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Another Conscription Crisis…

Another Conscription Crisis…. What does Conscription Mean?. compulsory enrolment of persons for military or naval service; draft. What happened the las t time…. During the First World War the Canadian death tolls were mounting as recruitment fell

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Another Conscription Crisis…

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  1. Another Conscription Crisis…

  2. What does Conscription Mean? compulsory enrolment of persons for military or naval service; draft.

  3. What happened the last time… • During the First World War the Canadian death tolls were mounting as recruitment fell • On July 24, 1917, Prime Minister Borden passed the Military Services Act, which invoked conscription • This caused a massive split between French and English Canada. Many English-speaking Canadians felt conscription was necessary, while a huge fraction of French-Speaking Canadians did not • Riots erupted in Montreal and Quebec City. Tensions between French and English Canada were extremely high

  4. “Not necessarily conscription,… • When the war began (1939), Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, did not enact conscription, knowing it would be a very controversial issue. • It could also be very politically damaging to him, and since the Canadian forces were getting enough volunteers, conscription was not an issue. He promised he would not enact conscription and won the next election (1940) in a landslide. • In June 1940 the government created the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA), which allowed the government to register men and women into jobs considered necessary for wartime production, but did not allow them to be conscripted for overseas service.

  5. …but conscription if necessary.” • In April 1942 a plebiscite (national vote) was held which asked Canadians if they would allow the government to take back its promise made on conscription during the 1940 election . • Across Canada, 63% of voters were in favour of conscription (English Canadians - 83% in favour of the plebiscite, French Canadians - 72.9% oppose the plebiscite). CONSCRIPTION PASSES!!!!!!! • However, by the end of the war, very few conscripts go overseas to fight in the war. Only 2463 conscripted men reached the front lines. Out of these, 79 lost their lives. • King’s reputation and popularity took a hit, but this conscription • crisis does not destroy him. A divide was created once again in • Canada, but not like it did in 1917. What was the difference?

  6. Rosie the Riveter Ronnie the Bren Gun Girl

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