5 F’s of WWI (description & importance)

Factories

• By 1918, 300,000 Canadians were employed in war factories 

• One-third of all shells fired by British Empire armies were made in Canada 

• Women working in munitions factories were called "munitionettes" 

Females

• Women took over factory jobs while men fought overseas 

• Women worked long hours on farms to replace male workers 

• Many joined volunteer groups like the Red Cross, often serving overseas 

• Over 3,000 women served as army nurses and ambulance drivers abroad 

Food

• People planted "victory gardens" to grow their own food and reduce store use 

• Meals used less meat, butter, bread, and sugar to send more overseas 

• Canada shipped large amounts of food to soldiers and Allied countries 

• Hoarding food could lead to fines or jail 

• 1915 saw the largest wheat crop in Canadian history 

• Farmers were urged to produce as much as possible 

Fuel

• Fuel became scarce and prices rose during the war 

• A coal shortage in winter 1917 forced schools and factories to close in 1918 

• The government promoted "heatless days" to save coal 

Finance

• The government urged people to buy Victory Bonds, which could be cashed in for profit 

• The Canadian Patriotic Fund collected donations for the war effort 

• A temporary income tax was introduced to raise money 

• Canada’s debt rose from $463 million in 1913 to $2.46 billion by 1918