History Exam Review

Why did women enter the workforce during WWI?

About 600,000 Canadians, mostly men, went overseas to fight, creating a major labour shortage. By 1915, factories began allowing women to work in industrial jobs.

When did WWI start and end?

July 28, 1914 - November 11, 1918

What kinds of jobs did women take during WWI?

Women worked in machine shops, metal factories, munitions plants, aircraft factories, and as nurses

Approximately how many women moved into industrial jobs during WWI?

About 30,000 women.

How were women treated in the workforce during WWI?

They were often paid about half as much as men for similar work.

What happened to many women when soldiers returned from WWI?

Many women were pushed out of their factory jobs so returning soldiers could take them.

When was the Battle of the Somme?

July 1 – November 18, 1916.

What was the Battle of the Somme?

A major WWI battle and one of the highest-casualty battles of the war, fought between Allied and German forces.

What happened before the Allied attack at the Somme?

The Allies carried out an 8-day bombardment of German defensive positions beginning June 24, 1916.

Why did the 8-day bombardment at the Somme fail?

German soldiers waited under cover until the bombardment ended, then emerged to fire on the advancing Allied troops.

What happened when Allied soldiers crossed No Man's Land at the Somme?

German Maxim machine guns fired on the advancing soldiers, causing enormous casualties.

What new weapon appeared during the Battle of the Somme?

The tank. The first tanks appeared in September 1916, but they were clumsy and unreliable.

Who was General Douglas Haig?

A British military leader who commanded the British forces during the Battle of the Somme.

Why was General Haig criticized?

He was criticized for not being prepared for the nature of warfare on the Western Front and for his lack of understanding of front-line conditions.

Why was the Battle of the Somme significant?

It demonstrated how modern WWI warfare differed from previous wars, with trenches, machine guns, heavy artillery, tanks, and enormous casualties.

Approximately how many total casualties occurred during the Battle of the Somme?

About 1.12 million killed or wounded.

How many British soldiers became casualties on the first day of the Somme?

About 58,000.

What happened to the Newfoundland Regiment on the first day of the Somme?

710 of 801 soldiers who went over the top were killed.

How many Canadians were killed or wounded in the Somme region?

More than 24,000.

How much ground did the Allies gain during the Battle of the Somme?

Approximately 12 km.

What were the approximate French and British casualties at the Somme?

About 620,000.

What were the approximate German casualties at the Somme?

About 500,000.

How were women discriminated against before gaining greater political rights?

Women were often viewed as inferior to men, were not considered legal "persons," could not vote, and were often paid less for the same work.

When did Canadian women begin gaining the right to vote?

During WWI, beginning with limited voting rights in 1917, followed by broader federal voting rights in 1918.

Who were the Famous Five?

Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Henrietta Muir Edwards, and Louise McKinney.

Who was Nellie McClung?

A major women's rights activist who helped women gain the vote in Manitoba and later played an important role in the Persons Case.

Why was Manitoba important to women's suffrage?

Manitoba became the first Canadian province to give women the right to vote.

What did Nellie McClung do in Alberta?

She was elected to the Alberta Legislative Assembly in 1921.

Who was Emily Murphy?

The first female police magistrate in Alberta and an important figure in the Persons Case.

Why was Emily Murphy denied a Senate appointment?

Prime Minister Robert Borden denied her application because women were not legally considered "persons" under the BNA Act.

What happened in Alberta in 1917 regarding women as "persons"?

The Alberta Supreme Court ruled that a woman was a "person," but the decision only applied in Alberta.

What was the Persons Case?

A legal battle over whether women were considered "persons" under the British North America Act

What happened in 1927 during the Persons Case?

Emily Murphy appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada over the definition of "persons."

What did the Supreme Court of Canada decide in 1928?

It ruled that women were not "persons" under the BNA Act.

What happened in 1929 during the Persons Case?

The Famous Five, with help from Prime Minister Mackenzie King, appealed to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in England.

What did the Privy Council decide in 1929?

It ruled that women were persons.

What was the Military Voters Act of 1917?

A law introduced by Prime Minister Robert Borden that allowed white women to vote if: they were a war widow, had a sons or husbands serving overseas.

What happened in 1918 regarding women's voting rights?

Borden passed legislation extending federal voting rights to women.

When did Quebec women gain the provincial vote?

1940.

When did Indigenous people in Canada gain full federal voting rights?

1960.

How did WWI advance women's rights?

Women gained voting rights, greater political power, new employment opportunities, and increased economic independence.

What was the focus of the First Women's Movement?

Political equality, especially being recognized as "persons" and gaining the right to vote.

What was the focus of the Second Women's Movement?

Greater economic and social equality, including equal pay, education, careers, reproductive rights, and workplace equality.

What happened to women's education and employment during the Second Women's Movement?

More women attended university and worked outside the home.

What jobs were women often encouraged to take?

Teaching, office assistant/secretarial work, and nursing.

How were women treated economically during the Second Women's Movement?

They were often paid less than men and were rarely promoted into positions of power.

When was the Royal Commission on the Status of Women created?

1967.

What was the Royal Commission on the Status of Women?

A document outlining 167 recommendations ways to give women the same opportunities as men.

What are two important recommendations from the Royal Commission that became law?

Equal pay for equal work and preventing employers from discriminating based on gender.

What were some major changes resulting from the women's movement?

• Women delayed getting married and having kids to establish careers

• Increased demand for daycare

• Maternity leave

• Right to return to work after having children

• Reproductive rights

• Access to contraception/birth control

What was the Great Depression & when did it occur?

A long and severe economic downturn in modern history, lasting from 1929–1939.

When & what was Black Tuesday?

October 29, 1929, when the stock market crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.

What was buying on margin?

Buying stocks by paying a small amount upfront and borrowing the rest from the bank or financial broker. If prices fell, buyers still had to repay their loans.

How did rising stock prices contribute to the Great Depression?

People became overconfident, believing prices would continue rising, so they borrowed money and bought more stocks.

How did overproduction contribute to the Great Depression?

Factories produced more goods than people could afford to buy because wages did not increase at the same rate.

Why was Canada heavily affected by the Great Depression?

The United States was Canada's biggest trading partner, so the crash caused Canadian exports such as lumber, cattle, and cars to lose value.

What happened to Canadians during the Great Depression?

Many lost their jobs, businesses closed, and people filed for bankruptcy.

What environmental problem made the Depression worse in parts of Canada?

A long-lasting drought contributed to severe economic hardship.

When was the Battle of Vimy Ridge?

April 9–13, 1917.

What was the Battle of Vimy Ridge?

A major Canadian WWI victory in which all four Canadian divisions captured German positions on the ridge.

Why was Vimy Ridge difficult to capture?

The Germans had the higher ground and strong defenses. British and French forces had previously attempted and failed to capture it.

Who was Major General Arthur Currie?

Canadian commander who emphasized detailed preparation, training, maps, reconnaissance, and battlefield practice.

How did Arthur Currie prepare Canadian soldiers?

Soldiers trained using detailed maps and full-scale battlefield replicas, practiced their exact movements, and learned their individual missions. Completed aerial reconnaissance and night raids to learn about German defenses

What was the creeping barrage?

An artillery tactic in which artillery fire moved forward ahead of advancing soldiers, providing them with continuous cover.

How many soldiers were in the first attacking wave at Vimy?

Approximately 20,000.

How quickly did the Canadians capture the German front line at Vimy?

The 1st Canadian Division captured it within about 30 minutes.

How many Canadian divisions fought at Vimy Ridge?

All four Canadian divisions.

Why was Vimy Ridge significant to Canada?

It was the most successful Allied advance on the Western Front to that point and brought Canada significant international recognition.

How many Canadians were killed & wounded at Vimy Ridge?

• 3,600 killed

• 10,600 wounded

Approximately how many German casualties occurred at Vimy Ridge?

About 20,000.

When & what was D-Day?

The Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944.

What was Operation Overlord?

The Allied invasion of Normandy and liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

How long did the Battle of Normandy last?

June 6 – August 21, 1944.

Who was Supreme Commander of Operation Overlord?

American General Dwight Eisenhower.

Who was another important Allied commander during D-Day?

British General Bernard Montgomery.

Why did the Allies invade France?

To liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation and open another front against Germany

Why did the Allies choose to invade at Normandy?

The Pas-de-Calais was the shortest distance across the English canal and most predictable invasion route, so the Germans expected an attack there. The Allies chose Normandy to surprise them.

What was the fake invasion during D-Day?

The Allies created a dummy army near Pas-de-Calais using fake equipment to convince Germany that the main invasion would occur there.

What was Canada's role on D-Day?

About 14,000 Canadians landed at Juno Beach, while the Royal Canadian Navy and Air Force provided major support.

What Canadian army unit landed at Juno Beach?

The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.

What Canadian airborne unit participated in D-Day?

The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.

How large was Canada's naval contribution on D-Day?

About 110 ships and 10,000 sailors.

How large was Canada's air contribution on D-Day?

15 fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons.

Were most Canadian soldiers at D-Day experienced?

No. Most soldiers in the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had no combat experience, although they had trained for more than a year.

Why did the Battle of Normandy last longer than expected?

The Allies faced strong German resistance, including highly effective Panzer armoured units.

What was the Falaise Gap?

The area where Allied forces surrounded German forces during a major pincer movement in August 1944.

When was the Falaise Gap closed?

August 20, 1944.

How many Allied troops landed on D-Day?

Nearly 150,000.

How many Canadians landed at Juno Beach?

Approximately 14,000.

How many Canadian casualties occurred on D-Day?

1,074, including 359 killed.

Approximately how many Allied casualties occurred during the entire Battle of Normandy?

About 209,000.

Approximately how many Canadian casualties occurred during the Battle of Normandy?

More than 18,700, including approximately 5,000 deaths.

Which army liberated Auschwitz?

The Soviet Red Army.

When did the Soviets discover Auschwitz?

January 1945.

What did Soviet soldiers find at Auschwitz?

Evidence of Nazi crimes, including prisoners in terrible condition and huge amounts of belongings stolen from prisoners.

What were death marches?

Forced marches in which prisoners were moved from camps, often under brutal conditions and extreme cold, as the Nazis evacuated camps.

Why did the Nazis destroy parts of Auschwitz?

They attempted to destroy evidence of their crimes, including gas chambers and crematoria.

Approximately how many Jews were murdered during the Holocaust?

Approximately 5–6 million Jews.

Who else did the Nazis persecute and murder?

Prisoners of war, Serbians, Roma ("Gypsies"), and others the Nazis considered "undesirable."

What happened to prisoners remaining at Auschwitz?

Thousands were left behind in extremely poor health when the Nazis evacuated the camp.