World War I, Canada's Contributions, and Historical Source Analysis

Comprehensive review flashcards covering World War I causes, Canadian major battles, the home front and conscription crisis, technological advancements, Treaty of Versailles terms, and historical source bias detection.

What four M-A-I-N underlying factors led to the outbreak of World War I?

Militarism (massive expansion of armies and navies), Alliances (mutual support agreements between nations), Imperialism (competition for colonies and resources), and Nationalism (deep regional hostility and fierce pride in one's country).

What was the Schlieffen Plan, and what factors caused it to fail?

It was Germany's strategy to quickly defeat France by invading through neutral Belgium before turning east to fight Russia. It failed because Belgian resistance slowed the advance, Britain declared war, Russia mobilized faster than anticipated, and German forces were halted before reaching Paris.

What immediate spark in Sarajevo triggered the outbreak of World War I in 1914?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne) and his wife Sophie by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Serbian nationalist group the Black Hand, in June 1914.

When and why did Canada enter World War I, and where were its initial troops assembled for training?

Canada entered automatically on August 4, 1914, because it was a dominion of the British Empire when Britain declared war on Germany. The first overseas contingent was assembled and trained at Valcartier, Quebec.

What extraordinary powers did the War Measures Act grant the Canadian federal government upon its enactment in August 1914?

It permitted the federal government to govern by decree, suspend civil liberties, and do anything deemed necessary for the defense, security, and welfare of Canada during times of war, invasion, or insurrection, real or apprehended.

What deadly innovation was introduced at the Second Battle of Ypres (1915), and what was Canada's significance in this battle?

German forces introduced chlorine gas warfare, causing suffocation; Canadian troops held the line and halted the advance despite suffering over 6,000 casualties, proving they could serve as an effective fighting force under extreme conditions.

Why is the Battle of the Somme (1916) remembered as one of the costliest military failures in human history?

A preliminary two-week Allied artillery bombardment failed to destroy German barbed wire and trenches, leading to catastrophic frontal assault casualties: over 650,000 Allied soldiers (including 24,000 Canadians and nearly the entire Royal Newfoundland Regiment) fell for only 545 square kilometers gained.

Why is the Battle of Vimy Ridge (April 1917) widely viewed as a watershed moment for Canadian national identity?

It marked the first time all four Canadian divisions fought together as a single unified force under Canadian commander General Arthur Currie. Their meticulous tactical planning and creeping barrage captured the strategic high ground, earning Canada international respect.

What conditions characterized the Battle of Passchendaele (1917), and what was its historical outcome?

Fought in deep, muddy terrain near Ypres, Canadian forces captured the ridge but sustained 15,654 casualties for minimal strategic gain, standing as a historical symbol of the futility and human cost of the war.

What tactical method defined a 'creeping barrage' during Allied offensives?

An artillery tactic in which shells were fired in timed, successive lines advancing just ahead of moving infantry to destroy enemy defenses and keep opposing soldiers in their dugouts.

What was trench fever, and what caused it among soldiers on the Western Front?

A debilitating disease caused by body lice carrying parasitic infections into abraded skin, producing waves of high fever, severe leg and body pain, and nausea that affected over a million soldiers.

What was the No. 2 Construction Battalion, and what vital tasks did its members carry out?

Formed in 1916 after Black volunteers were initially turned away from combat units, it was a segregated battalion of over 750 Black Canadians who dug trenches, laid railway tracks, moved ammunition, and cut timber in Europe.

Who was Francis Pegahmagabow, and what was his contribution to the Canadian war effort?

An Anishinaabe soldier and expert scout who became one of the deadliest snipers of World War I with 378 kills, serving through the entire conflict and becoming Canada's most decorated Indigenous soldier.

How did Canada treat 'enemy aliens' living within its borders during World War I?

Over 8,500 people of Austro-Hungarian, Ukrainian, or German descent were stripped of rights and confined in internment camps across Canada (such as in Alberta), while tens of thousands were forced to register and carry government ID cards.

What financial innovations were introduced by the Canadian government to pay for World War I?

The promotion of Victory Bonds (which raised over $100 million), the introduction of business profits taxes in 1916, and the creation of a temporary federal income tax in 1917 that was never repealed.

What precipitated the Conscription Crisis of 1917 in Canada?

Massive battlefield casualties (including over 10,000 casualties at Vimy Ridge in April 1917 alone) combined with a collapse in volunteer recruitment (under 5,000 per month), compelling Prime Minister Robert Borden to introduce compulsory military service.

Which major segments of Canadian society opposed mandatory conscription in 1917, and for what reasons?

French Canadians (who felt no imperial loyalty to Britain and resented English-only military training), prairie farmers (who needed their sons to maintain essential agricultural food production), and recent European immigrants (who moved to Canada specifically to escape European military drafts).

How did Prime Minister Robert Borden manipulate electoral laws ahead of the 1917 election?

Through the Military Voters Act (enfranchising all military personnel overseas, including nurses) and the Wartime Elections Act (enfranchising female relatives of overseas soldiers while disenfranchising conscientious objectors and naturalized citizens from enemy countries).

Who were the 'Bluebirds' in the Canadian Expeditionary Force?

More than 3,000 Canadian military nurses (Nursing Sisters) who served overseas in base hospitals and casualty clearing stations, nicknamed 'Bluebirds' because of their distinctive blue uniforms and white veils.

What timeline marked the expansion of women's voting rights in Canada between 1916 and 1921?

In 1916, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta granted provincial suffrage; in 1917, female relatives of soldiers gained federal voting rights; in 1918, most Canadian women aged 21 and over gained the federal vote (excluding racial minorities); and in 1920/1921, women became eligible to run for the House of Commons.

What operating features and limitations characterized early machine guns in World War I?

They sustained rapid rates of 400 to 600 rounds per minute but were extremely heavy and prone to overheating, requiring continuous water cooling that occasionally forced crews to urinate in cooling jackets when water ran out.

What was 'Little Willie,' and what operational challenges afflicted early British tanks?

'Little Willie' was Britain's first functional prototype tank; early tanks protected crews from shrapnel and crossed barbed wire using tracks, but they suffered frequent mechanical breakdowns, became trapped in mud, and filled their cramped crews with toxic exhaust fumes.

What were Canada's primary contributions to the war in the air, and who was Billy Bishop?

Because Canada lacked its own air service, approximately 22,800 Canadians enlisted in Britain's Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and RNAS (comprising roughly 40% of British pilots by 1918). Billy Bishop became Canada's top flying ace, credited with 72 aerial victories.

How did the Allies counter German unrestricted submarine warfare (U-boats) in the North Atlantic?

By organizing merchant ships into convoy groups departing from ports such as Halifax, protected by armed naval escorts that utilized underwater detection equipment and depth charges.

Why did Prime Minister Robert Borden demand that Canada sign the Treaty of Versailles independently in 1919?

Because Canada contributed decisively to the final Hundred Days offensive and suffered over 65,000 war dead, Borden insisted Canada deserved recognition as a self-governing nation rather than signing as an obedient colony under Britain.

How did Woodrow Wilson's postwar goals differ from those of David Lloyd George and Georges Clemenceau at the Paris Peace Conference?

Wilson championed his 14 Points promoting international self-determination, disarmament, and a League of Nations, whereas Britain and France prioritized punishing Germany, recovering financial reparations, and neutralizing German military power.

What was Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, and what was its historical impact on Germany?

The 'War Guilt Clause,' which forced Germany to accept complete moral responsibility for initiating the war and causing all allied losses, instilling widespread national humiliation and resentment that fueled future conflict.

What military and territorial restrictions did the Treaty of Versailles impose upon Germany?

The German army was limited to 100,000 volunteers with no tanks, air force, or submarines; the Rhineland was demilitarized; and Germany surrendered Alsace-Lorraine, its overseas colonies, and territory to form an independent Poland.

What was the purpose and historical legacy of the League of Nations?

An international organization established under the Treaty of Versailles to guarantee peace through collective security and negotiation; while it failed to stop the aggression leading to World War II, it laid the foundation for the modern United Nations.

What four textual clues reveal that a historical primary source may be biased?

1) Language that is excessively positive and refuses to acknowledge faults; 2) Language that is excessively negative and ignores positive achievements; 3) The deliberate omission of crucial known facts; and 4) The presentation of clearly inaccurate information.

What three steps are necessary to prove bias in a primary historical source?

1) Extract a direct quote illustrating overly emotional or unbalanced language; 2) Explain what specific perspective or opinion the creator sought to force upon their audience; and 3) Identify the underlying motivation of the creator.