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Total War. Canadian Home Front World War 1 February 2014. What is “Total War”?. “A war that is unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved or the objectives pursued.” A war in which the “laws” of warfare are disregarded. What are the laws of warfare?
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Total War Canadian Home Front World War 1 February 2014
What is “Total War”? • “A war that is unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved or the objectives pursued.” • A war in which the “laws” of warfare are disregarded. • What are the laws of warfare? • How did this affect Canada? (Soldiers and civilians alike?)
Major Events on the Home Front • Supporting the War Effort • Changing Role of Women • The Halifax Explosion • Conscription Crisis • Enemy Aliens and the War Measures Act
Supporting the War Effort The Cost of the War • 620,000 Soldiers • 58,000 Soldiers dead or missing • 3830 Civilians • 149000 wounded • 2820 prisoners • Cost of the War: 1.6 billion dollars
Why was Canada’s debt growing at an alarming rate during World War 1? What can the Canadian government due about this?
Raising Money for the War Effort • Victory Bonds • Canadians would buy bonds from the government • Bonds grew by 5% per year – which means: • Purchase a bond for 100 dollars • Next year, its worth 105 dollars, 110 dollars, etc. • Raised 1.3 billion dollars through bonds
Raising Money for the War Effort • Income Tax • “Temporary” • Percentage of income , based on how much you make, would go to the government each year • Extra Taxes • Taxes placed on tea, coffee, telegrams, liquor, tobacco, cars, and trains. • The debt continued to grow – from 463 million in 1913 to 2.46 billion by 1918.
Raising Money for the War Effort • Rationing • Food / fuel scarce and expensive • “Fuel Controllers” and “Heatless Days” • “War Bread” – made with flour substitutes • 1 pound of butter, 2 pounds of sugar per month • Hoarders could be fined or jailed • Victory Gardens
Changing Role of Women • Working overseas (nurses, ambulance drivers) • Working in Industry • 30,000 women worked in munitions factories and other industries • Women in Farming • Maintain farms, harvested and sold crops, etc.
Changing Role of Women • Women’s Rights Movement • Suffragists – Organized women fighting for social reform (vote) • Nellie McClung: “Certainly women belong home, but not for 24 hours a day. They should have exactly the same freedom as men.” • 1916 – Women given the right to vote in Manitoba (Provincially) • 1917 – 1918 – The rest of Canada followed suit
Changing Role of Women • Wartime Elections Act, 1917 • Granted Federal vote to mothers, sisters, wives of soldiers, nurses. • The Dominion Elections Act, 1920 • Women could run for political office Aboriginal women, Asians, and other minority groups in Canada could not vote!!
The Halifax Explosion • December 6, 1917 • The Mont Blanc (carrying 2500 tonnes of explosives) and the Imo (carrying fuel) collides and explodes • The Mont Blanc was instantly vaporized in the giant fireball that rose over 1.6 km (1 mi) into the air, forming a large mushroom cloud. The force of the blast triggered a tsunami that reached up to 18 meters above the high-water mark. Imo was lifted up onto shore by this tsunami. • An anchor from the Mont-Blanc was found 2 km from the harbor.
The Halifax Explosion • 2000 people dead • 9000 injured • 13,000 homes, businesses damaged • 6000 people left homeless • Canada rallied to help: • Trains from all over Canada sent food, clothing, building materials, workers, etc.
The Conscription Crisis • Conscription: All able-bodied men must join the army • 1917 – Volunteers for the war were dropping • Prime Minster Borden: The war cannot be won without reinforcements
The Conscription CrisisA Nation Divided English Canada French Canada A province of farmers – An essential need for the war Did not support “Britain’s War” No ties to France – deserted by France in 1760 French language rights are disappearing “Second-class Citizens” French officers received NO promotion NATIONALISM! • Believed “Quebec not doing her part” • Wanted to support Britain and the Empire • NATIONALISM • IMPERIALISM
Henri Bourassa • Originally supported the war … but changed his mind. • Opposed conscription: • 1. Canada has already made a HUGE effort • 2. Weakening the labour force will hurt the economy • 3. National bankruptcy will lead to a loss of independence • 4. Conscription will lead to national disunion
The Conscription Crisis • The Military Service Bill, 1917 • Conscription became law • Service was mandatory for Canadian men 20-45 • Sick, conscientious objectors (religious reasons) did not have to fight. • The Election of 1917 • Military Voters Act – Overseas soldiers could vote • Wartime Elections Act – Canadians from “enemy” nations lost their vote • Robert Borden won the election
The Conscription Crisis • Canada was split • English Imperialists vs. French Nationalists • Riots in Montreal
Enemy Aliens and the War Measures Act • 500,000 Germans, Austrians and Hungarians living in Canada • Welcomed into Canada during the Laurier years • Successful farmers, business people and workers in Canada • War in 1914 – Viewed as “Enemies”
Internment Camps Women and children followed their fathers Internees clearing path for road to Lake Louise Internment Camp at Banff, British Columbia
Enemy Aliens and the War Measures Act • The War Measures Act • To restrict all “enemy aliens” in Canada • Search and seizures • 8000 “enemy aliens” were sent to labour camps • Homes / businesses vandalized • Berlin, Ontario – Kitchener, Ontario • Censorship – Government banned German books and news papers
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly • What were the positives of the Canadian Home Front? • What were the negatives of the Canadian Home Front? • How would Canada be forever impacted by the actions of the government during World War 1?
