Lesson 13 — Activity 1: The Challenges of the First World War
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Lesson 13 — Activity 1: The Challenges of the First World War
Warm Up
As you learned, when Canada became a nation in 1867, there were still many differences among the people who lived in this new country. Its citizens still thought of themselves as either British or French. They did not yet think of themselves as Canadians.
One of the first real challenges for this new nation came when World War I began in Europe in 1914, just 50 years after Confederation.
In this activity, you will learn of the challenges to Canada by the First World War.
The British North America Act had made Canada a country, but Britain still controlled Canada's affairs with other countries. This meant that when Britain's King George V declared war on Germany, Canada was automatically at war too.
Canada used posters such as those pictured on the lesson introduction page and the one on the right to recruit troops who were sent to Europe to fight against Germany.
Not everyone agreed with this decision. Most English-Canadians supported Britain and wanted to send troops. Many French-Canadians viewed the war as a British problem, so they did not support it. This divided opinion grew even stronger when the Canadian government introduced conscription.
With many soldiers being killed or wounded and fewer volunteers signing up, Canada had difficulty continuing to meet its responsibilities in fighting the war. To overcome this problem, Canada's government introduced conscription. This meant that the government could force its male citizens to join the military and fight.
By the time the Military Services Act came into effect in August 1917, the war was almost over. Of more than 400,000 men who had to register, slightly less than 100,000 were conscripted and only about 25,000 went to fight in Europe.
The issue, however, had really split the country, leaving many feeling very angry. French-Canadians were angry because they felt they had been forced to join into a war that they did not support. The British-Canadians were angry because they felt that Canada's French people had betrayed the country.
This would not be the last time that this issue would arise.
Digging Deeper!
Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients
The men and women who fight for their nations during times of war are considered as heroes, but the actions of some are worthy of special consideration. The highest award a Canadian can achieve is the Victoria Cross. During World War I, 70 Canadians were awarded this medal.
