December 1917 Election Simulation
Canada’s Conscription Crisis
Purpose
 This activity is designed to examine the issues surrounding the conscription crisis and the
December 1917 election in Canada using a hands on approach to help students better
understand the issues that took place during this time period
How it works
 This activity would fit into a class surrounding Canada’s conscription issues in WWI
 The teacher would set the stage by discussing the reasons for the conscription debate in
the first place, as well as the tensions that were being created in Canada at this time
 The teacher would make reference to specific groups that would be used within the activity:
conscientious objectors, “enemy aliens”, French Canadians, English Canadians, soldiers
overseas, female nurses and female relatives of soldiers overseas and how each of these
groups felt about the conscription issue and why
 Then, as the time of the December 1917 election comes near, the teacher would hand out
name cards, one to each student
 These name cards have different titles on each from the list above and the student is
supposed to represent their named individual in the year 1917 (make sure certain number
of each individual is represented—have to number and order cards ahead of time)
 Then, the teacher goes through a mock election
o First, the teacher discusses who would be making the majority of the decisions
at this time in history (the men) and discusses who the English Canadian men in
the room would likely vote for and why (to reiterate this point from earlier in the
class). Then the teacher allows the English Canadian males to cast their votes
for the for Borden/ Union Government or for Laurier/Liberal Government
represented on different sections of the board (should be mostly for
conscription)
o Then the teacher does the same process with the French Canadian males
(should be mostly against conscription)
o Then the teacher adds up the current election results
o Then discuss enemy aliens and conscientious objectors, who each would vote
for and why. And allow them to cast their votes.
o Add up results again
o Then discuss how Borden wanted to ensure victory, so conscription would
remain, therefore he passed the Military Service Act (gave vote to soldiers) –
who would they likely vote for and why? Allow them to cast votes
o Add up results again
o Then still wanted to guarantee victory so passed the Wartime Elections Act
 Allow female nurses to vote
 Allow female relatives to vote
 And make Conscientious Objectors and Enemy Aliens take down their
votes
o Do final count of votes and see how students feel about fairness of process
Benefits
 The students really enjoyed the simulation aspect of the election and being able to actually
cast their votes for particularly parties
 As well, because some students were given the vote later on and others were forced to
remove their votes from the election, some students got quite upset with how the process
went (not unlike the situation in Canada at this time)
 The hands on / participation aspect really gave the students a deeper understanding of the
process and the issues it created for different groups within Canada
 Lastly, by discussing the feelings of these different groups earlier in the class and then
again during the simulation exercise, the students are able to use previous knowledge in a
practical way and therefore develop a deeper understanding on the topic
Additions / Modifications
 Students could follow this activity with a debate or a discussion about the pros and cons of
the election or the good and bad points of how the election was handled
 Students could argue for the side that the individuals they represented would have taken
during the election