Canada Prepares to Defend The Empire

What is Canada’s Birthday?

July 1st, 1867

What is Canada’s Place in The Empire?

The new country was part-independent, part-British colony and very proud member of the British Empire (most people with the exception of french-canadians- were proud and loyal subjects of the British Empire)

Canada’s Connection to The Empire

When Britain declared war in 1914 it did so on behalf of the entire empire (“when Britain is at war, Canada is at war…”)

How much troops did Prime Minister Robert Borden promise to send?

600,000 troops (at that time Canada’s population was less than 8 million)

How did people react to the news of Canada being apart of WW1?

The news of Canada’s involvement in the war caused lots of excitment across the country and thousands of people from all over the nation rushed to recruitment offices to sign up

Who is Sam Huges?

He was the Minister of the Militia and was given the task of orginazing a force since Canada was unprepared to fight in a mjaor war.

How was Huge’s personality and what did he plan?

He had a narrow minded attitude towards Black, Native and French-Canadian soldiers and insisted that Canada soldiers be equipped with Ross Rifles which ended up beign unsuitable for the web, muddy battlefeild. He also insisted on Macadam’s Shovel and gave military supply contracts to friends (war profiters).