Conscription Crisis (1917)

1. Conscription Crisis(1917) • What is Conscription? • Conscription. It is like the Draft. Conscription is military service by all men of a certain age. It is required by law.

2. A British Nation Most Canadians felt pride in Britain’s Imperial accomplishments • There was nostrong feeling of Canadian nationalism at the time • This is not to say, however, that there were no nationalists in the dominion

3. Three Key Figures Robert Borden Prime Minister (Conservative) Wilfrid Laurier Leader of the Opposition (former Liberal PM) Quebec Nationalist leader (Anti-conscription)

4. Laurier: “Do not choose a French Canadian. The situation of a French Canadian Prime Minister is impossible and he can do nothing for his people.”

5. Les Canadiens French Canadians felt no such strong connection to things British In Francophone Quebec there WAS a feeling of nationalism • Strong tensions existed between English- and French-speaking Canadians The “Real War” was being fought over minority rights, not in Europe. ( Henri Bourassa)

6. Henri Bourassa Henri Bourassa - key spokesperson for Quebec Resigned from Laurier’s government over the war Was re-elected as an independent party • He spoke out against the warand argued for a nationalist policy for the country

7. At the Start… 1914 • MUCH enthusiasm • Bourassa supports the war (referring to it as a “great national crusade” capable of uniting Canada) • Early in the conflict voluntary recruitment was strong and the young men enthusiastic to fight

8. At the Start… 1914 • Prime Minister Borden and army minister Sam Hughes promised more and more men • Wealthy men and militias were responsible for raising, financing and equipping battalions for overseas service $$$ • Hughes foolishly focused on making the army an English-language institution (thus further alienating the French) • Quebec people bought War Bonds and some enlisted • For the most part French-Canadians in the province showed little interest

9. Shift in Public Opinion 1916-1917 • HIGH casualty figures regularly printed in the papers = public enthusiasm for the war declined • Now aware of the horrors of the war • People no longer considered it a “glorious adventure” • Recruitment levels dropped • Casualties GROWas Canadians engage in key and costly battles

10. AT HOME: Employment and wages were booming • Farmers cried out for workers = Against sons leaving for war • FACTS: • Most pro-British already volunteered • As talk of conscription grew so too did opposition for war • Agricultural Quebecopposedsending its farm workers and married men to fight

11. Three Years On… 1917 • Borden had earlier promised there would be no conscription • Yet, the savage fighting (Vimy Ridge in April), lengthy war, and many deaths = TOO MANY lost troops • After visiting the Western Front, Borden felt compelled to continue Canada’s strong commitment to the war • Borden introduced CONSCRIPTION (the Military Service Act) “There has not been and there will not be compulsion or conscription. Freely and voluntarily, the manhood of Canada stands ready to fight beyond the seas.” ( PM Robert Borden in December 1914 )

12. Conscription Crisis (1917) • Military Service Act = compulsory enlistment (conscription), even if someone didn’t believe in the war. • Conscription divided Canada in half: • English for conscription, French against it

13. Laurier “Ready, Aye, Ready” • Wilfrid Laurier had always supported the war effortbutNOT conscription “When Britain is at war, Canada is at war. There is no distinction.” Laurier “All of my life I have fought coercion.” Laurier

14. 1917 Election • Prime Minister Borden called an election, and conscription would be the only issue, but he changed the rules • Military Voters Act(1917) • Allowed men and women serving overseas to vote • Wartime Elections Act (1917) • Gave the vote to all Canadian women directly related to servicemen (wives, mothers, sisters) • Cancelled the vote for conscientious objectors and immigrants from enemy countries in the last 15 years

16. The Khaki Election… 1917 • Some Liberals desert Laurier and join Borden in Unionist coalition • Some independents also join the PM • The Liberal party is split- as is the nation- by the bitter debate • Borden’s Union party wins the “Khaki Election” (sweeping English Canada but losing heavily in Quebec)

18. The Aftermath… 1918 • Conscription effort did not go smoothly • {only 20,000 of first 400,000 actually reported for training } • Borden would subsequently cancel all exemptions (including those for farmers’ sons) – EVERYONE MUST ENLIST! • Conscription would lead to rioting in Quebec in 1918 • Only a small number of the conscripts actually saw action • Conscription issue thus had only slight military benefits • Left great and lasting political consequences • The nation was left split between the French and the English

19. Conscription • AGAINST: • Upset farmers losing their sons and hired hands • Sent those who truly didn’t want to go • Increased French/English tensions • Sent married men to war (leaving their families to struggle) • Hurt homefront production • FOR: • Send more troops to the front • Honour promises to Britain • Honour sacrifices of troops • Fight the evil Germans • Help speed the end of war

20. CLASS DEBATE • QUESTION: Should Canada, or any other country (Korea), be allowed to use conscription during wartime? • Why or why not? • How about during peacetime? • Example: Russia