CANADA AT WAR
(1885 - 1914)
- describe key characteristics of Canada between 1885 and 1914, including social and economic conditions, the roles and contributions of various people and groups, internal and external pressures for change, and the political responses to these pressures;
- describe the factors contributing to change in Canadian society (e.g., immigration, technology, politics, globalization);
- outline the advantages and disadvantages of Clifford Sifton's immigration policy in the Laurier era;
- identify key events that illustrate Canada's role within the British Empire and explain their significance.
- describe the treaties, alliances, events, and people that contributed to the start of the First World War, and explain their relevance to Canada;
- describe and analyse conflicting points of view about a historical issue.
Above excerpted from The Ontario Curriculum: Social Studies, Grades 1-6; History and Geography Grades, 7-8, 2004 (e. and o. e.)
Canada and the War in South Africa
Like Canada, the Cape colony in South Africa was part of Britain's
overseas empire. Next door to the Cape Colony were other territories
settled by Dutch Pioneers, who were known as
Afrikaners or Boers.
Britain began to expand its influence in Africa, chiefly to obtain gold
from the Dutch Territory. The Dutch resented the British advance.
In 1899, war broke out between the Boers and the British. It was
called the Boer War, or the South African War (First
Boer War /
Second Boer War).
Many English-speaking Canadians wanted to send troops to support the British cause. However, most French Canadians believed that a war in South Africa was none of Canada's business. They opposed sending soldiers.
Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier was caught in the middle. He eventually arranged a compromise. The government would not send troops, but Canadians who wanted to fight could volunteer to go to war alongside the British. In the end, several thousand Canadians signed up to take part in the South African War, which did not end until 1902.
No one was very happy with Laurier's compromise. English-speaking Canadians felt the government had not done enough. Many Francophones thought it had done too much. The dispute over the war in South Africa showed how the issue of the British Empire could divide Canadians.
The British wanted its dominions to contribute soldiers to the wars they were fighting around the world. They held two Imperial Conferences to try to convince Canada and other colonies to take part, but Prime Minister Laurier wanted no part of an imperial force. He admitted that Canada should be able to defend itself, but he did not want to see Canadians fighting around the world in wars that did not concern them.
Meanwhile in Europe, Britain and Germany were rivals for power. Each country was building up its navy to control the ocean trade routes. Some Canadians believed that Canada should send money to Britain to keep its navy strong. Others did not want to become involved in European power struggles.
Once again, Prime Minister Laurier sought a compromise. In 1910, his government created a small Canadian navy to protect Canadian waters. In times of crisis, he promised to make this force available to the British.
Critics of Laurier's policy laughed at the idea of this "tin-pot navy", calling it useless. They thought it would be better to contribute to Britain's fleet. others worried that Canada would still be dragged into an overseas Conflict. The naval issue was one important reason why Laurier and his government were defeated in the national election that took place in 1911.
The differences that divided Canadians soon took a back seat to the
gathering storm clouds in Europe. Rivalry between European nations
was leading to a dangerous increase in tension and hostility. The
possibility of war was becoming greater every day.
Several factors contributed to the war-like atmosphere:
- Rivalry for Colonies: Many European countries were trying to gain control of overseas colonies. Colonies were sources of wealth, power, and prestige. The desire to build huge worldwide empires, known as imperialism, brought countries such as Britain and Germany into conflict with each other.
- The Arms Race: European nations were locked in an arms race. Each country was trying to build bigger and better battleships and weapons. They believed that whoever had the strongest army and navy would be the most powerful nation in the world. The arms race caused suspicion and alarm among nations. Britain was especially concerned that Germany was building a huge navy to challenge Britain's supremacy as a naval power.
- The Alliance System: In 1914, the countries of Europe were divided into two hostile camps known as the Triple Entente (Britain, France, and Russia) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary). Each group tried to convince other countries to be it allies. Members of each alliance pledge to help each other in case of war. If trouble broke out between two nations, the alliance system would pull other countries into the conflict.
On June 18, 1914, Archduke
Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria, was visiting
Bosnia
in Eastern Europe. As he and his wife were in a car driving through
the streets of the city of
Sarajevo, a terrorist named
Gavrilo Princip
jumped from the crowd and shot them both dead.
The assassination set off a chain reaction of events. Within a few weeks, the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance were dragged into the conflict as one country after another declared war. By August 4, 1914, the two were at war, including Britain. The First World War had begun.
In Canada, the giant headline on the front page of newspapers across the country announced the news, "WAR!"
When Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, Canada and the other countries of the British Empire became automatically involved as well. At that time, British colonies such as Canada were not fully independent nations. They could not declare war on their own, nor could they decide against it. Because they were part of the British Empire, Canada sang the British national anthem, fought under the British flag, and followed the decisions of the British government in the war.
Most Canadians enthusiastically supported Canada's involvement in the war. Wilfrid Laurier clearly stated, "When Britain is at war, Canada is at war also." In the House of Commons on August 19, 1914, Canada's Prime Minister Robert Borden said, "All are agreed: we stand shoulder to shoulder with Britain and the other British dominions in their quarrel." Even Henri Bourassa, the French-Canadian nationalist, agreed that it was Canada's duty, "to contribute to the combined efforts of France and England." In Montreal, both French and English Canadians linked arms in the street and sang "La Marseillaise" (Listen here), the French national Anthem, and the patriotic British song, "Rule Britannia." (Listen here)
When war was declared, the call went out in Canada for volunteers to join
the fight. Government recruiting offices were flooded with
volunteers. Young men were willing to sign up for a private's pay of
$1 a day. Many were teenagers who lied about their age to get in.
People thought the war would be short, glorious, and full of adventure.
Almost everyone wanted to make a contribution to the war effort and do his
or her duty for the country. Feelings of patriotism were strong.
Who could have known that the war would last four years and that
approximately
67 000 Canadians would be killed and 173 000 wounded before peace
returned to the world?
The above is excerpted from Cruxton, 2008 (e. and o. e.)
In 1914 the Canadian Government passed the War Measures Act. This Act gave the government sweeping powers to protect the lives of Canadian citizens. In response to public opinion - some even call it hysteria - the government began to take action against individuals with German, Austro-Hungarian, and other "enemy" backgrounds, who were considered a threat to the war effort. By the end of 1915 over 7 000 men were locked away in 24 camps.
Another 80 000 people, all from Central Power nations, were classified as enemy aliens. many lost their jobs. They had to report regularly to the police. Their foreign language newspapers were suppressed and censored and were forced to print bilingual columns. Their language schools and some of their churches were closed. Any who had become citizens of Canada after March 1902 lost the right to vote, and other were also denied Canadian citizenship until after the war ended.
Most Canadians tried to get
involved in the war effort. Women knitted socks, gloves, and
scarves and made bandages. They raised money to send candy and
extras to the soldiers and prepared packages to be sent
overseas. School children collected scrap metal that could be
used to produce equipment and munitions.
Women stepped into jobs left vacant by departing men. It
became a common sight to see women working as streetcar conductors
and in factories. The number of women in munitions factories
alone exceeded 30 000. Between 5 000 and 6 000 women worked in
civil service jobs, and others worked in banks and offices.
generally they were paid less than men, and they were expected to
leave their jobs when the war ended.
By 1915 the Canadian economy was booming and everyone could find work. Factories filled orders for uniforms, military equipment, ships, airplanes, and artillery shells. More people joined unions, and wages rose, but not enough to keep up with the rising cost of living. The prices of food and clothing went up over 60 percent. Canada became an expensive place to live.
The above is excerpted from Deir, 2000 (e. and o. e.)
Development of a National Identity
Though our losses were great, it was during the First World War that Canada began to distance itself from the British Empire. While you will learn all about this in Grade 10, take a second to watch the following clips and try to imagine yourself as a Canadian during this tumultuous time.
