World War I Key Terms and People

The area between opposing trenches during World War I, filled with barbed wire and landmines. It was extremely dangerous for soldiers to cross.

Immigrants from countries at war with Canada (like Germany or Austria-Hungary) who were considered a possible threat during World War I.

Camps where "enemy aliens" were held during World War I under suspicion of disloyalty.

Mandatory military service introduced by the government to increase troop numbers when voluntary enlistment declined.

A Canadian general who led the Canadian Corps in World War I and played a vital role in victories like Vimy Ridge.

The Prime Minister of Canada during World War I who introduced conscription through the Military Service Act.

The treaty that ended World War I in 1919. It blamed Germany for the war, imposed harsh punishments, reduced its military, and took away territory, sparking resentment and contributing to World War II.

This battle was the first use of poison gas by Germany in 1915.

A plan by Germany to quickly invade France by going through Belgium, aiming to avoid a war on two fronts. This plan failed and resulted in a long and costly war.

A Canadian law that gave the government special powers during wartime to protect national security. This included detaining enemies and controlling resources.

The act of banning alcohol, enforced in Canada during the 1920s. While aimed at reducing crime and social problems, it led to illegal alcohol trade.

The increasing independence of Canada from Great Britain. This is shown by events like the Balfour Report and Statute of Westminster.

The right to vote. Women in Canada gained voting rights in stages, starting during and after World War I.

Government-run camps during the Great Depression to provide work and shelter for unemployed men. Living conditions in these camps were often poor.

The stock market crash on October 29, 1929, marking the beginning of the Great Depression. It was caused by over-speculation, buying on credit and economic instability.

The violent climax of the Winnipeg General Strike on June 21, 1919. Protests escalated, leading to deaths and injuries.

A philosophy that promoted the belief that the "Aryan" race, a term used to describe a supposed pure German race, was superior to all others. This ideology fueled Nazi aggression and oppression.

A policy of giving in to Hitler's demands in the hopes of avoiding war. For example, Britain and France agreed to Hitler's annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia.

A military strategy term referring to losses considered acceptable in order to achieve a specific military objective.

One of the beaches in Normandy, France, where Canadian forces landed on D-Day, June 6, 1944, during the Allied invasion of Europe.

A secret training camp in Ontario, Canada, established during WWII to train spies and conduct covert operations for Allied forces.

A prisoner-of-war camp in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, during WWII, specifically for holding high-ranking German officers.

A secret research project led by the United States during WWII to develop the atomic bomb, a weapon of immense destructive power.

A defensive alliance formed by Western democracies like Canada, the US, and Britain after World War II, aimed at preventing Soviet expansion.

A military alliance led by the Soviet Union, formed in response to NATO, composed of communist countries.

A tense standoff between the US and USSR in 1962, triggered by Soviet missiles deployed in Cuba. Canada supported the US but hesitated to commit troops.

An international organization established in 1945 to promote peace and human rights, where Canada was a founding member and actively participated in peacekeeping missions.

A 1956 crisis sparked by Egypt nationalizing the Suez Canal, leading to conflict with Britain, France, and Israel. Canada's Lester B. Pearson proposed a peacekeeping force, earning a Nobel Peace Prize.

Introduced in 1982, this Canadian document guarantees basic rights and freedoms, including equality and freedom of expression.

A 1969 policy proposal by Pierre Trudeau's government aiming to abolish the Indian Act and assimilate Indigenous peoples, met with strong opposition and ultimately withdrawn.

A 1951 report emphasizing the importance of supporting Canadian arts, culture, and broadcasting to safeguard Canadian identity.

A military tactic used by Germany in World War II, involving fast, coordinated attacks using tanks, aircraft, and infantry to overwhelm their enemies. It was designed for speed and surprise.

A series of steps taken by the Nazi regime to progressively strip Jews of their rights, leading to violence and ultimately, the Holocaust. It started with job loss and citizenship removal, followed by discriminatory laws and culminated in the "Kristallnacht" pogroms.

The systematic genocide of 6 million Jews and 5 million others (Roma, disabled people, political opponents) by the Nazi regime during World War II. It was a horrific act of mass murder motivated by racial hatred and ideology.

A 1939 agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, where they agreed to not attack each other and secretly divided Poland. It allowed Germany to launch World War II without Soviet interference.

The Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, aimed to liberate France from Nazi control. Canadian forces played a key role on Juno Beach, contributing to the victory.

A ship carrying Jewish refugees seeking asylum in Canada in 1939. However, Canada refused them entry, forcing them to return to Europe where many perished in the Holocaust.

A 1938 meeting between Germany, Britain, France, and Italy, where Britain and France appeased Hitler by allowing him to take the Sudetenland. This decision was intended to avoid war but ultimately emboldened Hitler's aggression.

Hitler's rise to power was fueled by exploiting economic problems and resentment caused by the Treaty of Versailles, using propaganda and intimidation to sway public opinion. He gained the position of Chancellor in 1933 and eliminated opposition.

Canada's successful capture of Vimy Ridge during WWI, despite previous Allied failures, showed its independent capability and forged a strong sense of national identity.

The Balfour Report of 1926 declared Canada and other dominions equal in status to Britain, paving the way for full independence.

Canada's independent actions during World War II, notably declaring war on Germany without Britain's prompting, demonstrated its growing sovereignty.

The Statute of Westminster granted Canada complete control over its own laws, except constitutional changes.

Canada's negotiation of the Halibut Treaty with the United States without British involvement in 1923 established a precedent for independent diplomacy.

In the Chanak Affair of 1922, Canada refused Britain's request for military support, signifying its refusal to automatically follow British foreign policy.

Canada signed the Treaty of Versailles independently in 1919, marking its emergence as a distinct nation on the global stage.

The Constitution Act of 1982 granted Canada complete control over its Constitution, finally solidifying its independence.