World War I: War on the
Homefront
The War at Home:
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Prime Minister Robert Borden replaced the
Shell committee with the Imperial
Munitions Board
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Munitions factories started building ships,
airplanes, shells
Production an exports of Canadian goods
were high, but workers wages remained
low
Paying for the War
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Even though production levels were high,
Canadian government could not afford to
pay for the war
Decided to pay its debt through
1.
2.
3.
Bonds
Taxes
Loans
Bonds, Taxes, Loans
1.
2.
3.
Bonds:People were encouraged to buy
Victory bonds that they could cash in, with
interest, when the war as over
Taxes: income tax was introduced,
wealthy families paid 3% of their income,
businesses paid 4%
Loans: bonds and taxes were not enough,
Canada had to borrow from US
Women on the Homefront
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Women had to take new roles
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Organized committees to send food and
letters overseas
Volunteer organizations – Red Cross
Contribution to the labour force
Women in the Labour Force
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Before 1914 women were employed in low
skill and low paying jobs in food and
clothing industries, such as domestic
servants
Increase in industrial production created a
great demand for labour
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Hired for fishing boats, running farms
Suffrage
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Changing roles of women strengthened the
campaign for suffrage (right to vote)
Manitoba: suffrage rights in 1916
Alberta, Saskatchewan followed Manitoba
in 1916
Ontario and BC: 1917
1918 all Canadian women won the right to
vote in federal elections
Closer to Home: Halifax
Explosion
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December 6, 1917
The Mont Blanc, French vessel carrying
more than 2500 t of dynamite was
accidentally hit by another ship
Collision caused an explosion so powerful
that it devastated Halifax’s harbour killing
2000-3000 people, and devastating the
harbour
The Conscription Crisis
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In 1914, PM Borden promised there would be no
conscription (mandatory enrollment into the war)
By 1917, the death toll was too high, and there
were not enough volunteers.
So, Borden introduced the Military Service Act
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It allowed exemptions at first, clergy, those with
essential jobs/special skills, conscientious objectors
(religious beliefs)
The Conscription Crisis (cont.)
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Majority of French-Canadaisn did nt feel
that this was their fight because their
ancestors had come to Canada generations
before
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Few spoke English
There was not an attempt to keep them in the
same battalion
Against Conscription
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Henri Bourassa was a Quebec nationalist,
critic of conscription
Farmers and industrial workers needed
their sons to work, and could not afford to
lose their sons to the war.
1917 Election: Khaki Election
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A.k.a Khaki Election
PM Borden decided to call an election over
conscription
Passed two pieces of legislation designed to
ensure his re-election:
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Military Voters Act: allowed men and women
overseas to vote
Wartime Elections Act: gave all Canadian women
directly related to service men the vote
Union Government
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Borden invited Liberals who favoured
conscription to join the Conservatives to
create the Union Government
Union Government won the election,
conscription was passed
130,000 men were enlisted, but only
25,000 soldiers reached France before the
war.
Propaganda
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Designed to persuaded people to support the war
Appeared as films, magazine articles, radio
programs, political speeches, and posters.
Encouraged people to join the army, buy savings
bonds, use less fuel, eat less meat, and support the
government
Often distorts the truth; portrayed German troops
as the “Huns” barbarians intent on destroying the
civilized world
Propaganda


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
Designed to persuaded people to support the war
Appeared as films, magazine articles, radio
programs, political speeches, and posters.
Encouraged people to join the army, buy savings
bonds, use less fuel, eat less meat, and support the
government
Often distorts the truth; portrayed German troops
as the “Huns” barbarians intent on destroying the
civilized world
Propaganda Posters
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Instructions: Do an
analysis of the displayed
poster by answering the
following questions
When was it created?
What was going on at
the time of its creation?
Who created it?
Why was it created
Who was the intended
audience?
What colours and
symbols are used?
What is the main
message? What in the
poster conveyed this
message to you?
What inferences can be
made about this poster?
Now it is your turn: Create your own
poster:
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In your groups create your own propaganda
poster on any aspect of WWI. Here are some
ideas, but you are not limited to these ideas.
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Victory Bonds
Joining the War
Women working
Your poster must include at least one symbol
Posters will be marked on creativity and neatness
You must also write a brief summary about your
poster, explaining colour choices, symbols, etc.