WWI & The Home Front and The 1920s: Life & Culture

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the topics of WWI and the home front, as well as cultural changes in the 1920s.

War Measures Act (1914)

A law that gave the government extreme power during WWI, allowing them to censor news, seize property, and arrest people without trial.

Enemy Aliens

People living in Canada who were citizens of countries at war with Canada, treated with suspicion and forced into internment camps.

Wartime Economy

The government's control of factories and resources to produce weapons and supplies for the war, creating jobs and boosting industrial output.

Battle of Vimy Ridge (April 1917)

A significant battle where all four Canadian divisions fought together for the first time, capturing an important ridge.

Battle of the Somme (1916)

A prolonged and brutal battle known for its high casualties and the near destruction of the Newfoundland Regiment on the first day.

2nd Battle of Ypres (1915)

The first major battle for Canadians, notable for the use of chlorine gas by Germans and substantial Canadian losses.

Passchendaele (1917)

A horrific battle characterized by muddy conditions, where Canadians captured a ridge at a high cost of life.

Canada's 100 Days (1918)

The final offensive by the Canadian Corps leading to the defeat of the German Army and the end of the war.

Tank

A slow armored vehicle designed to break through barbed wire and withstand machine-gun fire, first used in WWI.

Poison Gas

A weapon causing severe injuries or death, with chlorine and mustard gas being used by both sides.

Victory Bonds

Loans bought by Canadian citizens to fund the war effort, to be repaid with interest later.

Imperial Munitions Board

A group established to manage Canadian production of shells and other war materials for Britain.

Propaganda

Materials designed to gain citizen support for the war and promote negative feelings towards the enemy.

Wartime Elections Act (1917)

A law granting the vote to women related to soldiers while disenfranchising 'enemy alien' immigrants.

Military Service Bill (1917)

A law making military service mandatory, provoking division among English and French Canadians.

Jazz Music

An upbeat style of music defining the 1920s, often played in illegal bars known as speakeasies.

Prohibition

A ban on alcohol sales in Canada, which led to illegal bootlegging activities.

Bootleggers & Rum Runners

Individuals involved in the illegal production and transportation of alcohol during Prohibition.

Mass Production

The use of assembly lines in factories to swiftly and cheaply produce large quantities of goods.

Consumerism

A cultural focus on buying luxury goods and electronics that became prominent in the 1920s.

The Persons Case (1929)

A legal effort by the 'Famous Five' to have women recognized as 'persons' under the law.

The Flapper

Slang for young women in the 1920s who defied traditional norms by adopting new fashion and behavior.

Pablum

A nutritious baby cereal developed in Canada during the 1920s.

The Telephone

A communication device that became essential for connecting communities across Canada.

Insulin

A treatment for diabetes discovered by Canadian doctors in 1921, significantly impacting medical care.

Construction Battalion No. 2

The only black unit in the Canadian army during WWI, primarily assigned to construction roles.

Robert Borden

The Conservative Prime Minister of Canada during WWI, managing the country through the war and conscription crisis.

The Halibut Treaty (1923)

The first international treaty independently negotiated by Canada with the U.S., focused on fishing.

Fred Loft

A Mohawk veteran who founded the League of Indians of Canada to advocate for Indigenous rights.

Lulu Anderson

A Black woman who challenged racial discrimination after being denied entry to a movie theatre in Alberta.