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Canada Enters War
On August 5th, 1914, Canada enters war a day after declaring war on Germany (Aug 4) -
In Flander's Fields
On April 24th, 1915, John McCrae makes the famous poem - "In Flander's Fields" due to the loss of his friend Alexis Heimer along with 2,000 of 18,000 soldiers dying due to German weapon , poison gas. I would rate this -1 progress for Canada due to the fact that now we're introduced to German weapons. Only positive is having Flanders Fields as a great primary source for future evidence. -
Vimy Ridge
Many Canadians believe this was Canada's birth as a nation (independence). All 4 Canadian divisions stormed Vimy Ridge (3,568 dead, 7004 wounded) & captured it. I rank this a +2 in progress for Canada and the war itself due to what a victory it was. -
Jeremiah Jones
Jeremiah Jones contributed generously in terms of Canada's success in capturing Vimy Ridge. Jeremiah Jones was one of the few black soldiers accepted into the army (16 black soldiers total). During the Vimy Ridge Battle, Jones rescued his unit from a machine gun nest. This was considered one of Canada’s greatest successes/victories. I'd rank this a +2 due to the fact that the capture of Vimy Ridge was so great & Jeremiah Jones contributed to that. That was the progression with Canada's army. -
Billy Bishop
Billy Bishop and other Canadian Air Fighters positively increased canada's reputation for having a reputable air force. It was very dangerous however, especially when weapons in the air were introduced such as machine guns and bombs. The need for air fighters spiked a boost in the economy due to planes needing to be built and many job openings at munition factories. This is why I'd rank the progress a +2 -
Income Tax War
The production of munition/air crafts spiked a growth in the economy due to more workers being needed. But with time, national debt eventually sat at $1.2 bill. That's when the Income Tax Bill was passed. Taxpayers who didn't pay were fined $100 per day. Eventually, due to an always busy harbor, an explosion in Halifax killed 1500+. I rate this -1 progress due to majority going poor w/ debt & casualties with the harbor explosion. WW1 cost a lot of money, despite being good for business owners. -
Military Service Act of 1917
The Military Service Act of 1917 caused huge political change. After the lives lost were evaluated after Vimy Ridge, it was realized that there were not enough soldiers. More was needed to fill the gap, so it became law that if you're male and between 20-45 years old you were to participate in the war for Britain. By Armistice in November 1918 - 48,000 conscripts were sent overseas. I rank this a -2 in terms of progress. Vimy Ridge was a success but incited extreme changes due to lost lives. -
Enemy Aliens
A member of the Provincial Government made the shocking remark that caused a change in behaviors & treatment towards “aliens” in Canada’s (Ukrainians, Austro-Hungarians, Germans etc) & thus incited a social change. Soon after the law enforced that police can arrest without charging, came the “alien” imprisonment where they were put into camps & worked for 25 cents a day. Early 1918, around 300,000 enemy aliens are deported. I rate this -2 in progress because there was none, just discrimination. -
Oversea Nurses
Mae Belle Sampson, Katherine MacDonald, and other oversea nurses aided fallen soldiers.They could drive ambulances, some took on jobs with the Red Cross but most took up nursing. The conditions they worked in were bad. They still were in war zones, in unprotected barns and farms. They had a plethora of casualties to deal with at a time. I rate this +2 progress for Canada due to this painting a strong image of the strengths of women along with a number of lives saved/helped. -
The Great Depression
This is a political change. The Great Depression was an economic crisis worldwide. War reparations post WW1 is one of the Great Depression's triggers. Many Canadians were unemployed & hungry. Many economies suffered but Canada's suffered most. Canada's debt was present before the war but highly escalated because of it. This is why I rate the progress a -2. The Great Depression was an immense amount of steps backward that wouldn't have been as present or extreme if it weren't for WW1.
