WWI Notes
Unit 1 Notes:
Laurier is Elected
Sir Wilfred Laurier was the 7th Prime Minister of Canada.
In office from 1896 to 1911.
The 1896 election ended 20 years of conservative power in Canada, and brought Canada its first French-Canadian Prime Minister.
This pleased Quebecers - they wanted a government protecting the French language, culture and Roman Catholic traditions.
Conflict and Compromise
Laurier was interested in promoting national unity and protecting Canadian interests abroad.
He wanted a nation that was united with both French and English-speaking citizens.
It was the violation of the Manitoba Act, where English-only education was legislated, that helped Laurier win the election in 1896.
McDonald refused to intervene in the situation, so most French Canadians voted for Laurier.
Most English were loyal to the British Empire, and most French were not.
These loyal to the Empire were called imperialists.
As a British colony, Canada had always relied on Britain for military support.
It was the violation of the Manitoba Act, where English-only education was legislated, that helped Laurier win the election in 1896.
Many French were descendants of New France and had settled in Canada 200 years earlier.
Language rights continued to be an issue in Canada.
As the 1900s approached, things began to change in Canada and the dependence on Britain began to diminish.
Britain was now turning to Canada for military and financial support.
The Alaska boundary dispute.
The Boer War
The Laurier Boom
During Laurier’s time in office, Canada’s economy thrived as demand for Canadian exports grew.
Better shipping technology combined with lower freight rates helped the export of Canadian goods.
New technologies in production allowed Canada to make the most of its natural resources, especially in the pulp, paper and mining industries.
The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) also allowed for expansion westward and bolstered Canada.
Significant growth in mining and lumber.
Within 10 years, the forest industry grew from a 2 million dollar industry to a 65 million dollar industry.
Harvest rights and accessibility led to cutting frenzies.
The agricultural industry also grew in the prairies.
The price of grain increased and farmers began to increase production and diversify their crops.
The Last Best West
The “Last Best West” was the slogan used to attract settlers and homesteaders to Canada’s West.
As land became unavailable in the United States, demand for land in Canada’s west intensified.
Nearly all immigration between 186701890s in North America was to the US.
Nobody wanted to come to the barren, unpopulated land of Canada.
Those who did come to Canada usually Left for the US because of lack of work, or the harsh climate.
Between 1896 and 1911, the Canadian government encouraged people to come and settle in the West.
Sifton's open-door policy brought a diverse group of settlers.
British Settlers still made up ⅓ of all the immigrants despite being relatively weak farmers.
Many of the American settlers assimilated quickly and built successful farms.
The average American brought $1000 and farming equipment when coming to Canada.
Between 1896 and 1914, 1 million Americans settled in Canada.
At the same time, thousands of British Children were sent to Canada.
Minister of the Interior: Clifford Sifton
Sifton was a Westerner and was dedicated to populating the prairies.
He launched a recruitment program to lure settlers to the prairies.
He specifically targeted Europeans and Americans that he felt would make good farmers.
British Children in Canada
It was believed that Canadian farms would be a good place for the children to eat well, and learn life skills.
Some families adopted the children as their own, while others simply used them as cheap labour.
They were to be cared for and sent to school through the winter, but, they did not see necessities.
The abuse was common and many were forced to live in barns and stables.
The Push and Pull Factors of Immigration
Between 1891 and 1921 the population of Canada almost doubled.
Canadian immigration succeeded because of “push-pull” factors.
Americans, British, Europeans, and Asians came as a result of pull factors.
Poor eastern and central Europeans came as a result of push factors.
Push-pull factors are often tied together.
Adjusting to Life on the Prairies
Once they arrived, homesteaders had to prepare for their new lives.
Many lived in primitive conditions on their new homesteads.
Soddies, mud-covered sod houses were the norm.
Adjusting to life on the prairies was difficult.
Most settlers succeeded despite having poor living conditions.
After a few years, soddies were replaced with more substantial buildings.
With more settlers came better infrastructures and markers.
Newcomers in the Cities
1898-1901, the population of the prairies rose by 1.5 million.
The developments in industry encouraged rural Canadians to move to cities to live an urban lifestyle.
In 1914, the urban population across the country was almost at 50%.
Many immigrants coming to the cities could speak little English.
Many were pushed to unsafe, low-paying factory jobs.
Most lived in ghettos.
Many lived in crowded two-room buildings with little heat, fresh air, or water.
The disease was common because of the poor living conditions.
Most people found work as unskilled labourers.
Incomes were spent on housing or food.
Social welfare programs did not exist at this time.
The poor relied on each other and some charitable organizations.
The economy in Canada was booming under Laurier, and with the boom came the construction of two new transcontinental railways.
The Canadian Northern Railway and Grand Trunk both sought federal and provincial aid to build the rail lines.
With the outbreak of WWI However, all of the new railways that were not a part of the CPR were consolidated into one single, publicly owned railway called the Canadian National Railways.
Canada was prosperous, but wealth was not distributed equally.
Only a handful of corporations controlled Canadian industry.
Only a few people were able to see any of the money amassed by these companies, and their wealth sharply contrasted with that of the working poor.
The Rise of Unions
Many flaunted their wealth and built mansions for themselves.
As the gap between the working class and the wealthy grew larger, workers began to organize into unions and demand better wages and better working conditions.
Labour unions emerged between 1880-1910.
The government and legal system favoured the business class; employers could fire and replace workers without consequence.
Companies employed private security teams to deal with any disturbances or protests.
Between 1910 and WWI, several violent confrontations erupted between employers and workers.
Closing the Door Due to Immigration
Not everyone supported Sifton’s open-door immigration policy.
Business owners supported immigration because it provided them with cheaper labour options.
Immigration was a particularly contentious issue in BC where many felt that their jobs were threatened by the large numbers of Asian immigrants.
In 1905, Frank Oliver replaced Sifton as Minister of the Interior.
Oliver reduced the number of immigrants and introduced a more selective immigration policy. Provincial governments began to restrict Chinese, Japanese, and East Indian immigration.
British Columbia: The “Golden Mountain”
The construction of the CPR and the Cariboo Gold Rush brought many Chinese Immigrants to BC.
The majority lived in “Chinatowns” that were populated with Chinese businesses and cultural organizations.
Most of the Chinese worked in the salmon canning and coal mining industries on Vancouver Island.
Labour organizations lobbied for exclusionary legislation against the Chinese because they felt their jobs were being threatened.
Groups were formed to protest Asian immigration.
Things came to a head in 1907 when Lt. Governor James Dunsmuir refused to sign a bill to exclude Japanese immigrants from entering Canada.
The actions of Dunsmuir had protesters march on Vancouver’s city hall, and a riot ensued.
The Government still went about setting a 400-person limit on the number of Japanese that were allowed in Canada per year.
William Lyon Mackenzie King, Laurier’s Minister of Labour, was in charge of the Royal Commission that looked at the Vancouver Riots.
Since 1904, CPR agents have been encouraging Sikhs to immigrate.
To prevent more East Indians from immigration, the Immigration Act of 1906 was created.
The amendment was challenged in 1914 when the Komagata Maru, a streamer chartered by Gurdit Singh, arrived in Vancouver with 354 Sikh immigrants.
By “Continuous Passage” Only
Komagata Maru arrived in Vancouver on May 23 after stops in China and Japan and was immediately quarantined by Canadian authorities.
The Wonders of the Laurier Years
Things had now begun to change.
Technology was developing and the world around was becoming more accessible.
Travel by car and plane, rapid communication through wireless radio, and the creation of the motion picture were all new technological developments.
The Arrival of the Automobile
In 1901, automobiles appeared on the cover of Eaton’s catalogue.
Within the next few years, automobiles became more affordable, and more were being seen on Canadian streets.
As demand for automobiles grew, so did their production
Not everyone was happy about automobiles initially.
In 1908, P.E.I banned the automobile on a claim that they tore up roads and frightened children and livestock.
Canadians eventually realized that the car was very useful.
Soon the rich adopted the car as their preferred means of transportation.
In 1908, Canada opened its first gas station in Vancouver.
Soaring Through the Air
The use of airplanes in Canada took much longer to catch on than the use of the automobile.
Crashes were frequent, and most pilots did their own repairs and maintenance.
The first successful flight in Canada was in 1909 in Baddeck, Nova Scotia.
A Communications Revolution
AT the turn of the century, Canada was a world leader in telephone use.
In 1901, Canada received the first wireless telegraph from England on Signal Hill in Newfoundland.
In 1902, the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company was set up in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.
In 1907, Canadian inventor Fredrick Fessenden transmitted the world's first radio broadcast of music and voice.
Superior reception over water increases the use of wireless radio shipping.
It was around the same time that “moving picture shows” emerged.
Arts and Leisure
During the Laurier Era, Canadian sports flourished, and many who participated became world champions.
Rapid industrialization and urbanization contributed to the growth of spectacular sports and outdoor recreation.
The emergence of the automobile also helped with the development of other outdoor activities like hiking and camping.
Canadian poetry and writing became a favourite pastime.
With the invention of the refrigerated rail car, a wider variety of foods were now available across the country.
The taste in food began to change.
In 1910, processed food like Heinz ketchup was common, and 5-cent chocolate bars went on sale.
Soft drinks began to sweep across the nation much like they did in the US.
Coca-Cola was now being marketed as a soft drink and not a medicine.
John McLaughlin, a Toronto pharmacist, developed Canada Dry Ginger Ale.
The World at War 1914-1919
From 1870 to 1914, several developments gradually increased tensions among the European powers and led to the outbreak of WWI.
Lasting from 1914 - 1919, the “Great War” was the largest and most destructive the world had seen.
WWI was a global conflict that altered the course of history.
Causes of WWI
Europe witnessed several gradual developments that would ultimately propel the continent into war.
The MAIN causes of WWI were:
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
Causes of WWI: Militarism
The early years of the 20th century would give rise to a dangerous arms race.
European nations believed they needed a powerful military,
Having a strong military gave citizens a sense of national pride. By 1914, all the Great Powers except Britain had large standing armies.
The Industrial Revolution increased manufacturing and technological capabilities. Nations built and stockpiled new weapons and ammunition.
Military experts stressed the importance of being able to quickly mobilize troops in cases of armed conflict. Generals in each country develop detailed battle plans as a precaution.
The policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war was known as militarism.
Causes of WWI: Alliances
Each nation formed strategic alliances. Rather than minimizing the chances of war, the alliance system only increased the likelihood of a war on a larger scale.
There could not be a small dispute among competing alliances because nations were contractually bound to defend their allies.
Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary made up the Triple Alliance.
England, France, and Russia formed the Triple Entente.
Causes of WWI: Imperialism
The nations of Europe competed for colonies in Africa and Asia, raw material sources and consumer markets.
Colonial conquest pushed European nations to the brink of war, as their sense of rivalry and mistrust of one another deepened,
Germany, England, and Russia fought for their territory in India.
England and France argued over rights to the Sudan.
Germany and France battled over territory in the Franco-Prussion wars and nearly went to war three times over Morocco.
Austria-Hungary and Russia competed over the Balkans.
Causes of WWI: Nationalism
Nationalism is a deep devotion to one's nation.
Nationalism can be a unifying force within a country. However, it can also cause intense competition among nations and fracture nations along ethnic lines.
NO region was more tense in the years before WWI than the Balkans. Serbia Greece Albania, Bulgaria and Romania broke for the fading Ottoman Empire to create new nations.
Slavic people in Serbia wanted to unify all Slavs but Austria-Hungary opposed giving up the largely Slavic territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Causes of WWI: The Outbreak of War
Serbians vowed to take back Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On June 28, 1914, the Austria-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian terrorist group called the Black Hand.
On July 23, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia: turn over the conspirators and submit to a full investigation OR go to war,
When Serbia refused some of the terms, Austria-Hungary declared war on July 28, 1914.
Russia, Serbia's ally, moved troops to the Austrian border. These events set off a chain reaction that started WWI.
The Outbreak of WWI
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
Russia mobilized to defend Serbia.
On August 1st, 1914, Germany declared war on Russia.
On August 3rd, 1914, Germany declared war on France.
On August 4th, 1914, England declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Schlieffen Plan: Avoiding a Two-Front War
Count on Schieffen drew up his pan in 1905 when he was a German Chief of Staff,
In a general European war, Germany would face France in the West and Russia in the East and would need to defeat France within six weeks before Russia mobilized its troops.
As most of the French army was stationed on the border with Germany, the Schlieffen Plan aimed for the quick defeat of France by invading it through neutral Belgium and moving rapidly on to capture Paris.
The Germans did not believe that Britain would go to war over their 1839 treaty with Belgium, which they described as a ‘scrap of paper’.
Even if Britain did defend Belgium, the Kaiser believed that there was no need to feat the British Expeditionary Force, which he called a contemptible little army.
Having defeated France, Germany would then be able to concentrate her efforts on defeating the Russians in the East rather than having to fight on two fronts at once,
Belgian Resistance
The Germans were not expecting any resistance from Belgium, but the Belgian army fought bravely and managed to delay the German advance.
Members of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) arrived to help and the Germans were held up at Mons.
The Belgians later prevented the Germans from taking the French Channel ports by flooding much of their land.
British Expeditionary Force
Britain declared war on Germany in response to the invasion of Belgium.
Although the BET consisted of only 125,000 men, they were well-trained equipped, and ready for action within less than one week.
Having held the Belgian hold the Germans up at Mons, the BEF then moved to support the French on the river Marne and prevent the Germans from reaching Paris.
Losses were heavy and by December 1914 more than half of the original BEF were dead.
France Fights Back
France responded quickly to the German attack by launching an invasion of Alsace and Lorraine, but this failed.
Then they switched troops to the defence of Paris in a desperate attempt to hold the Germans up, which involved transporting troops to the frontline in fleets of taxis.
The battle at the Marne was a turning point; with the help of the remaining members of the BEF the German advance was not only halted but the Germans were also pushed back about 35 miles.
The British and French then moved to secure the Channel ports.
Stalemate on the Western Front
Both sides now had to secure the land that they had.
Trenches were dug and machine guns oosts were erected.
The first exchanges of the war were over, from now until 1918, neither side would advance more than 10 miles forward or backwards.
The Failure of the Schlieffen Plan
The initial German advance was almost too quick, taking the Germans far ahead of their supply lines.
The plan relied on rapid movement. The Belgian, British and French resistance eventually slowed the German offensive.
Russia mobilized its troops quicker than expected - within 10 days the Russians had invaded Germany on the Eastern Front.
Germany was fighting a war on two fronts!
New Technology
Rifles, Pistols, Bayonets.
Machine Guns
Were used to kill entire lines of advancing soldiers.
Flamethrower
Used to scorch terrain, forts and combatants.
Mortars
Smaller projectiles are used to attack trenches at a distance.
Heavy Artillery
Claimed more lives than any other weapon.
Grenades
Smaller, portable explosive. Were used to clear out trenches.
Tanks
Were used to cross no man’s land.
Chlorine Gas
Burned the victims' lungs
Mustard Gas
Burned the victims' skin.
Planes
Used by Germans at first to spy, but then for machine gun fire and dropping bombs.
U-Boats
German submarine vessels threatened Britain's Navy and commercial passage.
Impact of New Technology: TOTAL WAR
Old military tactics + new technology = deaths by the millions!
Entire generations of men were lost.
Clear that the power and resilience of each state would drag this war out much longer than just a summer.
States were willing to sacrifice any lives or resources to win the war.
Life in the Trenches: The Trench Cycle
The Trench Cycle was the time period men would spend on the frontline.
This amount of time would vary from weeks to months.
Daily life was spent on inspections. chores, gathering supplies and constant waiting for orders.
Trench Warfare: Surrounded by Death
Death and destruction were a constant companion to those men on the frontlines.
Even in areas where there was little fighting, there was constant shellfire and disease to worry about.
Rats infested the trenches in the millions and gorged themselves on the dead.
Trench Life: The Smell
Imagine living a life where you are surrounded by rotting corpses, lice, human waste, and men who haven't bathed in months!
Trenches also smelled of chemicals used to fight off disease, poison gas, gun powder, cigarettes, cooking food, stagnant water and mud.
Life in the Trenches: Trench Foot
Trench foot was a fungal infection of the feet that could cause gangrene.
Many soldiers were forced to have their feet amputated.
Trench Warfare: No Man’s Land
No Man's Land was the area between the opposing trenches.
This area was off-limits during the day as snipers watched the area to take a shot at anyone who might show themselves.
After a battle, bodies would be left in No Man's Land to rot.
Major Battles of WWI: Ypres
April - May 1915 in Ypres, Belgium.
Germans released 5730 cylinders of chlorine gas.
Unprepared, the French division fled, leaving the Canadians to fight.
Despite many casualties, the Allies saved the situation.
2 days later, the Germans released more gas but the Canadians in Ypres held on. Fighting continued for 3 weeks.
In the attempt to hold off the enemy attack, over 59,000 lives were lost over positions that had little strategic value.
It was after this battle that John McCrae penned the famous poem In Flanders' Fields.
Major Battles of WWI: The Somme
July - November 1916 in Somme, France.
The plan was for a joint British-French assault. Many French were killed protecting the French fortress of Verdun in February, making it difficult to participate in the Somme offensive.
The British went ahead with their "Big Push".
The Germans were waiting as 100,000 British troops advanced from their trenches in full daylight.
In one day, almost 58,000 were killed, wounded or went missing. It was the biggest disaster in British military history.
Major Battles of WWI: Vimy Ridge
April 9-12, 1917 in Douai Plains, Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, France.
Strategic post for Germans had fortified it for 3 years.
The battle began on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917. The Canadians achieved one objective after another, despite heavy machine gun fire.
The Canadians captured 4000 prisoners, earning one of the greatest victories in the war.
It is said that Vimy Ridge was where Canada was born as an independent nation.
Major Battles of WWI: Passchendaele
Oct - Nov, 1917 in Passchendaele, near Ypres, Belgium
The objective was to capture German submarine bases on the Belgian coast.
The German position was firm, and the British suffered appalling casualties.
The Canadians were called to lead one more attack.
The battlefield was a muddy bog and brought back memories of Ypres.
Major Battles of WWI: Passchendaele
Attempts to rebuild roads, gun platforms, etc. were slowed by German aircraft assaults.
On Oct. 26, the Canadians attacked, but could not secure the area.
Attacks during late October and early November brought more suffering but led to the Canadians securing many German strong points.
Once again the Canadians had shown that, even in impossible conditions, they could do the job when called upon.
WW: The War at Home
Although the battles of WWI never took place on Canadian soil, the impact and cost of the war were felt throughout the country.
The war impacted the homefront in two very significant ways.
1. It changed the Canadian Economy.
2. It changed the lives of Canadian Women.
WWI: The Canadian Economy
During the war, the Canadian government became responsible for manufacturing and shipping war supplies to help the British Army and Canadian troops:
Munitions
Shells
Aircrat Prarts
Clothing
Food
WWI: Strain on the Canadian Economy
Problem:
Men fighting in Europe + women on their own trying to raise and support family = less spending on goods and services.
Solution:
War Loans
Victory Bonds
War Income Tax
WWI: War Loans
The government borrows money by selling bonds to investors and private corporations. Redemption of money after 5, 10, or 20 years with 5% interest.
Earnings - $500 million
WWI: Victory Bonds
The government borrowed money by selling victory bonds to the general public.
Redemption of money after 5, 10, or 20 years with 5.5% interest.
Earnings = More than 3 million Canadians bought victory bonds= $738 million.
WWI: War Income Tax
A direct tax was established in 1917. The government collected 3% of gross earnings (before deductions) from a family that earned more than $3000 a year and from individuals who earned more than $1500 a year.
This did not end with the war as the government promised!
Canadian Women and WWI
Before the war, men went to work every day.
Most women in Canada remained at home to clean the house, shop, cook, take care of children, do the laundry, etc.
Women did not have the right to vote and the jobs they did have were unskilled and low-paying.
In August 1914, Canada was suddenly shot into a global military conflict.
Canadian men were sent overseas to fight.
Canadian women are left home to support themselves and their families, and to fill the jobs vacated by the men that left to fight in the war.
The Role of Women in WWI
War supplies were needed but most able-bodied men were fighting overseas, so women began to work in factories making war supplies.
Over 2400 women enlisted in the army as nurses.
18 women were killed in the line of duty.
Propaganda in World War One
Propaganda is a specific type of message aimed at serving an agenda. It is designed to propagate (actively spread) a philosophy or point of view.
Why Use Propaganda?
Each of the countries involved in the war used propaganda posters.
They used posters to:
Justify their involvement in the war to their populace.
As a means of recruiting men.
A way to raise money and resources to sustain the military campaign.
To urge conservation.
Why Posters?
Television had not yet been invented.
Not everyone owned or had access to a radio.
Posters were the most effective means of getting a message across.
Propaganda and Government Support
Quite often propaganda is connected with negative emotions.
During the Great War, governments desperately needed money to fund the war, so they focused their efforts on posters aimed at raising money from their citizens.
The Seven Techniques of Propaganda
Name Calling
Hanging a bad label on an idea is sometimes symbolized by a hand turning thumbs down.
Card Stacking
This technique seeks to manipulate the audience's perception of an issue by emphasizing one side and repressing another.
Band Wagon
This technique is used to persuade the audience to follow the crowd. It creates the impression of widespread support. It reinforces the human desire to be on the winning side.
Testimonial
This technique is used to associate a respected person or someone with experience with a cause or endorse a product. The aim is to get the intended audience to follow the example.
Plain Folks
Propagandas use this approach to convince the audience that the spokesperson is from humble origins, someone they can trust and who has the same interests they do.
Transfer
Is a technique used to carry over the authority and approval of something we respect and revere to something the propagandist would have us accept. Propagandists often employ symbols (e.g., waving the flag) to stir our emotions and win our approval.
Glittering Generality
Employs vague, sweeping statements using language associated with values and beliefs deeply held by the audience without providing supporting information or reason. This technique appeals to our emotions and sense of honour, glory, love of country, desire for peace, freedom, and values.
The United States Enters the War
British Blockade did not allow products to leave or enter Germany.
German U-boats countered the blockade by destroying all the boats headed for the British shores.
On May 7th, 1915 the Germans sank the Lusitania.
1916, Woodrow Wilson was elected as president of the United States.
January 1917 the Zimmermann telegram from Germany to Mexico is intercepted and decoded.
April 1917, Wilson declared war on Germany to make the world “safe for democracy”.
Russia Exits the War
In March 1917, Nicholas II abdicated his throne.
The Russian government continues to fight within as the communist revolution takes hold.
In October 1917: Lenin and the Bolsheviks took control of the government and the Soviet Union was created.
March 1918: Soviets and Germans signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending the war in the East.
The Tide Turns: Ending the War 1917-1918
The US entered the war in April of 1917.
In March 1918 Russia and Germany made peace.
Germans now use all resources on the Western Front.
March of 1918 Germany begins a massive attack on France.
German troops fatigued and they face 140 000 fresh Amercian troops.
Central Powers begin to crumble
Revolutions in Austria-Hungary.
Ottoman Empire surrenders.
German soldiers committed mutiny, public turned against Kaiser Wilhelm II.\
Armistice: Ending the War
Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates on November 9th, 1918.
11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 Germany agreed to a cease-fire.
Today we celebrate Remembrance Day at this time.
The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28th, 1919, after months of argument and negotiation amongst the so-called “Big Three” as to what the treaty should contain.
Allied Casualties: The Triple Entente and Associated Nations
Britain: 750,000 soldiers killed; 1,500,000 wounded.
Canada: 66,000 soldiers killed.
France: 1,400,000 soldiers killed; 2,500,000 wounded.
Belgium: 50,000 soldiers killed.
Russia: 1,700,000 soldier killed
America: 116,000 soldiers killed.
Enemy Casualties: The Triple Alliance Associated Nations
Germany: 2,000,000 soldiers killed.
Austria-Hungary: 1,200,000 soldiers killed.
Turkey: 325,000 soldiers killed.
Italy: 600,000 soldiers killed.
The total casualties of all nations who fought in the war are thought to have been 17 million dead (10 million military and 7 million civilian) with 20 million wounded. The total costs of damage exceeded 330 billion dollars.
The “Big Three” of the Paris Peace Conference
Georges Clemenceau of France felt Germany should be brought to its knees so that it could never start a war again.
Woodrow Wilson of America proposed his famous “14 points” to support peace in the post-war era He is also credited with the creation of the League of Nations.
David Lloyd George of Great Britain echoed the sentiments of his British citizens who wanted to “Make Germany Pay!”
Clauses of the Treaty: Territorial
Alsace-Lorraine (given back to France).
The League of Nations also took control of Germany’s overseas colonies.
Germany had to return to Russia land taken in the Treaty of Brest-LItovsk.
Austria-Hungary dismantled.
Clauses of the Treaty: MIlitary
Germany’s army was reduced to 100,000 men.
Germany was not allowed an airforce and could have only 6 capital naval ships and no submarines.
West of the Rhineland and 50 km east of the River Rhins was made into a demilitarized zone (DMZ). No German soldier or weapon was allowed into this Zone.
The Allies were to keep an army of occupation on the west bank of the Rhine for 15 years.
Clauses of the Treaty: War Guilt Clause
Germany had to accept full responsibility for starting the war.
Clauses of the Treaty: Financial
The loss of vital industrial territory would be a severe blow to any attempts by Germany to rebuild its economy. Coal from the Saar and Upper Silesioa in particular was a major economic loss.
Reparations forced Germany to repay Allied countries for their financial expenditure during the war.
It seemed that the Allies wanted nothing else but to bankrupt Germany.
Germany's Reaction to the Treaty
After agreeing to the Armistice in November 1918, the Germans had been convinced that they would be consulted by the Allies on the contents of the Treaty. This did not happen.
There was amber throughout Germany when the terms were made public = Dikat.
Germany was given two choices:
Sign the Treaty or
Be invaded by the Allies
Canada and the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles enhanced Canada’s status in international politics.
Robert Borden insisted that Canada should have the same representation as Belgium and other smaller countries at the Conference; Canada was granted representation on the British Empire delegation.
We were given two eats at the conference and signed the treaty under the UK.
As a result of the treaty, Canada obtained separate representation in the Assembly of the League of Nations.
Canada obtained a small share of the reparations.
Post-war Canada: Spanish Flu Outbreak
Between 1918 and 20 the Spanish Flu had killed between 50 and 100 million people, more than doubling the fatalities of the war itself.
The Spanish Flu killed 25 million in the first 25 weeks. By comparison, the AIDS epidemic killed less than 25 million over 25 years.
WWI did NOT cause the flu but the close-quarters and mass movement of troops quickened its spread.
A major factor in the spread of the disease was the increased amount of travel.
50 000 Canadians, 500 000 Americans, 200 000 British, and 400 000 French died from the Spanish Flu.
Post-war Canada: Changing Economy
The soldiers returned home to find a country plagued by disease and economic struggle.
As wartime industries geared down, women were pressured to take up household duties and make jobs available to returning soldiers.
Many soldiers returned to find their old jobs were no longer available and a significant increase in the cost of living.
The job security we have today did not yet exist – union protections, unemployment insurance, pension benefits.
Post-war Canada: Winnipeg General Strike
On May 15th, 1919, the city of Winnipeg ground to a halt when 30,000 workers walked off the job in protest of poor wages and difficult working conditions.
Trade workers, firefighters, streetcar drivers, telephone operators, sales clerks, garbage collectors, and street cleaners all left their jobs.
On June 17, the government arrested the strike leaders.
Protests erupted across Canada, and a rally was held on June 21.
Forbidding the rally, the Mayor sent in the RCMP to break it up.
A riot erupted as police rode in on horseback swinging clubs and firing pistols. 40 were injured, and two had died from gunshots.
The federal government responded to the riot by sending in the army to occupy the streets.
The strike officially ended on June 25th with the workers gaining nothing.
7 strike leaders were jailed for 2 years, and 4 were deported.
Although unsuccessful, this protest began a new era of workers fighting for their rights in Canada.