UNIT 1 WORLD WAR I

Conscription Crisis 1917

Reasons for Conscription
·  high casualties from battles
·  men working in industries to support war
·  volunteers low
Conscription
Military Service Act 1917 / ·  conscription/enlistment compulsory for men 20-45
·  exemptions included disabled, clergy, those with essential jobs or skills, conscientious objectors
Military Voters Act 1917 / ·  allowed men and women serving overseas to vote
·  refer to Figure 2-29 p.50
Wartime Elections Act 1917 / ·  gave the vote to women related to servicemen but cancelled vote for conscientious objectors and immigrants from enemy countries
·  refer to political cartoon
Union Government
1917 Federal Election
(Khaki Election) / ·  coalition government formed by Conservatives and some Liberals and independents who supported conscription > they governed 1917-1920
·  Borden and Union Government won a majority
·  refer to Figure 2-30 p.51
Opponents
Opposition / Reasons
Quebec/
French Canadians / ·  many French Canadians were farmers and needed at home
·  majority did not feel a patriotic connection to either Britain or France
·  French language rights had been lost in many schools outside Quebec
·  little effort to keep Francophone volunteers together and few officers spoke French
farmers / ·  farmers needed their sons and hired workers to do the farm work
industrial workers / ·  workers felt they were already contributing to the war effort
·  they did not want to give up their jobs to fight in Europe

Source: The Conscription Crisis in Counterpoints p.49-51

Political Cartoon about the Wartime Elections Act 1917

Question: To what extent was Prime Minister Borden’s 1917 conscription policy justified?

Justified / Not Justified
Evidence/Reasons / Evidence/Reasons
·  by 1917 Canadian casualties outnumbered new enlistments
·  more troops are necessary in order to win the war
·  the troops fighting in Europe will be at greater risk without additional reinforcements
·  Canada has already contributed many men and cannot stop now or the lives lost would be in vain
·  Quebec provided the fewest volunteers and thus conscription will force French Canadians to do their share in supporting the war
·  Canada has a an obligation and duty to help Britain win the war
·  Canada will lose trade with Britain if Germany wins the war and uses its naval supremacy to control the seas
·  Canada would gain the respect of the world
·  Britain and France will be grateful and support Canada in the future / ·  Canada has lost enough men already
·  spending more money and sending more troops would bankrupt the country and put a strain on agricultural and industrial production
·  it will divide the nation (French vs English)
·  French Canadians feel no obligation to Britain or France
·  French Canadians are a minority in Canada and the loss of men would jeopardize their cultural survival in Canada
·  Canada has already made a significant contribution to the war and done its share
·  this is not Canada’s war as Britain declared war on Germany
·  Canada has nothing to gain from a victory
·  Canada is not a major power and is a country with a small population
·  the U.S will help defend Canada if Germany attacks
Inquiry/Interpretation Question
Was Prime Minister Borden’s 1917 conscription policy justified?