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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
in 1914 the Austro-Hungarian Empire sent its crown prince, Archduke Ferdinand, to Bosnia's capital. A group called the Black Hand shot and killed the Archduke and his wife. This event triggered a chain reaction that started the First World War. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination. Germany offered support for Austria-Hungary. When Germany invaded Belgium to attack France, Britain declared war on Germany to protect its ally. Canada joins automatically as part of the British Empire. -
Canada joins the war
Britain Decalres war on Germany after Germany invaded Belgium to attack France. Canada is automatically at war as part of the British Empire. -
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The War
The beggining.When Canada automatically joined the war as part of Britains colony, And ending with an armistice that was signed on november 11. -
War Measueres act
Prime Minister Borden introduced the War Measures Act in 1914. The act gave the government the authority to do everything necessary " for the security, defence, peace, order, and welfare of Canada." It could censor mail. It suspended habeas corpus. Any one suspected of being and "enemy alien" could be imprisioned or deported. -
The Second Battle of Ypres
On April 22, 1915, French and Canadian troops were blinded, burned, or killed when the Germans used chlorine gas. Despite the use of gas the battle continued for a month. More than 6000 Canadians were killed, wounded, or captured holding their ground until reinforcements arrived. Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote "In Flanders Fields" to commemorate Canadians serving in Ypres. -
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Minister of Militia
Sam Hughes was in Charge of armament industry. Supplied Britain with poor quality and inappropriate equipment. - Significance - Because of the poor quality many people died because of mechanical error of the guns and ammunitions. There was also one case with a shoe that had a cardboard sole. -
The Battle of the Somme
The Allies launched a massive attack against a line of German trenches near the Somme River in France. The attack failed because they used tactics that proved useless against trench warfare and the had heavy losses.The battle lasted 5 months. Despite their heavy losses Canadian troops distinguished themselves and were brought to lead several assaults over the course of the war. -
The Battle of Vimy Ridge
For more than two years, both French and British forces tried to capture the ridge but were unsucessful. Late 1916, Canadian troops were chosen to lead an assault on Vimy Ridge. Lieutenant-General Julian Byng carefully planned the attack. Artillery bombarded german positions while sappers built tunnels to secretly move troops closer to the ridge. On April, 9, 1917 they moved to position. April, 10 they captured hill 145, by the 12 they took the last German position. -
Military Service Act
Was an act passed by Prime Minister Robert Borden, making conscription mandatory for all Candian men between ages 20 and 45. It was opposed by many in Canada, especially the francophones. They felt no connection to Britain, so why should they have to fight Britain's battles. So did Miners and farmer who needed their sons at home to work Passing this law, Borden wasn't likely to win the next election, so he passed two more laws. -
Battle of Passchendaele
In October 1917, General Aurthur Currie and the CEF were asked to break through German lines and retake the town of Passchendaele in Belgium. Earlier assaults left the town with massive craters that turned into muddy bogs. Soldiers would sometimes drown. The battle resulted in more than 200 000 casualties on each side. more than 15000 were Canadians. -
Halifax Explosion
During the war, Halifax was a valuable base for fixing and refueling warships. The SS Mont Blanc, a French vessel carrying over 2500 tons of explosives was accidentally hit by another ship. This caused an explosion so powerful that it destroyed Halifax's harbour and levelled much of the city. It made Canadians see what the war was really about. -
Khaki Election of 1917
Prime Minister Borden introduced the Military Voters Act, which allowed men and women fighting in the war to vote, and the Wartimes Elections Act, giving women related to servicmen the right to vote, but not for conscientious objectors or immigrants. He passed these laws hoping to get get enough votes from those involved in the war to win the election and pass consription as law. In the end he won. -
Hundred Days Campaign
Russia, having signed a treaty with Germany, was out of the war. So the Germans sent all of their men to fight on the western front, pushing back the Allies almost to Paris. When the Americans arrived the Allies rallied and pushed back the Germans. Canada's offensives were among the most successful of all the Allies, pushing through German lines and winning battles at Arras, Cambrai, and Valenciennes. -
Central powers collapse
An armistice, or truce to end the war on the Western Front was finally signed in a railway car in France at 5:00 a.m. on November 11 1918. The war was to stop at 11:00 a.m. This corresponds to the date and time of our modern-day Rememberance Day ceremonies. -
Paris Peace Conference
Meeting of the Allies after winning WW1 to discuss the terms of the peace agreement. Because Canada contributed so much into the war, Prime Minister Borden thought Canada deserved its own seat at the conference. After much debating, Canada received a seat at the conference and Borden was among the leaders to sign the Treaty of Versailles. Canada had gained the international recognition it deserved. -
The Treaty of Versailles
A treaty between Germany and the Allies, that Germany had to sign or the Allies would continue their attack. Borden Borden was one of the leaders who got to sign the treaty. It gave Canada an enhancment to its national status. The world was starting to see Canada as not a Britsh colony, but as an individual country with a distinguished identity.
