The Conscription Crisis: The Events The Conscription Crisis: The Events that led to a National Crisis in 1917that led to a National Crisis in 1917

The Conscription Crisis (1917)The Conscription Crisis (1917)in World War Onein World War One

Canada’s entry into the Canada’s entry into the warwar

The War Measures Act The War Measures Act (1914)(1914)

Militia Act (1916)Militia Act (1916) ConscriptionConscription War Voters ActWar Voters Act Reaction in QuebecReaction in Quebec SummarySummary

Robert Borden

VS

Wilfred Laurier

Quebec Premier Henri Bourassa

Canada’s Entry into WW1Canada’s Entry into WW1

World War One broke World War One broke out in 1914 and, as an out in 1914 and, as an ally of Great Britain, ally of Great Britain, Canada automatically Canada automatically found itself in the fray. found itself in the fray. Prime Minister Robert Prime Minister Robert Borden declared that Borden declared that "when Great Britain is "when Great Britain is at war, Canada is at at war, Canada is at war, and there is no war, and there is no difference at all." difference at all."

Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden

Borden Introduces The War Borden Introduces The War Measures Act (1914)Measures Act (1914)

The War Measures Act of 1914 The War Measures Act of 1914 provided that “the Governor in provided that “the Governor in Council shall have the power to Council shall have the power to do and authorize such acts and do and authorize such acts and things, and to make from time things, and to make from time to time, such orders and to time, such orders and regulations, as he may by regulations, as he may by reason of the existence of real reason of the existence of real or apprehended war, invasion or apprehended war, invasion or insurrection, deem necessary or insurrection, deem necessary or advisable for the security, or advisable for the security, defence, peace, order and defence, peace, order and welfare of Canada.” welfare of Canada.”

Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden introduces the War Measures Act when Canada enters WW1

Canada Responds to Britain’s Call Canada Responds to Britain’s Call to Armsto Arms

At the beginning of the war, Canada had a regular army of only 3110 men. However, within a mere two months, Canada could boast of an army of over 32,000 men as men flocked to recruiting stations to “fight for the empire”, and a chance to witness the experience of a lifetime. “We’ll be home by Christmas!” Answering the Call

Off to War!

Victory is Certain!

The Realities of WarThe Realities of War However, by 1916 the However, by 1916 the

realities of the war had sunk realities of the war had sunk in.1916 was disastrous for in.1916 was disastrous for the Allies and the situation the Allies and the situation was becoming critical. The was becoming critical. The French and the British had French and the British had suffered heavy casualties, suffered heavy casualties, mutinies were erupting mutinies were erupting within the French army, within the French army, German submarines were German submarines were wreaking havoc and the wreaking havoc and the Russian allies were on the Russian allies were on the brink of being soundly brink of being soundly defeated. defeated.

German U-Boats

Allied POWs

The Somme “Blood Bath”

Typical Battle Conditions

By 1916 Canadian Troops Knew all By 1916 Canadian Troops Knew all About The Harsh Realities of WarAbout The Harsh Realities of War

Cramped Conditions Fallen Soldiers Disease in the Trenches

Poison Gas Attacks Intense Close Combat High Losses from Artillery

Canadians Were Answering the CallCanadians Were Answering the Call

Approximately 312,000 Approximately 312,000 men and officers had men and officers had enlisted by the end of enlisted by the end of 1916. 1916.

However, this amount However, this amount was significantly less was significantly less than Borden’s pledge to than Borden’s pledge to the British that he would the British that he would provide over 500,000 for provide over 500,000 for the war effort.the war effort.

We Need More Troops!We Need More Troops! On the front, Canadian officers On the front, Canadian officers

were desperate for reinforcements were desperate for reinforcements to make up for their heavy losses; to make up for their heavy losses; especially from the “Bloodbath” at especially from the “Bloodbath” at the Battle of the Sommethe Battle of the Somme

Prime Minister Borden was Prime Minister Borden was determined to maintain Canada's determined to maintain Canada's participation in the War. participation in the War.

For Borden, this was the only way For Borden, this was the only way for Canada to be considered equal for Canada to be considered equal to Great Britain, rather than a mere to Great Britain, rather than a mere colony.colony.

The News from the TrenchesThe News from the Trenches

As the news from the trenches reaches As the news from the trenches reaches Canadians back home, the number of Canadians back home, the number of Canadian men volunteering for the war effort Canadian men volunteering for the war effort drops. drops.

The Canadian Government tries to maintain The Canadian Government tries to maintain enlistment levels through extensive enlistment levels through extensive propaganda campaigns propaganda campaigns

War Propaganda CampaignsWar Propaganda Campaigns

•Do you think these Propaganda Campaigns were effective? •Would they inspire you to “Answer the Call”?

Borden Responds with ConscriptionBorden Responds with Conscription

Despite extensive War Despite extensive War Propaganda Campaigns Propaganda Campaigns Volunteers were becoming Volunteers were becoming harder to find. harder to find.

Prime Minister Borden Prime Minister Borden was convinced of the was convinced of the importance of establishing importance of establishing a forced conscription a forced conscription system to compensate for system to compensate for Canada’s heavy losses. Canada’s heavy losses.

What is Conscription?What is Conscription?

ConscriptionConscription Conscription: A recruiting Conscription: A recruiting

system that ranks the system that ranks the population (as a rule, men population (as a rule, men only) by age. Some only) by age. Some categories were then categories were then eliminated and people who eliminated and people who would normally be exempt would normally be exempt from duty were forced into from duty were forced into service. In Canada, service. In Canada, conscription was conscription was established by vote in the established by vote in the House of Commons.House of Commons.

When conscription becomes When conscription becomes law, you must enlist, law, you must enlist, otherwise you go to jail. otherwise you go to jail.

The Military Service ActThe Military Service Act In order to implement In order to implement

Conscription, Borden Conscription, Borden introduces the Military Service introduces the Military Service Act (1916)Act (1916)

Military Service ActMilitary Service ActLaw adopted on August 29, Law adopted on August 29, 1917 to gather 100,000 men as 1917 to gather 100,000 men as reinforcements for the Canadian reinforcements for the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The law, Expeditionary Force. The law, which contained numerous which contained numerous exceptions, was applied exceptions, was applied erratically. Although 99,561 erratically. Although 99,561 people were conscripted as a people were conscripted as a result of the law, only 24,100 result of the law, only 24,100 soldiers actually fought at the soldiers actually fought at the front before the end of the war.front before the end of the war.

Extending the VoteExtending the Vote In order to get the votes he needed, In order to get the votes he needed,

Borden passed two new acts:Borden passed two new acts:

Military Voters ActMilitary Voters ActLaw that extended the right to vote Law that extended the right to vote to all men and women in the to all men and women in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Canadian Expeditionary Force.

War-time Elections ActWar-time Elections ActLaw which extended the right to Law which extended the right to vote to the mothers, wives, and vote to the mothers, wives, and sisters of the soldiers serving, while sisters of the soldiers serving, while at the same time refusing that right at the same time refusing that right to citizens from enemy countries.to citizens from enemy countries.

Pro Conscription Poster

Military Service Act (1917)Military Service Act (1917) In 1917, the government In 1917, the government

created a third piece of created a third piece of legislation that addressed legislation that addressed conscription. The Military conscription. The Military Service Act placed restrictions Service Act placed restrictions on who could be called upon on who could be called upon for mandatory military service. for mandatory military service. Those exempted included Those exempted included farmers and farm labourers, farmers and farm labourers, who were needed to continue who were needed to continue providing food in a time of providing food in a time of shortage. shortage.

Exemptions to the Act RemovedExemptions to the Act Removed

On April 20, 1918, an order-On April 20, 1918, an order-in-council was passed that in-council was passed that removed exemptions removed exemptions outlined in the Military outlined in the Military Service Act of 1917, leaving Service Act of 1917, leaving farming operations across farming operations across the country short of labour the country short of labour and those who were called and those who were called for service wondering if for service wondering if their rights had been their rights had been maintained.maintained.

Reaction to Conscription in QuebecReaction to Conscription in Quebec The recruiting effort in Quebec had The recruiting effort in Quebec had

failed.failed. Almost all French-Canadians Almost all French-Canadians

opposed conscription since they felt opposed conscription since they felt that they had no particular loyalty that they had no particular loyalty to either Britain or France.to either Britain or France.

When Conscription was introduced When Conscription was introduced in the House of Commons, virtually in the House of Commons, virtually every French-Canadian MP voted every French-Canadian MP voted against it and virtually every against it and virtually every English-Canadian MP voted for it.English-Canadian MP voted for it.

Lead by Henri Bourassa they felt Lead by Henri Bourassa they felt their only loyalty was to Canada. their only loyalty was to Canada. He felt that "Canada had no He felt that "Canada had no business in a blatantly imperialistic business in a blatantly imperialistic European war". European war".

Henri Bourassa

Wilfred LaurierWilfred Laurier Canada’s 7Canada’s 7thth Prime Minister Prime Minister (1896-1911)(1896-1911) Canada's first francophone Canada's first francophone

prime ministerprime minister Laurier had opposed Laurier had opposed

conscription from the beginning conscription from the beginning of the war, arguing that an of the war, arguing that an intense campaign for volunteers intense campaign for volunteers would produce enough troops. would produce enough troops.

He felt that if he joined the He felt that if he joined the coalition with Borden and voted coalition with Borden and voted for Conscription that Quebec for Conscription that Quebec would fall under what he would fall under what he perceived as a dangerous perceived as a dangerous nationalism of Bourassa and nationalism of Bourassa and lead to Quebec Separatism.lead to Quebec Separatism.

Wilfred Laurier

1917 Canadian Election1917 Canadian Election PM Borden called a federal election PM Borden called a federal election

on the issue of Conscription in on the issue of Conscription in 1917. In order to get the votes he 1917. In order to get the votes he needed, Borden passed two new needed, Borden passed two new acts:acts:

Military Voters ActMilitary Voters ActLaw that extended the right to vote Law that extended the right to vote to all men and women in the to all men and women in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Canadian Expeditionary Force.

War-time Elections ActWar-time Elections ActLaw which extended the right to Law which extended the right to vote to the mothers, wives, and vote to the mothers, wives, and sisters of the soldiers serving, while sisters of the soldiers serving, while at the same time refusing that right at the same time refusing that right to citizens from enemy countries.to citizens from enemy countries.

Election Results on Conscription Election Results on Conscription Divide CanadaDivide Canada

The Union Government The Union Government under Borden won the under Borden won the election with 153 Seats.election with 153 Seats.

Laurier’s Liberals won only Laurier’s Liberals won only 82 seats. 82 seats.

62 of Laurier’s seats were 62 of Laurier’s seats were from the Province of from the Province of Quebec.Quebec.

Canada was completely Canada was completely “polarized” and divided with “polarized” and divided with the English Canada in favour the English Canada in favour and French Canada opposedand French Canada opposed

Quebec’s Anti-Conscription stanceSeparated it from the Rest of Canada

Riots on the Streets of QuebecRiots on the Streets of Quebec On Good Friday, 1918 a full-On Good Friday, 1918 a full-

scale riot broke out in Quebec scale riot broke out in Quebec City. Angry Mobs attacked City. Angry Mobs attacked English Owned Businesses. English Owned Businesses. Troops were brought in to Troops were brought in to restore order. Soldiers fired restore order. Soldiers fired shots into the crowds killing shots into the crowds killing four civilians. Henri Bourassa four civilians. Henri Bourassa was disgusted with the was disgusted with the Canadian Government Canadian Government referring to them as “The referring to them as “The Prussians next door” Prussians next door” (Germans next door)(Germans next door)

Riot Broke out in Quebec City

The End Result of ConscriptionThe End Result of Conscription The intended result of the Military The intended result of the Military

Service Act was to provide the war Service Act was to provide the war effort with an extra 100,000 men (to effort with an extra 100,000 men (to reach the 500,000 mark that Borden reach the 500,000 mark that Borden had originally promised the Allied had originally promised the Allied Forces).Forces).

However, when the war came to an However, when the war came to an un-expected halt on Nov 11un-expected halt on Nov 11thth, 1918, , 1918, only 24,000 (25% of the conscripted only 24,000 (25% of the conscripted men) had reached Europe.men) had reached Europe.

If the war had continued, Conscription If the war had continued, Conscription would have been a necessity. would have been a necessity. However, in the end, it’s real result However, in the end, it’s real result was a serious blow to Canadian Unity was a serious blow to Canadian Unity (French-English Relations(French-English Relations

Conscripted Troops arrive in Europe in 1918 when war ends