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Conscription in WWI Canada

Conscription in WWI Canada. Conscientious Objectors Why When National Division End of the War. 1914 Prime Minister Borden. Promised there would be no conscription or compulsory enlistment BUT........ Needed more men for the war effort Ex. Vimy Ridge Campaign.

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Conscription in WWI Canada

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  1. Conscription in WWI Canada Conscientious Objectors Why When National Division End of the War

  2. 1914 Prime Minister Borden • Promised there would be no conscription or compulsory enlistment • BUT........ • Needed more men for the war effort Ex. Vimy Ridge Campaign

  3. Made enlistment for military service mandatory 1917 Military Service Act

  4. AT FIRST... The Act Allowed for exemptions: Disabled Clergy Essential jobs/skills Opposed war for religious reasons

  5. Groups to Oppose Conscription

  6. Conscientious Objectors • Those who Opposed the war on religious or moral grounds • Pacifists • Mormons • “Hippie”

  7. Farmers and Factory Workers • Both groups believed they were already working for the war effort • Farms a family business, and sons needed on the farm • Factory workers did not want to give up their jobs to go overseas

  8. Labour Movement • Groups organized to improve conditions for workers****** • Ex. 8 HOUR Day • Workers already finding it hard to provide for families • Conscription would mean workers make even less

  9. Quebec • Felt little to no connection to Britain or France • Military Service Act forcing them to fight distant war • Language Rights lost outside Quebec • Majority farmers • Minority group in the war

  10. Liberal Party Leader Laurier • The “law of the land...declares that no man in Canada shall be subjected to compulsory military service except to repel invasions or for the defense of the country”

  11. Groups to Support Conscription

  12. Women Connected to Soldiers • Fathers, sons, husbands, brothers at war and in need of help • Theories: • Helped to promote the vote for women • Free up jobs for women

  13. The Government • Men needed for Vimy Ridge • Britain controls Canada's foreign policy • Role in war helps to promote our autonomy

  14. The Armed Forces • Needed more men • High death tolls • Vimy Ridge • 100 days campaign

  15. The Khaki Election of 1917 • Conscription the main issue in 1917 election • Called Khaki because of the attempts to win the support of people serving during the war • Borden passed laws to ensure a WIN!

  16. Military Voters Act 1917 • Allowed men and women overseas to vote • They would side with Borden because he wanted conscription

  17. Wartime Elections Act 1917 • Gave the Vote to all Canadian women related to servicemen • Cancelled the vote for : • consciences objectors • Immigrants from enemy countries in past 15 years

  18. Union Government • Liberals lost much support outside Quebec • Liberals who favoured conscription joined Borden’s Conservatives to make a wartime Union Government • won majority votes in 1917 election

  19. Conscription Protests Continue • After election, people of Quebec continue to protest • “A bas Borden”- Down with Borden • Canadian troops vs French Canadians who refuse to enlist

  20. Conscription Riots • Quebec City Easter weekend 1918 • April 1 four protesters shot and killed by soldiers • 10 soldiers wounded

  21. Conscription Numbers • 401 882 Canadians conscripted • 125 000 enlisted • 25 000 reached France before end of war

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