Canada in WW1: War in the Trenches

• Canada in WW1 was considered a different kind of fight

War in the Trenches

• Wars in the 19th century entailed cavalry and bayonet charges
• WW1 would be stagnant, bloody, and involve many soldiers dying
• Stagnant warfare forced soldiers to dig in and set up short-term and long-term trenches to avoid being killed
• Trenches grew into hundreds of miles
• Rats and lice infestations became permanent and overly common in the trenches
• Trenches were wet, resulting in trench foot for many
• Sleep deprivation and battle fatigue affected soldiers.
• New weapons and strategies resulted in many lost lives

Defending the Empire

• Sam Borden (Prime Minister) and leader of the opposition showed a willingness to support Britain
• Military readiness in 1914 included 7.5 million battleships and $110 spent on men
• The War Measures Act allowed the government to censor communication, arrest persons, control waters and transport, and control trade
• Sam Hughes was appointed Minister of Militia and commissioned to ready Canada for war
• Focused on recruiting English Canadian men to fight for the mother country via volunteer basis
• The Prime Minister of Canada declared intentions regarding WW1 in the Commons on August 19th, 1914, adding that the German people are dominated by a military autocracy
• Almost half a million citizens are of German origin
• All stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the other British dominions, and will not fail to fulfill as the honour of Canada demands
• Entering the war not for lust of conquest, but to maintain solemn pledges to the pillars of liberty and withstand forces
• With firm hearts, they abide in the event

Pre-War Status of Countries in Europe

• Tensions among major powers of Europe grew over time as the 20th century came
• Imperialism and industrialization increased demands for land and resources, resulting in disagreements

Britain "The Boss"

• With Britain's flourishing trade and navy, it was the envy of all European countries
• Happy that they never meddle with other issues, instead, they grew in power worldwide

Germany "The Envious Rival"

• The founder of Germany was moved out after the death of Wilhelm I
• Wilhelm had a distaste for Britain as expansion and power were held back
• Germans had a powerful army and a boasting economy but failed to expand overseas

France "The Revenge Seeker"

• During the battle between France and Germany for territories in 1870, France lost
• Bitter and vowed to revenge against the Germans
• War between France and Germany was inevitable

Russia "The Raw Muscle"

• Russians were determined to improve their status with military means
• Backed their fellow Slavic states against threatening nations and waited to play protector

Austria-Hungary "The Instigator"

• Civil war always close and minorities became major problems
• Austria looked to Germany for alliance

Canada at the Turn of the Century

Policies for Prosperity

• High tariffs placed on US and British imports, protecting Canadian manufacturers in the Canadian market
• Railway creation helped development of western settlement and trade in Canada
• The CPR and CNR were increased to encourage western expansion
• Clifford Sifton was the Minister of the Interior; and his most important job was to populate the west
• In 1896, US closed its public land settlement making Canada the best option

Canada Confederation

• In 1867, Canada gained Confederation but was still part of the British Empire
• English Canada was proud of where they came from
• French Canada was committed to protecting their language and culture, and did not share this pride
• French Canadian Response: They were outraged that Canada would send troops to assist in a war that they had nothing to do with

Canada in 1900 - Key Facts

• The Canada in and surrounding 1900 was very different from Canada today
• The capital was Ottawa; and it couldn't be amended without British consent
• 90% of the population was cultural and male-governed
• 58% had roots in the British Isles or France (31%)
• The majority did not live in cities; but rather in farms
• The government established the Dominion Lands Policy; which meant plentiful and cheap land for immigrants
• Homesteaders cultivated houses and land
• Domestic service was the most common employment for women
• The largest city was Montreal
• Unequal distribution of income and capitalist emphasis created a small middle class
• The Dominion government encouraged British, Meritites, Scandinavians, and Germans to populate Canada
• Growing wheat was problematic in the prairies
• Electricity, medical facilities, and incomes were low
• Edmonton's first school was 19 years ago

Accurate Depiction of Life in Canada

• The posters showed amazing farmlands and Canada does have that
• Families often had to move West; which the posters convey
• The image on page 16 was helpful in assisting with the conclusion, because it showed the farmlands of Canada and how rich they were by only growing a year's worth of crops
• Canada needed more farmers to take care of their land

WWI: Working with Evidence

• Primary sources are actually part of the past itself Examples: maps, photographs, poetry, diary/journal entries, blog posts, editorial cartoons, physical artifacts
• Secondary Sources differ from sources because are "second-hand accounts of past events." Examples: textbooks, biographies, encyclopedias, webpages, documentary films
• Best wheat land, the richest country under the sun

Messages About Canada

• People have beautiful farmland and clear weather in west Canada
• Perspective represented in the posters are people who have immigrated to Canada, and established farmers

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• The Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia paid a royal visit to Sarajevo (capital city of Bosnia)
• Archduke would become the new King
• Bosnia was a member of the Balkan states but had been annexed by Austria-Hungary
• Many Serbian lived in Bosnia and despised Austria-Hungary's annexation
• A bomb was thrown at their car and wounded one of the officers traveling with the Archduke
• Gavrilo Prince shot the Archduke and his wife.
• He was one of seven people trying to assassinate the Archduke that were all members of "Black Hand," a Serbian nationalist group that believed Bosnia should be part of Serbia

Events Following the Assassination

• Austria-Hungary blames Serbia for the assassination and issues an ultimatum
• Serbia fails to comply and Austria-Hungary declares war.
• Russia mobilized troops to help defend Serbia.
• France had an alliance with Russia, so they mobilized troops to the Austrian border
• Germany sent an ultimatum to Russia and France, requesting they stop mobilizing
• Germany declared war on Russia and France
• Germany invades France through neutral Belgium, which is when Britain declared war on them

M.A.I.N. Causes of WWI

• Militarism refers to building and maintaining a strong military force
• Germany used militarism by building up arms with Russia and Britain's army

Alliances

• Countries formed alliances to strengthen their position in the world
• Triple Alliance was formed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
• Triple Entente was formed by France, Russia, and Britain

Imperialisim

• Imperialism is the policy of extending the power of one country over others seas
• Acquisition of territories or establishing economic and political control; colonies served as markets which led to manufacturing which resulted in competition

Nationalism

• Nationalism is a set of beliefs that promote the collective interest and cultural identity of a nation
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand along with wife were show because a Serbian nationalist believed Bosnia should be liberated from Austrian control and become part of Serbia

Conclusion: Historical Thinking Concepts

• Historical Significance depends on a person's historical perspective and purpose, including criteria that resulted in great change over long periods of time
• The fact is that there were lots of things going on at any one time in the past

Cause and Consequence

• It is important to determine the actions, beliefs, and circumstances that lead to the event
• Also identify the consequences of said event

Historical Perspective

• Past actions should be judged according to the standards of time
• Understanding why they did what they did in any era