Canada and the First World War

Canada and the First World War: An Overview

• Many in Canada initially viewed the war as a short, exciting adventure
• Romantic ideals of fighting for the British Empire motivated early enlistments

Key Motivations for Enlistment

• Desire for travel, adventure, and glory was a significant driver
• Loyalty to the British Empire, with Canada belonging to it, was a strong sentiment
• Some sought to repay England for the perceived civil and religious liberties enjoyed under its flag

The Harsh Reality of War

• The war was modern, industrialized, and devastating, unlike initial romantic visions
• Over 8 million soldiers died, with a cost of almost $350 billion, drastically reshaping Europe

Key Historical Forces and Their Impact

• Nationalism: Intense national pride and competition fueled rivalries
• Imperialism: Competition for colonies and resources created tension
• Colonialism: Domination of weaker nations led to resistance
• Militarism: Glorification of military power and arms races heightened the risk of conflict
• Exploring these forces is crucial to understanding the war's causes and long-term effects on Canada

Causes of the First World War

• Industrialization: Great Powers expanded to secure resources and markets
• Imperialism: European nations established colonies globally, exploiting resources
• Competition: Rivalries intensified, particularly in Africa
• Militarism: Nations built up military resources to protect interests and intimidate rivals

Increasing Militarism and Global Tension

• Imperialism led to crises and distrust among the Great Powers
• Great Powers expanded military resources to protect interests and intimidate each other
• Militarism embraced war as a conflict resolution method, contributing to the constant threat to peace

The Role of the Balkans: A Powder Keg

• Balkans were a cultural, geographical region that was of particular interest to Russia, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottomans
• Russia aimed to unite Slavic people for access to warm-water ports, essential due to winter freezing of other ports
• Austria-Hungary feared pan-Slavism, as it threatened its control over Slavic populations
• The Ottoman Empire, already crumbling, feared losing more territory in the Balkans

The False Security of Alliances

• Rivals formed alliances, with Great Powers in Europe promising support if attacked
• Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy comprised it
• Triple Entente: An opposing force was also known as the Allies, with France, Britain, and Russia
• Alliances made it easier to be drawn into war, as members pledged protection to one another

The Threat of Nationalism and a Deadly Spark

• Great Powers ignored the interests of colonized nations, which led to intense loyalty, cultural preservation, language, and the need to protect traditions
• Balkans were a hotbed of nationalism, with newly created and independent countries rising from disintegrated Ottoman Empire
• Some Bosnian Serbs formed the Black Hand: They sought to unite slavic peoples to form "Greater Serbia"
• Austrian-Hungarian Empire sent crown prince Archduke Franz Ferdinand to Sarajevo, Bosnia, leading to his assassination by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand

Canada's Automatic Entry Into the War

• Assassination triggered a series of events; Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia after Serbian refusal to submit to ultimatum
• Germany offered Austria-Hungary a "blank cheque" of support
• Russia mobilized to defend Serbia as part of Pan-Slavism
• Germany responded with mobilization; Britain declared war on Germany after the violation of Belgium's neutrality
• Canada was automatically at war as part of the British Empire automatically

Canada's Response to the War

• As a British dominion, Canada was automatically at war when Britain declared war on Germany in 1914
• Strong patriotic feelings towards Britain and the Empire motivated many English-speaking Canadians to support the conflict

Mobilization and Initial Enthusiasm

• Initial reaction was enthusiastic, with many Canadians eager to join the fight
• Toronto newspaper captured the excitement and support for the mother country
• Wilfrid Laurier, leader of the Liberals, pledged support for Britain and the Empire

Volunteers and Recruitment

• Initial offer of 25,000 troops by Prime Minister Borden was quickly surpassed with 30,000+ volunteers
• Patriotism, belief in a quick victory, and economic opportunity motivated enlistments
• Initial reluctance to accept women, Aboriginal peoples, African and Japanese Canadians as recruits

A National Identity Emerges

• Canada had to prepare for war, causing the army to swell and training and supplying the troops being given to Sam Hughes
• Camp Valcartier in Québec was built quickly to house and train soldiers
• Troops from across Canada trained together, creating camaraderie and national identity
• The volunteer army was the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) where CEF fought independently

Impact on the Home Front

• Sam Hughes oversaw the Canadian armament industry as Minister of Militia
• Inefficiencies and war profiteering plagued the Ministry, however
• Troops were supplied with inappropriate or poor-quality equipment and the government did not sign contracts

The War Measures Act

• Prime Minister Borden introduced the measure in 1914, authorizing the government to take necessary actions for security, defense, peace, order, and welfare
• The government intervened in the economy to control transportation, manufacturing, trade, and agricultural production
• Freedoms of Canadians were limited with censorship of mail and suspension of habeas corpus: Police could detain people without charges
• Recent German and Austro-Hungarian immigrants were harshly treated