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1917 conscription Crisis

A Nation Divided. 1917 conscription Crisis. Background. In the beginning of the war, Canadians were excited about the war effort and thousands of men volunteered However, with injured men returning to Canada, the reality of Trench Warfare became know to Canadians

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1917 conscription Crisis

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  1. A Nation Divided 1917 conscription Crisis

  2. Background • In the beginning of the war, Canadians were excited about the war effort and thousands of men volunteered • However, with injured men returning to Canada, the reality of Trench Warfare became know to Canadians • Therefore, fewer and fewer men volunteered with each passing month • Also, after Vimy, Canadian Soldiers began to see more action and suffered much higher causalities. • The Canadian Army was shrinking!

  3. Key Statistics

  4. Borden’s Mission • Early in 1917, Canadian Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden visited the Trenches in France • He was shocked at what he saw: the conditions of trenches and the amount of casualties • Canadians soldiers begged Borden for help: they needed more men • Borden promised them that he would get them the help they needed

  5. The Conscription Crisis • Borden came home to Canada and attempted to pass a “Conscription” bill • Conscription means to force men to go to war • Borden’s bill hit like a bomb! • Canada was deeply divided by the issue

  6. Supporters of Conscription • British Canadians loved the idea of conscription • They felt that other people within Canada had not done their part (especially Quebec)

  7. Detractors of Conscription • Many groups in Canada resisted conscription • French Canadians • Recent immigrants • Pacifists • Farmers • Factory workers

  8. 1917 Election • An Election was scheduled for Dec. 1917 • Conscription was the only issue • It divided political parties in Canada • The Liberal and Conservative parties broke up and were replaced with the conscription party (led by Borden) and anti-conscription party (led by Sir Wilfred Laurier) • Laurier realized that passing conscription would divide the country and alienate French Canadians

  9. Borden fixes the Election • In order to ensure that he wins the election, Borden passed several laws • The War Measures Act:- passed early in the war, this Law takes away the basic rights of citizens- Borden used this Law to take away the Vote from immigrants from enemy countries • The Military Voters Act- This Law allowed soldiers who are overseas to Vote • The Wartime Elections Act- This Law allows women to vote for the First time- However, only women who have Fathers, Brothers or Sons in combat may vote

  10. Aftermath • Borden wins the election in every province except Quebec • French men are specifically targeted for conscription • Massive Riots in Quebec City and Montreal! • Canada was divided just as Laurier feared

  11. Key Points • The Canadian Army was Shrinking and needed more men • Sir Robert Borden wanted conscription • English Canada supports conscription • French Canada doesn’t • Borden wins the 1917 election by using the War Measures Act, Military Voters Act and Wartime Elections Act • Quebec Riots and has negative feelings towards English Canada that never go away!

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