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Armistice signed
The Triple Entente of Great Britain, France, the late Russian Empire, and the United States had defeated the Triple Alliance of the German Empire, Austro Hungarian Empire, and the Italian Empire which ended the Great War. This 4-year war brought devastation to Europe and mass casualties to all countries who played a part. One of these countries was Canada who at the time was a dominion of Britain. In fighting in the war Canada's PM Borden believed that her voice was earned in the peace talks. -
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Canada's Road to WWII
After the Great War, Canada had to assert its international independence and where it stood as a dominion, this would set the tone for the road to WWII. Coupled with Economic unrest in the early 20's to a period of economic boom throughout the mid 20's. This all came crashing down in the Great Depression followed by the arming of Fascist powers. Canada would then decide what was to be done to prevent another total war and how it would reinforce itself once the Second World War became a reality. -
Canada's Involvement in Peace Talks
After the Armistice, Borden entered into a full-fledged attempt to secure Canada's place in peace talks. Borden states that "Canada is not a colony, she is a mistress of her own destiny... Canada has a separate individuality, a will and power of her own, a self-respecting national consciousness-- determined the be recognized as a member of the family of nations." (Cook, 2009) This recognition was partly fulfilled, as Canada earned 15 representatives only to be excluded from major peace talks. -
What Canada got out of the Peace Talks
Borden chaired the committee to determine Greece's borders. (Coo, 2009) Bordens' cabinet minister Sifton helped administer international rules for ports, railways, and waterways. (Cook 2009) Borden also acted as an intermediary for the U.S. and Britan. (Cook 2009). Canada then became a charter member of the League of Nations with the purpose to defend its allies in case of another war. (Cook 2009). Lastly Canada earned a seperate signature on the treaty of Versaille which showed its soveirengty. -
Economic unrest at home
30, 000 labor men in Winnipeg entered a strike on June 21st, 1919 which saw veterans fighting veterans in an attempt to earn a better share of the profits. (Cook 2009) Add this to the many people dead and dying of influenza and the failed homestead act of 1917 which resulted in many veterans failing to reestablish themselves, Canada was in big trouble. (Cook 2009) This led to a depression in 1921 which led to 1 in 5 men unemployed. (Cook 2009) -
William Lyon Mackenzie King's first term as Prime Minister
In 1921 King won the election over Borden's successor Meighen. (Cook, 174) His main duty of concern was dealing with the unrest at home. He did this by spending a third of the Federal Budget on repaying the debt of $3 billion. (Cook, 175) As the reserved government of King slowly brought the government back into control, the depressed areas quickly returned to prominence. (Cook, 175) This allowed for King to explore areas that were of importance, such as being dragged into European affairs. -
1923 Imperial Conference
With Borden leaving Canadian foreign policy relatively aggressive in its combined autonomous action in a national context and important cooperation with the Empire. (Cook, 178) The people of Canada were then trying to find what Prime Minister King's vision was. He made his voice heard; "The decision of Canada on any important issue, domestic or foreign, we believe should be made by the people of Canada." (Cook, 178) This would characterize Canada's lead up to the 2nd world war. -
King's re-election and the 1926 Imperial Conference
King had defeated Meighan again in 1926, and King had turned his attention to another Imperial Conference. Acting upon his work in the 1923 Imperial Conference, King kept his modest approach, acting as a mediator between all the dominions. (Cook, 187) The final result would not come until 1931 at the statute of Westminister, however, the terms were set. Dominions were "autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status". (Cook, 188) -
The Great Depression
After the Roaring Twenties saw economic growth across the board under King, in 1929, the US stock market crashed and sent the world into depression. (Cook 188) This led to a call for an election on July 28th, 1929. (Cook, 188) This resulted in King losing to R.B. Bennet opening a new era called the Dirty Thirties. (Cook 190) The result left 1/3 of all Canadians unemployed, farmers were evicted, nearly everyone was affected, and with virtually no state relief he future was not bright. (Cook 190) -
1932 Imperial Conference and Bennet's response to The Great Depression
Bennet was ineffective in returning the Canadian economy to prominence in his tenure in the first half of the 1930's. (Cook 190) Despite spending millions on relief, the level of poverty was too high and it went nowhere. (Cook, 190) In a last-ditch attempt to save his reputation he attended an Imperial Conference in an attempt to lower tariffs with the empire to increase trade. (Cook 190) it resulted in dropping of some tariffs but ultimately made no difference. (Cook 190) -
Rise of the Fascists; Germany, Japan, and Italy
A world still recovering from the travesties of the Great war was entering into a period of concern. Germany had been financially restored thanks to the dictator Adolf Hitler and had been rearmed with a fierce regime. (Cook 192) Japan had been in a battle with China from 1931 in which they had been massacring the innocent, and Italy had received its own dictator with a purpose to expand its empire. (Cook 192) The world turned to the League of Nations to stop it, but the League just stood by. -
King's Re-Election and International Problems Continued
"King or Chaos" became the slogan of Canadians by 1935, and in October King was re-elected Prime Minister. (Cook 191) A month later, Canada was deep in talks with the League in order to put sanctions on Italy to try to stop the Italian war machines invading Abyssinia. (Cook, 193) Canada, threatened by scaring Quebec by waging war against a Catholic country, decided on very weak sanctions and no intervention. (Cook 194) This resulted in Canada being viewed as cowardly. (Cook 195) -
1937 Imperial Conference
Britain called for an Imperial Conference in 1937 to warn the dominions of an upcoming war with Germany. (Cook 198) King, had no intentions of giving the British a promise of defense in these meetings, stating "I gave them no quarter. (Cook 199) King staying with his previous promises to keep Canada out of European war, left the conference having made almost no preparations for the upcoming war. (Cook 199) -
Munich Agreement of 1938
The Munich Agreement of 1938 was proposed by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. (Cook 201) This proposal essentially gave Hitler Czechoslovakia to satisfy the dictator in the mindset that France and Russia's treaty with Czechoslovakia would not be threatened. (Cook 201) This concept to protect the many and sacrifice the few was viewed as weakness from the western allies, and only propelled Hitler to want more. (Cook 201) -
The Bolstering of the Defence Budget
from 1935 onwards the defense budget increased until it was capped in 1937-1939. (Cook 203) This resulted in King writing in his diary that the defense was "inadequate and ineffective. (Cook 204) Although the government built up modern destroyers this was still not enough to engage in a war. (Cook, 204) -
The Shifting of Ideology
With war now a reality after Hitler's indifference to the Munich agreement it was time for King to take a stance on whether to support the Empire or not. (Cook 205) King stated "If England is at war we are at war and liable to attack. I do not say that we will always be attacked; neither do I say that we would take part in all wars of England. (Cook, 205) It was official, if Britain declared war on Germany Canada would be soon to follow. -
United States to be Neutral in the War
On September 1st, 1939 King discovered that his dear friend Roosevelt decided that the United States would remain neutral in the war to come. (Cook 222) This did not mean the US wouldn't help the Canadians re-arm. During the bid for war from September 3rd-7th, American sold many airplanes among other things. (Cook 222) This was allowed because Canada was not technically at war. -
Britain Declares War on Germany
Germany had invaded Poland, and with Britain having declared that it will protect Poland from any aggression from Germany, it was forced into war. (Cook 207) Now after all these years of determining where Canada stands in respect to European affairs a decision was needed to be made. King decided that the Canadian Parliament was to be the one to decide whether war would follow. (Cook 208) This led to the September 7th war session in which the prospect of war was to be discussed. (Cook 208) -
Canada Enacts the War Measures Act and the DOCR
Britain had declared war on Germany and her allies, meaning Canada had to act. In doing this Canada enacted the War Measures Act and the Defense of Canada Regulations. (Cook, 213) The War Measures act allowed for the Canadian Government to have much more control in case of war. (Cook, 213) The DOCR for short allowed for the Canadian government to censor, survey, and detain potential enemies of the states. (Cook, 213) These two acts were a precursor to war, but parliament needed a vote. -
War Session
Both the opposition (Manion) and King ideals were to mount a strong war effort on the first day of the session. (Cook, 210) This was followed by the direct support of the social credit party. (Cook 211) With all English members in support, King knew the only way that Canada would not enter the war was if the Quebec MP's in his party voted against it. (Cook, 211) So he declared that if Canada did not enter the war the Liberal party would lose causing Quebecs voice to be lost. (Cook, 211) -
Third day of War Sessions
After King had given an uninspiring speech the day before, his advisor Lapointe decided to give his own speech. (Cook, 212) He said, "I hate war with all my heart and consciousness, but devotion to peace does not mean ignorance or bliss." (Cook, 212) Lapointe put emphasis on the Empires cry for help and aimed it directly at the French in the room. (Cook, 212) After receiving a round of applause, all that was left was the vote from parliament. (Cook, 212) -
Canada goes to War
This was the day that Canada would officially decide on the war. Although there was never an official vote taken, it was nearly unanimous aside from a few Quebec MP's. (Cook, 212) King then states "We are a nation in the fullest sense" alluding to how Canada handled its internal affairs without the force of Britain. (Cook 212) So after 2 decades it was time, Canada was officially at war with Germany and her allies.
