Canadian History Quiz: Early 1900s Events

Early 1900s Prime Ministers

• Wilfrid Laurier was Canada's first French-Canadian Prime Minister (1896-1911)
• Laurier predicted the 20th century would belong to Canada.
• Laurier encouraged westward migration.
• Laurier's image is on the $5 bill.
• Robert Borden was Prime Minister during WWI (1911-1920).
• Borden introduced conscription to increase the army.
• Borden used the War Measures Act to manage the country during the war.

WWI Leaders and Heirs

• Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Hungary, was assassinated in 1914, triggering WWI.

Women on the Homefront

• White women gained voting rights in 1918.
• Women filled male job roles in factories and farms during the war.
• Women worked as nurses in war hospitals.

Gouzenko Affair

• The Gouzenko Affair occurred in 1945 during the Cold War.
• Igor Gouzenko, a Russian spy, exposed Soviet secrets in Canada.
• This event exposed Soviet espionage and intensified Cold War tensions.

WWI Tactics and Effects

• Mustard gas was first used at the Battle of Ypres (1915).
• Shell shock, a form of PTSD, plagued many soldiers.
• Trench warfare involved soldiers fighting from protected trenches.
• Trench foot resulted from harsh trench conditions. Cold, wet, unsanitary.
• The creeping barrage was a military tactic using artillery fire to clear the way for advancing troops.

Women’s Movement and Flappers

• Women fought for voting rights and equality.
• "Flappers" were 1920s women who rejected traditional dress codes and social norms.
• The Persons Case (1929) legally recognized women as persons.

League of Nations

• The League of Nations, established after WWI, aimed to prevent future wars.
• The League failed due to the lack of a military enforcement mechanism.

Blitzkrieg

• Blitzkrieg was a fast-attack tactic used by Nazi Germany in WWII.
• It involved swift attacks by tanks and aircraft.

Hitler

• Adolf Hitler led Nazi Germany.
• He used speeches and propaganda to gain power.
• Hitler blamed Jews for Germany's problems, leading to the Holocaust.

Winnie the Pooh

• Winnie the Pooh was inspired by a WWI Canadian mascot bear.
• The bear inspired children's books after traveling to the London Zoo.

Important WWI Battles and Alliances

• Notable WWI battles: Ypres (1915), Vimy Ridge (1917), and Passchendaele (1917).
• Allies (Triple Entente): Britain, France, and Russia.
• The Central Powers/Triple Alliance/Axis: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy.
  • Note: The list of WWI leaders provided is incomplete.

All WWI Battles

• Battle of Ypres, April 22, 1915, Belgium.
• Battle of The Somme, July 1916, a failed attempt by British and French forces against German forces on the Western Front.
• Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 9-12, 1917, France.
• Battle of Passchendaele, July 31, 1917-November 6, 1917.

Statute of Westminster (1931)

• The Statute of Westminster granted Canada greater legislative independence.
• Based on the Balfour Declaration, recognizing Britain's colonies as equals.

Conscription + Conscription Crisis

• Conscription was forced military service, controversial in WWI and WWII due to French Canadian reluctance to participate in British wars.
• Borden's government used the War Measures Act in 1914.
• Specific details on the War Measures Act are provided in the text.

D-Day (June 6, 1944)

• The D-Day landings on Normandy beaches, were part of the Allied campaign against Nazi Germany.
• Canada played a significant role at Juno Beach.

Stock Market Crash (1929)

• Overproduction of wheat led to falling prices.
• Drought and overfarming ruined land.
• The crash triggered the 1930s Great Depression.

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

• The Treaty of Versailles ended WWI by placing blame on Germany.
• Germany faced reparations (payments) for damages.
• The treaty fueled German resentment and contributed to WWII.

Halifax Explosion

• The Halifax Explosion, involving the collision of the SS Mont-Blanc and the SS Imo in Halifax, Nova Scotia, occurred on December 6, 1917 causing significant damage.

On-to-Ottawa Trek (1935)

• The On-to-Ottawa Trek was a protest march by unemployed people during the Depression.
• Police halted the march in Regina, leading to riots.

Final Solution

• The Final Solution was the Nazi plan to systematically exterminate European Jews.
• The Holocaust resulted in the deaths of around 6 million Jews.

WWII Battles

• Atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945) to end WWII.
• The attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) brought the US into WWII.
• The Battle of Britain saw Nazi Germany's aerial attacks on Britain, with Britain's successful resistance.

Middle Power

• Canada emerged as a middle power after WWII with a global influence, rather than a superpower.

Part 2 - Definitions

• Nellie McClung: Women's rights activist in Canada, instrumental in securing women's suffrage.
• Halifax Explosion: Collision-driven explosion in Halifax Harbor in 1917.
• Pacifists: Individuals opposed to war.
• Prohibition: Legal restriction of alcohol in some Canadian provinces.
• Bennett Buggy: Horse-drawn vehicle used as an alternative to car during the high cost of gasoline in the Depression period.
• Jazz Age: Era of popular music, and technological advancements (1920s).
• Rationing: Controlled distribution of essential resources during wartime.
• Holocaust: Systematic genocide of European Jews during WWII.
• United Nations: Global organization created post-WWII to promote international peace.
• Vimy Ridge: Significant Canadian victory in WWI.
• Propaganda: Information intended to influence public opinion.
• Trench Warfare: Strategic fighting using trenches, characterized by harsh conditions.
• Armistice Day: November 11, 1918: end of fighting in WWI.
• Schlieffen Plan: German military plan to quickly defeat France, and then Russia.
• Baby Boom (1946): Considerable increase in birth rates post-WWII.
• Operation Barbarossa: Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, starting in 1941.
• Internment of Japanese Canadians: Forced relocation of Japanese Canadians into camps during WWII.
• Mein Kampf: Adolf Hitler's book detailing his political plans.
• Communism: Political and economic system emphasizing communal ownership of resources and control.
• Little Boy: Name of the first atomic bomb.

Other Notes:

• John McCrae & Flanders Fields: Poem by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor and soldier, inspired by the horrors of trench warfare.

• Effects of the War in Canada: Extensive impact on Canadian society (war weariness, death toll, national debt, rise of women's rights).

• German Invasion of Poland and Start of WWII: September 1, 1939, triggering Britain, and France to declare war a few days later.

• Nuclear Weapons and Japan: Japan's failure to comply with the Potsdam Declaration led to atomic bombing.

Part 3 - Paragraph Response Topics

• "Roaring Twenties" vs. "Dirty Thirties": 1920s = economic growth, technology; 1930s = Depression, unemployment, drought.
• Events Leading to WWI: Assassination of Franz Ferdinand. Nationalism, alliances, imperialism, and militarism.
• WWII Appeasement: Countries appeased Hitler, allowing territorial gains; ultimately leading to WWII.
• Canada's Role in WWI and WWII: Significant contributions in battles; conscription issues in WWI, support for Allied cause in WWII.
• Canada After WWII: Canada emerged as a middle power, supporting international efforts and experiencing economic growth.

Test your knowledge of Canada's political landscape in the early 20th century. This quiz covers significant Prime Ministers like Wilfrid Laurier and Robert Borden, women's contributions during WWI, and key events like the Gouzenko Affair. Explore the impact these historical moments had on Canada and the world.