Social Studies 11 WW2—Topics
Topic #1: Canada’s Role in World War II (pp. 92-98 in Counterpoints)
Scenario:
The year is 1939. There is a growing feeling of unrest in the international community, and it is becoming increasingly apparent
that war is at hand. Canadian politicians are divided on what role, if any, Canada should play if war breaks out.
Place yourself in the year and time. Considering the many issues, what do you think Canada should do?
A few factors to consider (in no particular order):
1. The First World War
9. The rise of Nazi Germany
2. The violation of the Treaty of Versailles
10. The claim that the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh
3. The League of Nations
11. Isolationism
4. The rise of Communism
12. Canada-British relations
5. Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia
13. Fear of conscription
6. Quebec
14. Policy of Appeaseament
7. Canada’s size
8. Rise of Totalitarianism
Topic 2: Canada’s Response to the Threat of War 127-129
1. What is meant by the term isolationism? Why did Canada practice a policy of isolationism?
2. How did Mackenzie King feel after meeting Hitler in 1937?
3. What was happening to the Jewish population in Germany? P. 122
3. Describe the importance of the St. Louis Incident in 1939. How did Canada treat Jewish refugees? Would you support
the Canadian government’s actions? Why or why not?
Topic 3-Causes of WWII
1. Try to brainstorm some of the causes of WWII (See ppt notes - start)
Topic 4-Canada Declares War-130-132
1. What was different about how Canada declared war in WWII as compared in WWI?
2. Were Canada’s armed forces ready for the war?
3. Who was Thomas Prince
4. What was a purpose of the British Commonwealth Air Training
Program?
5. Discuss Canada’s policy of Total War.
BATTLE: THE INVASION
OF POLAND
Topic 4-Important Battles (133-148)=All have appeared on
Provincial Exams BEFORE!
Create a box for all of the following battles similar to the
one on the right! (see wiki for more info)
WHEN: September 1st, 1939
1. Battle: Evacuation of Dunkirk Battle 2. The Battle of
Bl
Britain 3. Battle: Pearl Harbour
WHERE: Poland
4.Battle: Hong Kong 5. Battle: Dieppe 6. Battle: Battle of
the Atlantic 7. Battle: The Italian Campaign 8. Battle:
WHAT: The Germans
The Normandy Landing Battle: D-Day and the Liberation
invaded Poland using
of Holland
blitzkrieg tactics.
Topic #5 –Crimes against humanity-p. 152
1. What was the Holocaust?
2. What were the Nuremberg trials?
3. Discuss the atrocities in Asia.
SO WHAT?
(Canadian
Involvement /
Significance)
It started the
Second World War.
Canada was not
automatically
obligated to go to
war, but chose to do
so a week after
Britain’s declaration.
OUTCOME: Britain and
France declared war on
Germany. Canada’s
declaration followed a week
later.
Topic #6 Canadians—The Home Front
Role of Women (C=153)
1.
2.
3.
How did women’s role change during WWII? How did their traditional role change?
What was the name given to working women (see fig. 5-38).
What was the National Selective Services Act? (see ppt)
1
Canada’s Wartime Economy (C=153)
1.
What were some of the steps taken by PM King to prevent the debt of WWI?
Propaganda
5. What types of propaganda were used to encourage ordinary Canadians to support the war effort? (see
figures 5-14, 5-15, 5-21, 5-38, 5-39, 5-40)
Growing Demand for Social Change (C=155)
1.
2.
What enabled unions to become more powerful during WWII?
Why was the CCF so popular? How did Mackenzie King respond?
1.
2.
What act allowed for conscription in WWII?
What were the results of the plebiscite (vote) on conscription? Which province opposed conscription
(fig. 5-41)
What impact did conscription have on French and English Canadian relations?
Conscription Crisis (C=155-156)
3.
What the War Meant to Canada
1. How did Canada’s economy change as a result of WWII?
2. How did society change?
3. What impact did the war have on our identity?
Discrimination Against Japanese Canadians
1. Fill out the table to the right with the aid of the internet.
BEFORE
PEARL
HARBOUR
AFTER
PEARL
HARBOUR
REASON FOR
DISCRIMINATION
12. Complete the table (below) – Political, Social and Economic
Effects of WWII.
1907:
Internment:
1928:
Custodian
of Aliens
Act:
The Vote:
Deportation
Law: and
Relocation:
ECONOMIC
EFFECTS
INCREASED REPUTATION:
METHODS OF
DISCRIMINATION
TROOPS RECONIZED FOR:
POLITICAL
EFFECTS
ENGLISH-FRENCH RELATIONS:
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT:
CIVIL RIGHTS:
SOCIAL
EFFECTS
Essay:
To what extent did World War I and World War II have a negative impact on Canada? (Both sides must be addressedbasically the positives and negative aspects of the war)
2