Conscription in WWI Canada
Conscientious Objectors
Why When
National Division
End of the War
1914 Prime Minister Borden
• Promised there would be
no conscription or
compulsory enlistment
• BUT........
• Needed more men for the
war effort
Ex. Vimy Ridge Campaign
1917 Military Service Act
• Made
enlistment
for military
service
mandatory
AT FIRST...
The Act Allowed for
exemptions:
-Disabled
-Clergy
-Essential
jobs/skills
-Opposed war for
religious reasons
Groups to Oppose Conscription
Conscientious Objectors
• Those who
Opposed the war
on religious or
moral grounds
- Pacifists
- Mormons
- “Hippie”
Farmers and Factory Workers
• Both groups believed
they were already
working for the war effort
• Farms a family business,
and sons needed on the
farm
• Factory workers did not
want to give up their jobs
to go overseas
Labour Movement
• Groups organized to
improve conditions for
workers******
• Ex. 8 HOUR Day
- Workers already finding it
hard to provide for families
- Conscription would mean
workers make even less
Quebec
• Felt little to no
connection to Britain or
France
• Military Service Act
forcing them to fight
distant war
• Language Rights lost
outside Quebec
• Majority farmers
• Minority group in the war
Liberal Party Leader Laurier
• The “law of the
land...declares that no
man in Canada shall
be subjected to
compulsory military
service except to repel
invasions or for the
defense of the
country”
Groups to Support Conscription
Women Connected to Soldiers
• Fathers, sons,
husbands, brothers
at war and in need
of help
• Theories:
- Helped to promote the vote for
women
- Free up jobs for women
The Government
• Men needed for Vimy
Ridge
• Britain controls
Canada's foreign
policy
• Role in war helps to
promote our
autonomy
The Armed Forces
• Needed more men
• High death tolls
• Vimy Ridge
• 100 days campaign
The Khaki Election of 1917
• Conscription the main issue in 1917 election
• Called Khaki because of the attempts to win the
support of people serving during the war
• Borden passed laws to ensure a WIN!
Military Voters Act 1917
• Allowed men and
women overseas to
vote
• They would side
with Borden
because he wanted
conscription
Wartime Elections Act 1917
• Gave the Vote to all Canadian
women related to servicemen
• Cancelled the vote for :
- consciences objectors
- Immigrants from enemy
countries in past 15 years
Union Government
• Liberals lost much support outside Quebec
• Liberals who favoured conscription joined
Borden’s Conservatives to make a wartime
Union Government
- won majority votes in 1917 election
Conscription Protests Continue
• After election, people of Quebec
continue to protest
• “A bas Borden”- Down with Borden
• Canadian troops vs French Canadians
who refuse to enlist
Conscription Riots
• Quebec City Easter
weekend 1918
• April 1 four protesters
shot and killed by
soldiers
• 10 soldiers wounded
Conscription Numbers
• 401 882 Canadians conscripted
• 125 000 enlisted
• 25 000 reached France before end of war