Canada & First World War

Liberal Party

less supportive of Britain (Canada); supportive of Canadian navy

Conservative Party

favor close ties with Britain (Canada); thinks Britain is real navy, complained weak Canadian navy is "tin pot navy" bc atm they only had 1 vessel

Alaska-Canadian Dispute (1903)

result of gold rush in Canada, TR acted with Big Stick, arbitration to settle dispute (TR); Britain sided with US so Canada felt betrayed

Ontario's Regulation 17

made English official language of instruction & restricted French to first 2 years of elementary school; Angered Québécois (People from quebec) like Henri Bourassa (1912)

Imperial War Cabinet - Resolution IX

Imperial relationships need to be changed to be "based upon a full recognition of the autonomous nations of an Imperial Commonwealth" and should have "a right to an adequate voice in foreign policy and relations"

The British gave increasing independence and power over to the dominations (March 1917)

2nd Battle of Ypres

Occurred in Belgium, first trench warfare (on ground) for Canadian soldiers, Germans used chlorine gas for first time against French and Canadians (1915)

Vimy Ridge

Most prominent action the Canadian Corps was involved in and led to Currie being named commander

The Canadians suffered heavy casualties taking a position the Allies had long failed to take

(April 1917)

Passchendaele

Currie anticipated many casualties, atrocious conditions, did little to help the war (fall 1917)

The Hundred Days

final push to end WWI, battles of amiens, etc, canada had 20% of their total casualties here, no canadians participated in negotiations for armstice (fall 1918)

Military Service Act of 1917

a controversial law allowing the conscription of Canadian men for service in the final years of the First World War; modeled after US Selective Service Act, more support in english-speaking area of canada, men 20-45, there were exemptions but were canceled later

Wartime Elections Act

created by reformers Widows, women that are related to military personnel enfranchised in federal elections; Immigrants from enemy countries who arrived after 1902 were disenfranchised (immigrants typically voted Liberal) (1917)

Military Voters Act

created by reformers; All members of the CEF get the right to vote either for "Government" or "Opposition"

Soldiers voted overwhelmingly for the Union government in the 1917 elections

Quebec Draft Riots

Lingering anti-British sentiments, often passed over in promotion in war; No real ties or affection for France,

Draft evasion

Talk of secession among Québécois nationalists

(Easter 1918)

Halifax Explosion

A French freighter full of munitions collided with another ship and exploded within an hour (December 1917)

Victory Bonds

bonds (loans) issued by the Canadian government to support the war effort - military operations (used patriotism/propaganda in war) w/o taxes

Wartime Measures Act

Passed unanimously; Increasing censorship &

suspension civil liberties against enemy aliens and Canadians of German or Austro-Hungarian descent

24 camps will be established (1914)

Anti-German League

renamed communities, against german culture, etc (1916)

Winnipeg General Strike (1919)

One Big Union

Similar to the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

people went on strike & organized the "Citizens' Committee of One Thousand"

Suppressed with the Riot Act and troops were brought in to quell the 1919 strike

Deportations

Immigration Act - Section 41

the government could deport those who advocate the overthrow the government (anarchists & revolutionists) (1919)

Chanak Crisis

Treaty of Sevres (1920): ended the First World War with the Ottoman Empire; provided for British occupation troops in the the Dardanelles

Turkish nationalists were on the verge of war with Great Britain

King did not want to get involved, Canada did not respond to Britain's request for troops (1922)

Halibut Treaty (1923)

Over fishing rights with the United States

First treaty in which Canada signed without a British co-signature

Balfour Declaration of the Imperial Conference

The dominions were equals in the commonwealth partnership;

Canada now sends ambassadors to other countries as its own representative (1926)

Kellogg-Briand Pact

Signatories outlawed offensive war as a way to resolve national conflict

Done because it basically required nothing of Canada (1928)

Treaty of Westminster

legislative independence for British dominions, Britain couldn't declare war for other countries (their dominions) (1931)