The 1911 census showed that 54% of Canadians were British, and 28.5% were French.
Canada was not a military nation but was quick to join the fight because of close ties to Britain.
Financial & Personal ties:
Canada attracted 3/4 of all British investment in the entire British Empire.
600,000 served in the war.
The war was previously viewed as heroic and glorious (recruitment posters supported this idea, depicting the enemies as evil).
Francis Pegahmagabow:
A very skilled First Nations soldier/sniper.
One of the 4000 First Nations people who served despite the maltreatment from the government.
WWI and its impact on the economy:
Women began to work to fill in the roles of the men who went to war.
Unemployment disappeared due to lots of industries manufacturing aircrafts and warships for the war.
The government needed money to support the war, leading to income tax and war bonds.
Consequences of the war (homefront):
War Measures Act:
The government could make decisions quickly without following the usual process.
It took away rights from enemy aliens (German & Austro-Hungarian Canadians) who were put in internment camps.
Military Service Act 1917 (conscription):
The army needed reinforcements after huge casualties.
Caused division in Canada.
French Canadians felt connected to France, not Britain, and felt the government had no right to involve them in the war.
English Canadians resented French Canadians not carrying their share of the burden.
Women gained the right to vote (British women with relation to military).
The Borden government formed the Union party to gain more votes to support conscription.
After the war: consequences
Workers:
Left unemployed and wages couldn't keep up with the increased cost of living.
It was hard for Austro-Hungarian or German Canadians to find jobs after the war.
Winnipeg General Strike 1919: over 30,000 workers walked off the job.
Returning soldiers:
The Spanish influenza killed many people.
Soldiers were considered to have first chance at jobs.
English-French Divide:
The conscription crisis and riots divided the country.
Less than 1% of men that were conscripted were sent overseas to fight.
Canadian identity:
Borden forced Britain to recognize Canada's wartime efforts and sacrifices during the imperial war cabinet.
Canada would not aid Britain in another war.
During an imperial conference in 1926, they established all dominions as equals.
Women:
Had more jobs during war because of the shortage of men, but after the war, there were many unemployed.
The government tried to convince women to go back to being housewives and leave jobs back to men.
Canada grew in independence where they began to separate themselves from Europe and focus on themselves.
1920s
Was it a period of growth or decline?
Winnipeg General Strike - Growth:
Helped unite the working class and created a bridge between the divides in the country after the war.
Some strike leaders were elected to government and developed their own political parties, eventually becoming the NDP.
1919 League of Nations - Growth:
Prime Minister Robert Borden secured Canada a separate seat in the League, independent of Britain.
Canada did not want to commit to providing military aid to any other member.
Imperial Conferences: - Growth
Prime Minister Mackenzie King independent action of signing the Halibut Treaty without Britain.
This treaty was a fishing agreement between the United States and Canada.
For the first time Canada had negotiated and signed its own treaty without involvement from England.
Britain were not resisting the change
The Imperial Conference of 1926 passed the Balfour Report which said that all the Dominions of Britain's former empire are self-governing equal members of a new association called the British Commonwealth of Nations
1922 Chanak Incident - Growth:
Britain had troops in Turkey and asked Canada for help.
Prime Minister Mackenzie King responded that he would ask the parliament before sending troops.
Canada refused because it was not affecting Canada, so the government decided not to involve themselves.
The prime minister wanted the government to make the decision, not just follow what Britain wants in foreign affairs.
1926 Balfour Declaration - Growth:
The Balfour Declaration stated that the Dominions of the British Empire were autonomous and equal in stature with each other and with England, showing that Canada was officially independent but still had a connection with Britain.
1920: Residential Schools - Decline:
The government joined with the churches to establish a residential school system for Indigenous children.
Children (7-15) were forcibly taken from their homes, causing generational trauma.
Many died in the residential schools due to neglect and abuse.
Out of those who survived, many turned to drugs/alcohol while others committed suicide.
1923: Chinese Immigration Act - Decline:
A law to exclude Chinese people from entering Canada.
Those who entered before the Chinese Immigration Act needed to pay a hefty "head tax."
It was a decline due to racial prejudice and discrimination in Canada towards Chinese immigrants.
The Roaring 20's:
A A
Arts and culture prospered.
Group of Seven, Hollywood (Mary Pickford, famous and powerful actress, founding member of The International Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1927).
Progress for consumerism, increased advertising and buying.
Changed communication and networking.
People connected to others outside their homes and grew a sense of community.
The entertainment industry grew.
Production increased, consumerism increased (people had more money to spend, more demand, more production), the economy was doing well, and credit was easy to get.
Prairies farmers experienced a collapse in the wheat market, a price drop in coal, and coal miners suffered with low wages.
Bootlegging was thriving as prohibition lifted in Canada but not in the U.S.
Insulin was discovered in 1922 by Frederick Banting with McLeod.
The Roaring 20's: What was the historical significance of the stock market crash?
A long period of rampant speculation where everyone was investing in stocks based on what they thought was doing well (companies).
Almost everyone was investing in stocks, and a lot of people wanted to become rich FAST.
Due to fear of missing out, people made poor financial decisions in order to invest (e.g., going into debt/buying on margin despite not having money to "play around" with).
However, there were underlying factors that did not necessarily suggest the economy was doing well (i.e., decreasing production).
Even when the signs were more obvious, people still continued to invest in stocks.
This led to even banks using people's money.
When everyone began selling the stocks after the news of its values decreasing, the stock prices further dropped.
This caused the stock market to crash, and those who invested in stocks as well as those who had money in the bank to lose their money.
Little demand and too much supply as companies lost their value.
Businesses went bankrupt, and people lost jobs, leading to the Great Depression.
Continuity and change during the Great Depression:
Canada was dependent on exports and raw materials, prairies experiences drought.
High unemployment rates.
Led to social welfare, with the government being more involved with the economy (before it was believed that the government should not be involved).
Government policies, with Bennett introducing the new deal and pensions.
Political views:
Mackenzie King:
Believed that it was family and church responsibility to help those in need and not going to put the country in debt.
5-cent speech: would not even give 5 cents to a province with a conservative government.
RB Bennett:
A millionaire, Canadians felt he could not relate to the struggles during the Great Depression.
Created relief camps that provided work for single, homeless Canadian males with long hours and low pay but was criticized for hiding the unemployment problem.
Would give people money out of his pocket when Canadians wrote to him about their struggles.
The New Deal:
A more progressive taxation system
A maximum work week down to 48 from 60 hours
Minimum wage
Stronger regulations of working conditions
Unemployment insurance
Health and accident insurance
Revised old-age pension
Agricultural support programs and a grain board to regulate wheat prices.
World War II (1940)
The European Holocaust:
Hitler's government committed genocide towards Jewish people through starvation, brutal forced labour, and execution.
The Nazi government made owning businesses, using public transportation freely, and securing a job difficult.
Jews in Canada:
Faced discrimination.
Signs that said "No Jews or Dogs Allowed" were common in public spaces, as were signs that said "Gentiles/Christian Only".
Holodomor (Hunger-Extermination):
Genocide of Ukrainian people by the Soviet Union.
Dictator Joseph Stalin used terror-starvation against Ukrainian people.
There was more than enough food, but the Soviets withheld it to starve them to death.
Japanese atrocities:
The Japanese military under the command of Emperor Hirohito conducted a campaign of terror in China and other Asian countries.
Committed war crimes to prisoners-of-war in Japanese camps.
Massacred Chinese people in Nanking China and spread diseases wiped out entire villages.
Almost 30% of POWs died held in Japan.
Canada and Japan Atrocities:
Canadian prisoners-of-war were starved and tortured in Japanese camps.
In the summer of 1945, Canada and Britain supported the U.S. in dropping the atomic bomb on Japan.
It was a lifesaver to the interned POWS.
Controversy: it seemed like a war crime, and the bomb mostly affected civilians and escalated the nuclear age and changed the nature of warfare.
Battle of Britain
Because of Appeasement, Britain's aircraft behind the German air force; worries over possibly losing the air war.
Damage and loss suffered by both sides.
The air war expanded with Allies bombing Germany;
Firebombing of cities controversial because of civilian casualties
Battle of Hong Kong:
Canadians were not well prepared and not ready for the Japanese attack and were forced to surrender by Christmas.
POW experience was very harsh with bad conditions and forced labor.
Canadian and HK troops were not very coordinated and didn't work together well.
Battle of Dieppe:
Canadian troops were quickly overcome by heavily defended German troops.
A high number of casualties and captured troops from the invasion.
Allied command learns hard lessons from this; this then gets applied to D-Day planning.
Italian Campaign and Battle of Ortona:
Canadians developed new urban warfare techniques (e.g., mouseholing).
A difficult campaign, but Canadian troops were very effective and successful.
Allies begin to open Western Europe.
D-Day:
Many casualties, but a successful campaign (Canada invaded Juno beach).
The Western front opens from this campaign, and the Canadian attack was most successful in that first day (advanced furthest into the Normandy coast).
Liberation of Netherlands:
The liberation was very welcome by the locals.
A tough campaign, supply line difficulties, and weather all made for a difficult campaign.
Eventually, the victory here is part of the ongoing successful advance by the allies.
World War 1 factors leading up to the war
Event sparks the war:
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, June 1914, who was a member of the royal family of the Austria-Hungarian Empire.
The fuel that the spark ignited (causing the war):
Alliances between nations/empires
Nationalism (wanting independence)
Militarism (arms races) -------> countries believing that they are the best; want power
Two sides: Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia), Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria, Italy), eventually, the Ottoman Empire allies with Germany.
Trench warfare in Western Europe, war at sea, war in the air.
Causes of WW2
Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations
The goal of the Treaty of Versailles:
Punish and weaken Germany.
The League was meant to ensure more diplomacy between nations.
What were the impacts?
In the 1920s, German people lost confidence in the economy and currency, resulting in hyperinflation (money began to not be worth anything, so people began spending it right away, and the economy was bad).
Attempts at diplomacy don't follow through, especially when a power like the US doesn't join.
The western corner of Germany, called the Rhineland, was to be demilitarized and occupied by the Allies for 10 years.
Germany's armed forces were severely reduced.
A war guilt clause was written in which Germany had to admit it caused the war; Germany representatives were then required to sign this clause.
Germany had to pay war damages in the amount of 30 billion to the Allies.
New boundaries were drawn up, and Germany lost land and colonies to the Allies.
Hyperinflation in Germany in order to pay the debt (printing money caused the value of the currency drops).
Germany breaking the Treaty; nothing was done, called Appeasement.
Brit, Fra, their governments don't want to start a new confrontation/war at this point.
Is this a volatile, delicate time in world history?
Yes, war weariness, fears of sparking another war, and Germany pushing the conditions of the treaty.
Volatility is growing due to militarism, prejudice against Jews, and an overall movement against the Treaty of Versailles.
The Great Depression and the Bennett Govt
With the ongoing problems with the depression, the Bennett government tries to implement the New Deal, which was based on the New Deal program in the US.
Relief: financial aid to the people
Recovery: grow jobs in the industries
Reform: trying to ensure that different economic activities and businesses don't repeat mistakes (e.g., all the margin buying).
This program was presented as election promises for the federal election in 1935.
Voters are not convinced in Bennett and see promises as too little, too late, and Conservatives lose the election.
King and Liberals are re-elected into government.
Unit 2 & 3 Most Important Events
Role/Status of women (e.g., working in support of war industries, voting rights, Persons Case 1929 - allowed women to have government positions - House of Commons & Senate)
Imperial Conference (e.g., signing an international treaty independently)
Vimy Ridge (e.g., new battle strategies, recognition for success, combined Canadian Corps)
Treaty of Versailles (e.g., end of WW1, led to WW2, conditions like weakening the German military)
Conscription Crisis (e.g., English-French tensions made worse, led to women’s right to vote, didn’t end up providing a significant number of soldiers on the battlefield)
Stock Market Crash (e.g., the economy crashes and momentum of growth crashes, led to the Great Depression)
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand (e.g., spark that started the war, the conditions were all there for the war: alliances, imperialism, arms race, nationalism)
Roaring 20s (e.g., new technology - radio, jazz, telephone, automobiles, etc ----consumerism, entertainment, improvements in the economy, Canada’s growing independence ----see growth chart)
WW1 military buildup (e.g., low numbers of troops, ships, but it builds up massively)
WW1 Construction Battalion (e.g., Black Canadian troops served admirably, despite them being treated with prejudice)
Indigenous soldiers (e.g., faced prejudice at home but served admirably, Francis Pegahmegabow, scouts role was crucial)
Poverty and homelessness during the Depression (e.g., high unemployment about 30%, men who were transient and riding the rails, soup kitchens, camps)
Japanese Canadian Internment (e.g., property and possessions sold off by govt, after the war many were compelled to leave Canada and go to Japan,
Economic and trade crash (e.g., drop in stock markets, fewer exports: manufacturing, resources like lumber and agriculture)
Holocaust and anti-semitism (e.g., riot at Christie Pits -- baseball game that turned violent as hitler supporters attacked, Kristallnacht (The Night of the Broken Glass -- when Jewish businesses were being destroyed overnight), the concentration camps and death camps)
Before WWII: MS St. Louis - carrying Jewish refugees as anti-semitism rises- Canada refuses to accept them due to immigration restrictions tightened during the great depression - Jews were considered “Permit” class immigrants -- Protestant British were the “preferred” (“undesirable” eastern europe)
D-day and Juno Beach (e.g., Canadian troops succeeded in taking their beach, big offensive that opens the western front, liberation of France and Netherlands)
German Blitzkrieg (e.g., aircraft, tanks, vehicles to rapidly and powerfully attack; takes over Poland, Belgium, and France quickly)
RB Bennett and Mackenzie King (e.g., Bennett criticisms led to the “Bennett Buggies”, New Deal seen as too little too late, King and 5 cent Speech)