World War 1

Canada – The War at Home

Government Policy• War Measures Act: August, 1914 – This law granted

government sweeping powers to suspend the legal and political rights of Canadian citizens.

• Created to deal with ‘enemy aliens’ (the 500,000 Canadian residents who emigrated from parts of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey)

• ‘enemy aliens’ had to register & regularly report to local police

• government banned books and magazines in ‘enemy’ languages

• 8597 ‘enemy aliens’ sent to work in remote labour camps (6000 Ukrainians)

Government Policy• Military Service Act (Bill): July, 1917 – Following

disastrous losses in battle (eg. Vimy Ridge), the Canadian government needed to increase the number of soldiers in Europe.

• Prime Minister Borden needed Conscription (forced military service)

• re-opened the tensions between French-Canadians and English Canada

• All males between the ages of 20-35. Those exempt: men in vital wartime production jobs, physically unable, and conscientious objectors (against religious beliefs).

Propagandaany strategy used to persuade people to believe or support a certain idea.

War Economy• Rationing: Citizens faced

food rations, waste reduction, and a ban on alcohol.

• Victory Bonds: Citizens were encouraged to lend the government money by purchasing bonds. These bonds could be cashed in for profit after the war. $100 million were bonds sold.

War Economy

• Income Tax: introduced as a temporary war measure. We still pay income tax today.• 3% tax for wealthy individuals and families.

4% tax imposed on business profits.

• Economic Boom: Canadian industry and agriculture experienced record high production and export. The demand for food and military equipment resulted in increased employment and business profits during the war. Jobs = Profits = Taxes = Victory!

Women’s Role and Rights

•  Traditionally male dominated jobs were filled by women.• This situation gave the women’s suffrage movement a

significant political voice.• Military Voters Act (1917): Federal vote granted to

women serving as nurses and ambulance drivers in the war.

• Wartime Elections Act (1917): Federal vote extended to wives, mothers, sisters, widows, and daughters of soldiers serving in the war.

• Federal Women’s Franchise Act (1918): Federal vote extended to all women over 21 who are British subjects.

Halifax Explosion, 1917• French ship carrying 3,000

tonnes of explosives collided with another ship in harbour.

• Most of Halifax was destroyed. 2,000 people were killed & thousands more injured.

• 30 million dollars was donated worldwide to help rebuild the city.

Halifax Explosion aftermath