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Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
-Franz Ferdinand was the Archduke of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
-Serbia hated Austria-Hungary's looming imperialism
-Serbian terrorist group called the Black Hand planned the archduke's death
-While in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were shot
-Event is believed to be the catalyst of the war -
Great Britain and Canada Enter the War
-Britain gave Germany an ultimatum to stay out of Belgium; the Treaty of London made Britain protect Belgium
-Germany did not agree to ultimatum
-On August 4th, 1914, Great Britain declared war on Germany
-Britain controlled Canada's international relations; Canada went to war August 5th, 1914
- Going into war, Great Britain had 120,00 soldiers (Canada had 3,000 and 60,000 militia) -
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Canada's Contribution to the War at Sea
-Although Canada did not participate in any major sea battles, she still contributed immensely
-Beginning of war: Canada had 2 ships and less than 350 men
-Canada protected ports, shipped supplies, and gathered information
-Canadian Atlantic ports were important for the Allies- used to send supplies and troops to Europe
-Canadian ports had to be protected- Attacks on Canadian fishing boats were made by Germany late in the war
-End fo war: navy expanded to over 9,000 men -
Canadian War Measures Act Takes Effect
-After agreeing to war, the Canadian government created the War Measures Act
-Act allowed government to have ultimate judicial and social control during the war
-Act gave government the freedom to imprison "enemy aliens" (Canadians of enemy nationality) and send them to labour camps
-Censorship and control of media was allowed
-Act was in place until January 10th, 1920
-Act was very influential for homefront life and infalted the government's domestic control -
The McAdam-Vanceboro Railway Bridge Bombing
-Bridge bombing was the first attempted attack on Canadian soil by German Spies
-Bombing occurred on the McAdam Vanceboro Bridge in McAdam New Brunswick, near Maine
-The bomber, Werner Van Horn, was hired by the Germans to bomb the bridge to disrupt Canadian home front war efforts and get the U.S. involved in the war
-Bombing was unsuccessful with minimal damage incurred
-Showed Canada her potential domestic vulnerability to enemy terrorism during the war -
The Second Battle of Ypres
-Allies against the Germans for the Belgian town of Ypres
-From April 22nd to May 25th, 1915
-First time Germans used deadly chlorine gas
-Canada contributed by counterattacking Germans and maintaining their front line so the British could advance forward
-Over 6,500 Canadians died
-Battle marked Canada's first major battle in WW1
-Canadian medical officer John McCrae wrote the famous poem "In Flander's Fields" during the battle of Ypres- a major contribution to Canadian poetry -
Canadian Imperial Munitions Board is Founded
-Canadian Imperial Munitions Board was essential to shaping a war-time economy
-Responded directly to Great Britain, but was run by Canadians
-Allowed women to work in factories while many men were overseas fighting- this provided a steady workforce during the war for necessary war-time production
- Established war bonds- provided Canada with loans from population to cover war costs
-Without the Board, Canada would not have been able to support the war effort she wanted to give -
Manitoba Gives Women the Right to Vote
-During the war, suffrage was rising in Canada
-Suffragettes like Nellie McClung fought for women's rights by petitioning and fighting the court
-Manitoba finally passed the law allowing white women to vote provincially
-Manitoba was the first province to let women vote; marked a revolutionary event in Canadian women's rights
-Aboriginal women were still not allowed to vote -
Battle of The Somme
-Allies fought against Germans near the Somme river in France from July 1st to November 18th, 1916
-Germans were well prepared and Allies struggled with effective tactics
-Battle wasn't successful; Allies only advanced 10km
-One of the bloodiest battles; more than 24,000 Canadian casualties
-Battle showed intense Canadian sacrifice, but also acted as a prelude to Vimy Ridge, Canada's greatest success in the war -
Battle of Flers-Courcelette
-Part of Battle of the Somme
-From Sept. 15 to 22nd, 1916
-Allies against Germans
-Cost Canadian thousands of lives
-Many technological and tactical improvements; the first time tanks and the "creeping barrage" were used
-Resulted in a small victory for the Allies -
The United States Enters the War
-U.S. was neutral for most of the war
-April 6th, 1917: U.S. joined Allies in fight against Germans
-Boat sinkings which killed hundreds of Americans which Germany did made Germany an enemy to the U.S.
- America had fresh and strong resources from a lack of war involvement
-America's aid in the war gave the Allies a strong advantage to win the war in 1918 -
Battle of Vimy Ridge
-Allies against Germans; major Canadian leadership
-April 9th to 12th, 1917
-Germans had advantage of higher elevation, but the Allies won within a few days
-Canada gave opinions on military tactics; intense planning allowed battle to be successful
-10,602 Canadian casualties, 20,000 German Casualties
-Vimy Ridge is Canada's most important battle and showed that Canada could be influential in the war without British control
-Battle marks Canada's birth as a true, independent nation -
Conscription
-By 1917, the thrill of war had faded and enlistment was scarce
-Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden brought the Military Services Act into effect to maintain an army. The Act was introduced May 8th, 1917
-This sparked controversy, especially for the French-Canadians
-The French-Canadians wished to have little to do with the war
-Riots, break-in, police violence and public rebellion ensued
-Conscription caused one of the biggest social outbreaks in Canada's history due to racial divide -
Billy Bishop Attacks German Aerodrome
-Billy Bishop was Canada's best Ace
-June 2nd, 1917, he attacked a German Aerodrome and single-handedly shot down 3 German planes
-Major achievement in Canadian WW1 aviation; Bishop received the Victoria Cross
-Controversy over event; some do not believe Bishop's account of the story
-Bishop became one of the best aces in the war -
Battle of Paschendale
-Battle of Allies against Germans near Paschendale, Belgium
-From July 31st to November 10th, 1917
-Canadian general Authur Currie advised against the battle, but the British army advanced anyways
-Muddy battlefield terrain made advancement hard
-Canadian Corps eventually gained Paschendale, but lost 15,654 soldiers
-One of the bloodiest and disastrous battles for the Allies in WW1 -
Battle of Amiens
-Allies against Germans in Amiens, France; lead by Australia and Canada
-From August 8th-11th, 1917
-Allies advanced 13km in just one day, almost breaking the enemy line- most successful advancement for Allies
-11,800 Canadian casualties
-Germans called the battle "The Black Day"
-Marked the beginning of the end for the Germans -
Halifax Explosion
-The ships "Ino" and Mont-Blanc", both carrying war supplies, crashed into each other in Halifax's harbour
-Mont-Blanc was carrying TNT; crash caused huge explosion which decimated Halifax and led to a tsunami
-2,000 Canadians died, 9,000 injured, and 25,000 left homeless
-Biggest disaster in Canadian history
-Largest human-made explosion before the atomic bomb -
Spanish Flu Epidemic
-Danergous strain of flu could kill someone in 1 day
-Lasted from 1918-1920
-Deadliest disease in WW1: Killed 20 million people worldwide and 50,000 Canadians
-Spread to Canada when soldiers came home
-Significant population loss from flu (combined with from the war) crippled Canada's workforce
-Caused devastation for Canadians everywhere, leaving children orphaned
-Federal Department of Health was created in response to the epidemic -
Death of the Red Baron
-Manfred von Richthofen was the best German Ace
-Had 80 kills during the war; nicknamed the Red Baron
-Canadian ace Arthur Roy Brown is credited with shooting down the Red Baron near Amiens, France
-Controversy over if Brown truly killed the Red Baron
-Brown was widely praised for killing the Red Baron -
Armistice Takes Effect
-11th day of the 11th month of the 11th hour, Germany surrendered to the Allies and an armistice came into effect
-Germany's resources were nearly depleted and could not continue fighting for long
-Once the U.S entered the war, Germany was beginning to lose
-The last Canadian to die in the war was Private George Lawrence Price, who died 2 minutes before the armistice took effect
-The armistice is marked as the end of the war
