Causes of WWI (MANIA)

• Formatting of answers will be predominantly short answer and paragraph response
• Historical significance is determined based on factors like the number of people impacted, the duration of the impact, its relevance today, and its influence on other events

Causes of WWI (MANIA)

• MANIA stands for Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, and Assassination
• These were the primary long term reasons why WWI started
• Militarism involved the expansion of armies and navies, with Germany, Britain, and France in an arms race
  • Increased tensions made war inevitable
  • Strong nations imposed their will on weaker ones
• Alliances were formed by European powers to protect themselves
  • The Triple Entente included France, Britain, and Russia (later joined by the U.S. and Italy)
  • The Triple Alliance included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy and the Ottoman Empire
  • Alliances created a domino effect where an attack on one country drew many others into war
• Nationalism involved extreme loyalty to one's country
  • Many nations believed they were superior and sought to expand their influence
  • Nationalism in Serbia led to the assassination that triggered WWI
• Imperialism fueled competition for colonies among European powers, especially in Africa, increasing tensions
• On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by Gavrilo Princip
  • Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
  • Russia defended Serbia, Germany supported Austria-Hungary
  • France and Britain joined the war against Germany
  • This assassination turned a regional conflict into a global war

Trench Warfare

• Outside the city of Ypres is Belgiums Flander's Fields, some of the wars first trenches dug here
• Shrapnel shells contained many small balls made of lead thrown out onto faces of troops
• Live artillery guns, shell-firing guns, cannon, artillery and deadly gas shells were used
• The evolution of trench warfare is the evolution of technology
• The Standard British Bulldog Spade was a key tool for trench warfare, and replaced the rifle
• Duckboards held you off the ground, kept feet dry, and helped fight standing water
• Clay soil trapped rain water
• Trench Foot caused soldiers' feet to rot because of constant wetness, often leading to amputation
• British commanders ordered troops to stay in position to keep digging, resulting in the creation of Ypres Salient
  • It was the most exposed position on the Western Front, under fire from multiple directions
• Shell holes were used as mass graves because cemeteries were hard to create
• Cloud Gas Attacks used chlorine gas released by German forces to drift into Allied trenches causing many fatalities
• Germany attempted to gas enemies to take Ypres, but failed, resulting in a stalemate
• Trench Raids involved sneaking into enemy trenches to kill (50% survival rate)
• Much fighting happened in no man’s land

Major Battles of WWI

Second Battle of Ypres (April and May 1915)

• The battle lasted for one month and resulted in over 6,000 Canadian casualties
• No significant land gains were made by either side
• On April 22, 1915, French and Canadian troops were blinded, burned, or killed by German chlorine gas
  • It was outlawed by international agreement since 1907
• The battle continued for a month, but neither side gained much advantage
• Over 6,000 Canadians were killed, wounded, or captured while holding their ground until reinforcements arrived

The Battle of Somme (July to November 1916)

• This was a major Allied offensive against German trenches
• The Allies bombarded German lines for days, but artillery failed to destroy defenses or barbed wire
• Troops were ordered to march across open fields, becoming easy targets for German machine guns
• Lasted 5 months with only 13 km of land gained
• Casualties exceeded 1.25 million in total, including 24,000 Canadian casualties
• The Royal Newfoundland Regiment lost 90% of its men
• Canadian troops distinguished themselves in battle despite heavy losses
• Canada as given key roles in leading future major assaults after the battle
• Proved that traditional military tactics in trench warfare had failed

The Battle of Vimy Ridge (April 9–12, 1917)

• Vimy Ridge was a key German stronghold near the Somme in France with a strategic vantage point
• From 1914-1916, French and British forces failed to capture the ridge
• In late 1916, Canadian troops were chosen to lead a new assault, commanded by Lieutenant-General Julian Byng
• Artillery bombarded German positions for over a month
• Sappers (engineers) built tunnels to move troops closer in secret
• On April 9, 1917, Canadians launched the attack, reaching their first objective in less than two hours
• Hill 145 was captured on April 10
• "The Pimple" was captured on April 12
• The Canadians gained more ground, took more prisoners, and captured more artillery than any previous British offensive.
• There were over 3,500 Canadian deaths and 7,000+ wounded
• It was the first time all Canadian divisions fought together
• Boosted national pride and established Canadians as an elite fighting force

The Battle of Passchendaele (October-November 1917)

• Passchendaele is in Belgium
• The objective was to break through German lines and retake Passchendaele
• Haig's earlier attack had devastated the battlefield, creating deep shell craters
• Heavy autumn rains turned the area into a muddy bog
• Currie warned of high casualties, but Field Marshal Haig overruled him
• Canadians captured Passchendaele, but at a heavy cost
• Casualties totaled over 200,000, including 15,000+ Canadians
• Only 7–8 km of land was gained
• The Germans recaptured Passchendaele soon after
• Showed Canada's independence in military leadership but at a devastating cost

Military Service Act and Conscription

• Conscription: forced enlistment in the armed forces of all fit men of certain ages
• The Military Service Act was passed in 1917, making conscription compulsory for all Canadian men between the ages of 20 and 45
  • Exemptions were initially allowed for disabled individuals, clergy, essential workers, and conscientious objectors
• A conscientious objector is someone who opposes war for religious or moral reasons
• Heavy casualties left Canada with too few soldiers
• Many men worked in essential industries supporting the war effort which reduced the amount of possible soilders

Opposition in Québec:

• Lowest recruitment rates in Canada, as many French Canadians were farmers and needed at home
• Did not feel patriotic ties to Britain or France
• Loss of French language rights outside Québec fueled resentment
• Few French speaking officers and no effort to keep Francophone units together discouraged enlistment

Henri Bourassa:

• Opposed conscription arguing that Canada had already sacrificed enough
• Warned that spending more money and sending more troops would hurt the economy and threaten Canada's Independence
• Believed conscription would deepen divisions between French and English Canadians

English and French Canadian Views

• English Canadians mostly supported conscription and wanted to help Britain and win war
• French Canadians mostly opposed conscription and resented being forced into a war they saw as irrelevant

War Measures Act

• Prime minister Robert Laird Borden passed the War Measures Act in 1914 during WWI
• Granted the Canadian government broad powers during "war, invasion or insurrection" to maintain security, defense, peace, order, and welfare
• It allowed for the suspension of civil liberties and bypassing Parliament for wartime measures

Black, Indigenous, South Asian and Chinese Canadian Soldiers

Black Soldiers in WWI

• Black Canadians petitioned for inclusion in the Canadian Army between 1914 and 1916
• Black people were allowed to join in July 1916 if they formed a segregated battalion
• The No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed on July 5, 1916 drawing from Nova Scotia, Toronto, Ontario, and Western Canada
• Commanded to perform non-combative work such as lifting rails in New Brunswick.
• On March 25, 1917, the Battalion embarked for overseas service aboard Southland
• Reorganized into a construction company, dug trenches and repaired roads in England
• Became part of Canadian Forestry Corps in 1917, assisted with logging, milling, and repairing roads in France
• The No. 2 Construction Battalion was recommended for transfer to the western front in 1918 but did not see combat before the armistice and was Demobilized in January 1919
• Returning to Halifax

Indigenous Soldiers in WWI

• The Canadian government initially discouraged Indigenous people from enlisting and excluded them from conscription in 1918
• Many Indigenous people volunteered because of ties to the British Crown, tradition, or desire to escape life on reserves
• About 35% of eligible Indigenous people enlisted with many Indigenous soldiers highly respected for their sniper skills and reconnaissance abilities
• About 300 Indigenous soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice
• Francis Pegahmagabow was a highly decorated First Nations soldier that Credited with 378 kills and the capture of 300 prisoners and awarded Military Medal and two bars for bravery
• Despite their sacrifices, many Indigenous veterans faced challenges after returning home

Canada on the Homefront

• The homefront refers to the civilian efforts and activities within a country to support a war, including industry, resource production, and economic adjustments

Economic Contributions:

• The Imperial Munitions Board replaced the inefficient Shell Committee to improve war production
• Factories produced ships, airplanes, and shells
• High demand for lumber, nickel, copper, and lead to supply the military
• Farmers increased wheat and beef production to feed troops with Exports reaching record highs, boosting the economy

Economic Challenges:

• Most goods were exported to Europe, causing scarcity in Canada
• Prices rose, making everyday goods more expensive
• Some businesses profited greatly, but workers struggled with low wages and high costs
• Growing worker frustration led to demands for higher wages and better conditions, which became a major post-war issue

Supporting the War Effort

• The war effort cost $2.5 million per day.
• The government launched several initiatives to raise funds, including Victory Bonds
• Canadians were encouraged to buy bonds, raising nearly $2 billion
• Bonds could be cashed in for a profit after the war

Honour Rationing:

• Reduced consumption of butter and sugar
• Introduced "Meatless Fridays” and “Fuel-less Sundays” to conserve supplies

Income Tax (1917)

• Temporary tax on affluent individuals and families (1–15% of income)

Corporate Tax:

• Businesses were taxed 4% of their revenues
• Many believed this was too low, considering war profits

Additional Funding:

• Despite these measures, the government did not raise enough money
• Canada borrowed heavily from the U.S. to cover war debts.

Getting the Message Out: Propaganda in WWI

• Propaganda: information usually produced by governments, presented in such a way as to inspire and spread particular beliefs or opinions
• Encouraged patriotism and support for the war.
• Used to recruit soldiers, sell Victory Bonds, and promote rationing
• Created social pressure for men to enlist, leading to high volunteer rates.
• Films, magazine articles, radio programs, political speeches, posters were used to spread propaganda
• Allied casualties were minimized and enemy losses were exaggerated
• British commanders were praised, even when their strategies caused heavy losses
• Germans were portrayed as barbarians after the invasion of Belgium (1914)
• Increased prejudice against certain Canadian citizens.
• Many were labeled enemy aliens and faced government restrictions and violent attacks.

Women and the War

Before the War:

• Limited job opportunities for middle-class women

Common occupations:

• Nurses, teachers, domestic servants, low-paying factory jobs.

During the War:

• Labour demand increased due to industrial production

Women took on roles such as:

• Factory work (e.g., filling artillery shells)
• Farming & fishing
• Other essential war-related jobs
• Women saw their work as a way to support soldiers overseas

Challenges & Opposition:

• Women were paid only 50% of men's wages
• Some feared that cheap female labour would reduce men's wages after the war
• Despite their contributions, women's work was not fully accepted in society

Women's Suffrage

• In 1915, the Liberal Party promised women the right to vote in Manitoba, which they fulfilled in January 1916
• Until 1917, only women in the armed forces or related to servicemen were allowed to vote in federal elections

The Halifax Explosion (December 6, 1917)

• Halifax, Nova Scotia, was a key base for refueling and repairing Allied warships during WWI and was also the primary departure point for soldiers and supplies heading to Europe
• The harbour lacked traffic control, leading to frequent collisions
• On December 6, 1917, the SS Mont Blanc, a French munitions ship carrying over 2,500 tonnes of explosives, collided with another vessel
• The collision sparked a fire, which led to a massive explosion, devastating the harbour and much of the city with casualties exceeding 2,000 people with many more injured
• Thousands of people were left homeless due to the explosion and subsequent fires

The Impacts of WW1

• Canada emerged from WWI as a proud, victorious nation with increased international standing with the war's costs having a profound and lasting impact
• While most Canadians united for the common cause, the war exposed social and linguistic divides and led to tensions in English and French relations

Key Changes

• The fight for freedom revealed contradictions such as compulsory military service, broken promises to farmers, high inflation, and suspension of civil liberties
• Women gained the right to vote, but some immigrant groups saw their rights rescinded
• Government's wartime policies expanded to include aspects of social welfare, but couldn't prevent issues like wartime profiteering, strikes, or economic crises

Economic and Political Shifts:

• The war left Canada with a $2 billion debt, mainly owed to Canadian citizens
• Prime Minister Borden's conscription efforts split the country along regional, cultural, and linguistic lines

Canada's Role on the World Stage:

• The war hastened the transformation of the British Empire into the British Commonwealth
  • ThisHighlighted the military and economic reliance of Great Britain on its dominions
• Canada's wartime sacrifices led to increased autonomy, culminating in the Statute of Westminster (1931)
  • This Gave Canada full control over its foreign policy
• Canada independently signed the Treaty of Versailles (1919) and played a cautious role in the League of Nations
• Chanak Crisis (1922): Canada's refusal to automatically support Britain in a military conflict with Turkey demonstrated its growing independence

Post-War Status:

• Canada emerged with a strong sense of accomplishment
• The Canadian Corps gained a reputation as one of the most effective military formations on the Western Front and gained Canada international recognition and an important role on the world stage

Civilian Reintegration

• Transitioning from military to civilian life was difficult for many veterans with Veterans lobbying for greater financial benefits and recognition
• Governments sought to balance financial responsibility with treating veterans appropriately, but post-war social and economic unrest complicated the situation
• Wartime promises had promised veterans a "land fit for heroes," but the fragile Canadian economy struggled to support the return of hundreds of thousands of demobilized soldiers
• Some veterans returned to pre-war jobs, others faced unemployment that led the Department of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment (1918) to provide vocational training and medical treatment
• However, economic downturns in 1919-1920 left many veterans unemployed, along with 200,000 other Canadians but pension and benefits system was established -Eligibility was often difficult to attain, especially for veterans suffering from mental trauma, poison gas effects, or chronic illnesses

Veterans' Struggles for Recognition:

• Veterans faced difficulties proving their injuries were war-related
  • Those suffering from psychological or non-visible wounds encountering skepticism
  • Veterans with visible injuries were more likely to receive benefits without dispute

Veterans' Push for Action:

• Many veterans believed the government should do more for them, and they actively participated in labour actions such as the Winnipeg General Strike (1919)
• Organizations like the Great War Veterans Association helped push for a $2,000 bonus per veteran as compensation for lost income during wartime
• Veterans' advocacy influenced the development of post-war benefits in Canada

Personal Reintegration:

• Most returning soldiers focused on reconnecting with loved ones and rebuilding their civilian lives, often with the support of new federal programs designed to assist in their reintegration

The Cost of Canada's War:

• 61,000 Canadians were killed during the war, with 172,000 wounded
• Many more soldiers returned home mentally and physically broken while Newfoundland, suffered 1,305 deaths and several thousand wounded of that small colony
• 619,636 Canadians enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) with About 424,000 served overseas
  • Out of that amount 59,544 CEF members dying during the war with 51,748 dying as a result of enemy action
  • The Royal Canadian Navy reported 150 deaths + an additional 1,388 Canadians died serving with the British Flying Services
  • No accurate records exist for Canadian volunteers in the Royal Navy or British Army

The Wounded:

• Over 172,000 Canadians were wounded during the war, with 138,000 classified as battle casualties with a total of 3,461 men and one woman having limbs amputated
• Curly Christian, a Canadian soldier, was the only person to lose all four limbs and survive and About 9,000 identified as suffering from “shell shock”

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

• The Big Three helped establish the terms of The Treaty

####The Big Three:

• United States who felt that the should be "peace without victory", and advocated for treating defeated nations well to prevent future wars
  • They proposed self-determination for Eastern Europe and the formation of the League of Nations
• France wanted to severely punish Germany to ensure they would never invade France again
• Great Britain Believed that completely crushing Germany would destabilize Europe and create a power vacuum, and aimed to compromise between the desires of France and the more lenient stance of the United States

Key Points of the Treaty of Versailles

• Germany had to accept full responsibility for starting the war in the War Guilt Clause
• Germany had to pay over $33 billion in reparations to cover the destruction caused by the war and to compensate soldiers, widows, and families
• Germany's military was restricted to 100,000 soldiers, and they were forbidden from having submarines or an air force
  • This was later broken by Hitler when the German military grew larger
• Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France and territory was lost to Poland because Germany lost territory
• The Rhineland was to be occupied by Allied troops and Germany lost colonies to Britain and France.
• The Ottoman Empire was dismantled, with territories like Palestine, Iraq, and Syria handed over to Britain and France, contributing to future conflicts.
• Russia was not invited to the Treaty of Versailles: As a result of communist Russia leaving the war early
  • They wanted to weaken Russia to prevent the spread of communism to the West as Russia, along with Poland and Romania, lost territory.
• The League of Nations was intended to be a peacekeeping body but was largely ineffective because The United States did not join the League weakening its influence

Feelings About the Treaty

• Germany was horrified by the reparations, reduced military, and territorial losses
• America felt the treaty was too harsh on Germany
• Russia was angered by being excluded and upset about losing land
• Italy wanted more land from Austria-Hungary than what they received
• Japan was angry because the Allies did not recognize all of its claims in China