By: Andy Lee
July 8th, 2010
War on the Home Front P. 127~129 # 1-3,5,9,10,11,12,13
1. Enemy aliens: German, Austrian, Hungarian, and all the other countries within Triple
Alliance living in Canada. They were discriminated, and was sent away to the labor
camps to minimize the threats of spies
War Measures Act: This act gave the government control over many aspects of
everyday life. It controlled the economy, transportation, production, manufacture of
goods, and so on without consulting with the parliament. This act allowed government
to place restrictions on enemy aliens to minimize the threat of spies
Victory Bonds: A major campaign which urged people to buy Victory Bonds was
launched in 1918 since Canada didn’t have enough money to support the war because it
cost over $1 million a day. Citizens who bought the bonds were lending money to the
government for war effort. Once the war was over, the citizens will be paid back all the
bonds they have bought with interests.
Propaganda: Any kind of media made to bias the audience in someway to one particular
point of view which may or may not be fair. Propaganda was common during wartime
and many countries such as Canada used propaganda to make citizens feel that the
enemies are evils and they are wrong.
Suffragists: Members of the organization which supported the equality of men and
women. Mostly, Suffragists wanted to gain rights to vote for the women.
Military Voters Act 1917: This act allowed soldiers over sea to vote
Wartime Elections Act 1917: Took away the vote from people born in enemy countries
tor who spoke the language of an enemy country, and conscientious objectors
Dominion Elections Act 1920: Gave women the right to run for election to Parliament
Conscription: All able-bodied men would be required to join the army in Canada. They
would have no choice, it was mandatory, and they were forced to join the army.
Military Service Bill 1917: Bill which made conscription a law. Military ervic e became
compulsory for all males between the ages of 20 and 45.
Union Government 1917: Major Party formed by Conservatives and Liberals who
believed in conscription
Pacifists: People that were against war on the basis of spiritual or moral beliefs.
Treaty Versailles: Peace treaty set up after the WWI. The treaty was signed at Versailles,
near Paris. Thirty-two victorious countries were represented, and Canada was
represented as a separate nation. Canada has gained independence and proved their
significance
League of Nations: Was set up to settle future disputes. League of Nations was an
organization promoting international co-operation. Many nations joined to prevent the
events like WWI happening again, and Canada was one of the nations to join. Canada
joined League of Nations as an independent nation
2. a) Women: Women took the responsibilities, tasks, and jobs of men that left the country
to go to the war. Since these responsibilities, tasks, and jobs were essential for Canada
and its economy. Women also organized community fund raisers and to roll bandages
for the troops. Women have contributed significantly towards Canada and War during
the war time
b) Workers: Many workers that stayed behind in Canada during wartime worked at
industries and factories that produced essential products that are required for the war
such as weapons, food supplies, and medical supplies and so on. Since Canada was one
of the major countries that supported the Allies with essential supplies, these workers in
Canada have contributed significantly towards the War during the war time.
c) Children: Children were often dismissed from school early to support and help the
harvest. These sacrifices allowed Canadians to maximize the supplies produced that
were essential for the war
d) Families in their homes: Families planted victory gardens to produce as much food
they could, reduced the amount of food they ate, and tried to waste as little as possible.
These sacrifices allowed Canada to minimize the wastes and the money spent on food
to support the troops at the war better
e) Aboriginal, Black, Asian, and other ethno cultural Communities: Many other ethnic
communities raised funds and contributed what they could to support the Canadian
army during war. For example, women of the Six Nations organized a Women’s Patriotic
League in 1914. Although, the war wasn’t necessarily involving these ethnic groups, they
believed in Canadians and what was right, therefore they have contributed towards
Canadian army during the wartime.
3. The spirit of excitement and confidence existed in Canada at the outbreak of the war in
1914, because this was chance for Canada to participate in order to show how much
impact Canada could do in order to gain respect, reputation, and complete
independence. Moreover, this was the first major war that Canada would be
participating in as Canada not UK ; therefore all the young men were excited with the
fantasies of war.
However, as the time went on this mood has changed and the number of anti-war
supporters has increased, and the number of voluntary soldiers has decreased
significantly. People believed that the war will be over before the Christmas of 1914,
however, the war had become much more intense, and concerning as the time went on.
There were very heavy causalities, the stories of the terrible condition and environment
at the battlefields were now being spread out through the country, and the economic
activities of the country were focused only on the war. Therefore the enthusiasm,
excitement, and confidence of the war had turned in to anxiety, and concern.
5.a) Canadians were considered to be in British army along with other formal British
colonies such as Australia and New Zealand because Canada was still considered as one
of the British Empire in some ways. Therefore, Canada was forced to join the war since
Britain was at war. This is why Canadians were considered to be part of the British Army
b) By the end of the WWI, Canada has gained great reputation, and respect for their
significance, power, and dedication towards the war, such as conquering Vimy Ridge
only with Canadian troops. Therefore, it can be said that, Canada has gained complete
independence through this war, and were officially recognized as an independent nation
by the war was over. In conclusion, although Canadians still had strong connections with
Britain, the relationship status changed. The old relationship of a mother country to its
colony evolved into a relationship between two equal independent nations.
b)The relationship between Britain and Canada at the beginning of the WWI was a
relationship of a superior mother country to its colony. This relationship because of
Canada’s significant impacts and dedication demonstrated throughout the war has
changed. Canada gained great respect, better reputation, and complete independence
through WWI. Therefore, by the end of the war, the old relationship between Britain
and Canada has evolved into a relationship between two equal independent nations
9. a)According to the bar graph showing Canadian casualties during WWI, on year 1918,
Canada suffer the most casualties. The number of the casualties in this year was so
significant due to the Last Hundred Days. Last Hundred Days were the last hundred days
of WWI. The battles that took place during the Last Hundred Days were very significant
and large. Germans and the alliance poured attacks at the Western Front with all of
their force. Eventually although there were many casualties and painful costs during the
last hundreds days of the war, the war was finally over on 11 November 1918 when
Germans surrendered. This is why most casualties were created during the last hundred
days of battles.
b)Refering to the pictograph showing the growth in Canada’s economy during the war
years show that the field crops and fisheries has increased the most. First of all, the field
crops economy has increased 163% because lot more field crops such as wheat were
needed to support the army at the war as food supplies. Secondly, the fishery economy
has increased 74% because just like crop economy, lot more fish were required to
support the army at the war as food supplies. It comes to the conclusion that the food
related economy has increased the most during the war years since food supplies were
critical during the war and the food supply demand during war was very high.
10. a)Through the World War I, Canada has gained complete independence, better
reputation, and more respect. When Canada first joined WWI, Canadian army and
Canada were still considered to be part of Britain and British Empire although Canada
had separate government such as separate Prime minister, and parliament. However,
throughout WWI Canada has proven its potential and significance towards the world to
gain much more respect from other independent nations. Therefore by the end of the
WWI Canada has gained complete independence and recognition, by signing the Treaty
of Versailles as an independent nation, Canada instead of British Empire, Canada.
b) First of all, the field crops produced in 1919 was a 163% increase from the field crops
produced in 1913. Secondly The fisheries produced in 1919 was 74% increase from the
fisheries produced in 1913. Lastly, the forest products produced in 1919 was 70%
increase from the forest products produced in 1913. The food related economy has
increased the most, because during WWI, food supplies were critical to the military
forces, and the food demand was very high. These gradual increases over the 7 year
periods support and explain the statement “The growth in Canada’s economy from 1914
to 1919 was mainly due to the World War I.”
11. Canada’s economy boomed during World War I largely due to the great demand for
food and war products. Due to the war effects, lots of Canadians at homeland took
advantage of this situation and developed great economic work sector on food and war
products. However, I believe that there might have had many critical problems arise
when the war ends. Once war was over, the great high demand for food and war
supplies will gradually decrease, which means that the price of those products will
decrease. Secondly, Canada had major development on food and war supplies, however,
once the demand has gone down due to the ending of the war, the factories and the
farms won’t be able to maintain their sizes, and the competition within them will arise
since there are much more quantities than what was needed. Therefore, problems such
as economic crisis, and bankruptcy involving big sector of Canadian economy could have
arisen when the war ends.
12. Canadians might feel that the experiences of World War I made the country better
prepared to take control of its own affairs. Canadians will feel much more confident and
comfortable, since they have now experienced dealing with major world conflicts and
problems such as WWI. I believe that the experiences of WWI has taught Canadians
valuable lessons, on how to handle major conflicts, and helped Canada be prepared to
take control of its own affairs. Moreover, through WWI, Canadians gained better
reputation, respect, and complete independence with recognition, this fact might have
also help Canadians gain more confidence, and to remind themselves that they have
earned the independence and they will do their best to maintain the independence they
have earned.
13. a) I personally believe that ii) Germany’s army was limited to 100 000 soldiers was
the most fair treatment within the Treaty of Versailles. I believe that taking away all of
German’s wealth by taking away all of German’s colonies and asking them to pay
ridiculous amount of price for repairations when Allies themselves had given damages
to Alliance as well was very unfair. However I believe that it was fair to ask for Germany
to limit their army to minimize the threat of the war caused by Germany again. Some of
the points from the treaty made me think as if Allies wanted to eliminate Germany
completely from regaining their powers, and hope that they will never recover from the
war. Since majority of countries in Europe were involved in the war, I think it’s unfair for
Germany to take all the blame. In fact the cause war was due to the tension within the
Balkan region of Europe, and the final spark to set off the war was conflict between
Austria-Hungary Empire and Serbia with assassination. Therefore it would be unfair for
Germans to take all the blame. The most fair way would be a way to minimize the threat
by asking Germany to take an action which won’t require any direct national wealth
since those wealth will be needed to repair the country and to regain the stability.
Moreover, limiting the army will be easier for German’s to accomplish because all they
needed to accomplish this idea was a single decision from the government
b) I believe that the statement “Treaty of Versailles contained within it the seeds of
another war” tell us that the ridiculous and unfair points and statements within the
Treaty of Versailles caused the WWII to start. Therefore it can be said that the Treaty of
Versailles worked as the seed of the WWII or the major underlying cause of the WWII.
Defeated countries realized that the Treaty of Versailles was unfair, and ridiculous. The
defeated countries realized that all the Allies wanted to do was to hope that they will
never recover. The defeated countries were frustrated with anger, broke the treaty, and
rebelled towards the Allies to gain the central power of the world from them.