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The war at sea
The Naval Service Act authorized the building of Canadian warships that could be lent to Britain if war broke out. Canada's navy was small and wasn't able to contriibute a lot in the war, but the Merchant Marines played large part in the dangerous work of ferrying munitions and food to Britain. Canadian ships adopted the Convoy system because of Germany's U-boats.French Canadiens did not support this because they didn't think they owed Britain their allegiance, while losing many merchant sailors -
War Measures Act
To meet the demands of war Prime Minister Borden introduced the War Measures Act. This Suspended Habeas corpus and anyone suspected of being an enemy alien or threat could be imprisoned or deported. Signifigance: Internment camps were set up for 8500 people which meant Canadians lost their basic rights. -
Canada declares war on Germany along side Britain
Canada was dragged into the war since it was still considered a british colony along with the rest of the british empire.
Signifigance: This Brought Canada out of the depression and caused massive casualties of Canadians. -
The Home Front Continuation
Supporting the war effort Costed Canada aprox: $2.5 million daily, which encouraged the government to create Victory Bonds, Honour Rationing, Income-Tax and Corporate-Tax. A demand for labour lead to the hiring of women for various jobs, since the men were drafted into the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Home Front which had created many jobs brought Canada out of a depression and made revolutionary steps for women rights. -
The home Front
Canada and many of it's citizens were committed to supporting the war effort which became the home Front. Th e Shell comittee was replaced with a more efficient Imperial muntions Board, which ment munitions factories started building ships, airplanes and shells. Canada exported a lot of raw materials to Britain. which ment companies made a large profit over inflation of prices, since they became more scarce. Propoganda had a large part in rallying support for the war by diluting the facts. -
Over 32,000 Canadian and Newfoundland troops set sail for england
More than 30,000 Canadians volunteer within a month to be a part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
Signifigance: There was a Strong Patriotic feeling for Britain and many Canadians still thought of Britain as the Mother Country. -
Suffrage Is Granted to Women
The Liberal Party Gave women the right to vote in Manitoba. Thanks to the efforts of Sufferagists across the country , women in other provinces won the right to vote, with the exception of aboriginal women and migrant women. This started a Domino effect leading to all femmale Canadian citizens being able to vote after the war. -
The Second Battle of Ypres
French and Canadian troops were blined, burned, or killed when the Germans used chlorine gas, a tactic that had been outlawed in 1907. More than 6000 Canadians were killed, wounded, or captured holding their ground.
Signifigance: John McCrae wrote the famous Poem "In Flanders Fields" to commemorate the Canadians serving in the battle and Chlorine gas which had been outlawed in 1907 was used by the Germans. -
The Battle of Somme
The Allies including the Canadians launched a massive attack against a line of German trenches. It was a massive failure because of poor tactics, bad artillery coordination.The allies only captured 13 kms and there were more than 1.25 million casualties, with almost 24000 Canadians among them. Signifigance: Canadian troops distinguished themselves, despite their heavy lossesa and tanks were used on the battlefield for the first time. -
Vimy Ridge
An assult lead by Canadians on Vimy Ridge had gained more ground, taken more prisoners and captured more artillery than any previous British offensive in the entire war. More than 3500 men were killed and 7000 wounded, but they succeded were the British and the French both failed. -
The battle of Passchendaele
In October 1917 Currie and the CEF captured Passchendaele with 15,000 Canadians dead. It was one of the bloodiest battles with large artillary craters which had no effect on the German army. The Germans took back Passchendaele in a week, which meant the offensive had been worthless. -
Conscription crisis
There was not enough volunteers to replenish the Canadian forces in Europe, which made prime minister Borden introduce the military Service Act which made enlistment compulsory, even though he had promised earlier that there would be no conscription. Many Francophones opposed this because of many of their language rights had been lost, which meant few officers spoke french. And many of them were farmers who needed their sons at home to work on the farm. It divided the country and caused riots. -
The Khaki Election
Failing to make a coaltion government, Prime minister Borden introduced the Military Voters Act which allowed military service men and women to vote and the Wartime Elections Act which gave women related to service men the right to vote. These were attempts that were meant to win vote in suport of the war. It was the leader of Canada acting like a dictator to make sure he stayed in office. -
The Halifax Explosion
A French vessel carrying more than 25,000 tonnes of explosives was accidently hit by another ship. The collision caused an explosion that devastated Halifax's harbour and leveled much of the city. more than 2,000 people were killed and 9,000 injured.
This brought the reality of war to Canadians on the Home Front. -
The hundred Days Campaign
Canada's offensives were among the most successful of all the Allied forces during the campaign. Canadian troops under the disciplined command of General currie broke through German lines and won important battles at Arras, Cambrai and Valenciennes. Canada once again distinguished themselves as an elite fighting force to be reckond with. -
Treaty of Versailles
Canada won a seat at the conference because of Prime Minister Lloyed George reminding the U.S. President that Canada had fought harder, longer and supplied more than any other countries. Borden was included among the leaders who signed the treaty of Versailles because he insisted upon it. For the first time Canada had gained international recognition as an independent nation form Britain.
