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Period: to
Timeline of Events
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Poison Gas Introduced at Ypres
In April of 1915, the Germans introduced poison gas at Ypres. Through drenched and dirty handkerchiefs, soldiers were panting for air while foaming at the mouth. More than 2000 Canadians out of 6 035 killed in the past 48 hours. But despite the gas, the Canadians held onto the majority of their positions. -1
Theme: Political change -
A Letter Recruiting Three Additional Battalions
A letter from Lt. Col. Borden was sent to all teachers in Nova Scotia on February 14th, 1916. Lt. Col. Borden was attempting to enlist enough soldiers from Nova Scotia to fill three additional battalions. In the letter, Borden asks for assistance from young people to help recruit soldiers for the war. Recruitment was needed to help those overseas get more soldiers which they required to continue fighting in the war. +2
Theme: Political change -
Women in the Workforce
Throughout WWI, there was a huge labour shortage which created more opportunities in the workplace and less traditional roles in society which was a step in the right direction for a change in women's rights, temporarily taking the place of men who were needed for the war. Many women experienced financial independence, a sense of social worth. Also, once men returned from war, the expectation was women would give men their jobs back and things would go back to normal. +1
Theme: Social change -
Female Relatives of Those Serving Overseas Gain the Right to Vote
In 1917, Prime Minister Borden created a law giving female relatives of soldiers and nurses the right to vote. Although society was moving in the right direction, by beginning to give women the right to vote, not everyone had the same right, making many people angry with the new law as they did not like how the government was only extending the vote to certain women. +1
Theme: Political change -
Farm Service Corps Program
Over 1200 women volunteered their efforts to help Canada overcome its food crisis brought on by World War One. They would put in a lot of overtime for minimum wages and frequently got paid based on how much fruit they harvested. This initiative did assist Canada, but it also caused economic problems and issues with working women's equality. 0
Theme: Economic change -
Canadian Income Tax
As the cost of the war was piling up, the government fell into debt as the economy was reaching its breaking point. The government required its citizens to help finance the war as they established income tax acts such as The Business Profits War Act of 1916 and the Income War Tax Act of 1917. These taxes were meant to originally be only temporary but now to this day we still pay these taxes. However, these taxes allowed the government to manage the amounting debt. 0
Theme: Economic change -
War Measures Act
In 1917, the government passed the War Measures Act which limited the freedoms of civilians from enemy countries, such as Ukraine, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. This Act created a cultural attack on these groups of Canadians who were born in enemy countries, and the government referred to them as "enemy aliens". As a result, 8000 so called "enemy aliens" were imprisoned in camps where they worked hard labour and were treated poorly in bad living conditions. -2
Theme: Political change -
Halifax Explosion
On December 6, 1917 a collision happened between the Norwegian and French ships in the Halifax harbour resulting in the destruction of everything within two square kilometers of the pier, and taking many innocent lives. Although the economy was booming, it was overstretched, and the overcrowded harbour was to blame for this collision. This was a well known devastating disaster and inflicted more loss among Canadians during already difficult times of war. -2
Theme: Economic change -
German U-boat Attacked the Llandovery Castle
On June 27, 1918, around 9:30 p.m a German U-boat attacked the Llandovery Castle. The torpedo attack on the Llandovery Castle claimed the life of Mae Belle Sampson, who was the first nurse in the Hamilton area to enlist in the Canadian Army Medical Corps for service abroad when the First World War started. Only 24 of the 258 passengers on board survived, including all 14 nursing sisters. -1
Theme: Political change -
World War I Ended
On November 11, 1918, the First World War came to an end and Canada's involvement in it officially ended. As indicated before, this four-year struggle almost tore Canada apart, yet it eventually strengthened and united the nation. Canadian soldiers were at their breaking point after taking part in the Passchendaele battle in 1917, which resulted in a victory but one overshadowed by dispute and unnecessary deaths. +1
Theme: Political change