Ordinary CanadiansOrdinary Canadians

The The Canadian Patriotic FundCanadian Patriotic Fund collected collected money for soldiers’ families.money for soldiers’ families.

The The Military Hospitals CommissionMilitary Hospitals Commission set up set up hospitals to care for the wounded.hospitals to care for the wounded.

The The YMCAYMCA organized canteens and organized canteens and support services for soldiers on leave.support services for soldiers on leave.

The The Red Cross provided humanitarian provided humanitarian aid and kept track of wounded soldiers.aid and kept track of wounded soldiers.

PAYING FOR THE WARPAYING FOR THE WAR

First World War was, at that time, the First World War was, at that time, the most costly conflict in human historymost costly conflict in human history

Cost Canada $1 million per dayCost Canada $1 million per day Canadian government needed sources of Canadian government needed sources of

revenue to finance the war effort.revenue to finance the war effort.

““Temporary” Income TaxTemporary” Income Tax

Introduced in 1917Introduced in 1917 Based on how much money earnedBased on how much money earned Families earning over $3,000/year and Families earning over $3,000/year and

individuals earning over $1,500/year had individuals earning over $1,500/year had to pay 3% of their incometo pay 3% of their income

At the time the average family income At the time the average family income was less than $800/yearwas less than $800/year

Income Tax (con’t…)Income Tax (con’t…)

1917 1917 Only 31 130 Canadian paid Only 31 130 Canadian paid income taxincome tax

1918 1918 Collected $8 million Collected $8 million

1919 1919 Collected $13.2 million Collected $13.2 million

Financing the WarFinancing the War

The costs were enormous and to meet these The costs were enormous and to meet these expenses government introduced a temporary expenses government introduced a temporary tax on personal income in 1917.tax on personal income in 1917.

Victory bondsVictory bonds were offered for sale at an were offered for sale at an interest rate of 5%.interest rate of 5%.

The sale of bonds vastly exceeded The sale of bonds vastly exceeded expectations and raised $500 million in 1917.expectations and raised $500 million in 1917.

Victory Victory BondsBonds

Large sums were raised through the sale of Victory Bonds.

FoodFood

The produce of Canada’s The produce of Canada’s agricultural industry was agricultural industry was one her most vital one her most vital contributions to the war.contributions to the war.

Farmers profited from the Farmers profited from the sale of wheat to war-torn sale of wheat to war-torn France and Britain.France and Britain.

Over use of soil or Over use of soil or grain grain miningmining was to help cause was to help cause the the dustbowldustbowl conditions conditions of the 1930s.of the 1930s.

HALIFAX EXPLOSION

In 1917 war came suddenly and In 1917 war came suddenly and violently to Halifax, a naval port and violently to Halifax, a naval port and departure point for overseas convoys.departure point for overseas convoys.

Ships formed up in Bedford Basin and Ships formed up in Bedford Basin and passed out though the harbour passed out though the harbour narrows on their way to the open sea.narrows on their way to the open sea.

The Halifax Explosion 1917 1917

The The Mont BlancMont Blanc a French a French munitions ship collided with the munitions ship collided with the ImoImo a Norwegian ship in the a Norwegian ship in the Narrows.Narrows.

The resulting explosion The resulting explosion destroyed most of the north end destroyed most of the north end of Halifax and killed or injured of Halifax and killed or injured 11,000 citizens.11,000 citizens.

Halifax After the Halifax After the ExplosionExplosion

DebateDebate- Class will be broken into three different groups

- For Conscription- Against Conscription- Mediators: Are to determine the set of criteria that

decides which side will win the debate

- Ensure Everyone knows their role

Each Side is Allowed:- 30 second opening/closing statement- 2 arguments that are 1 minute each- After each argument, opposing side is given 30

seconds for a rebuttal to argument