Canadian Conscription WW1

Impact on other nations/groups

Impact on themselves

An impact that came along with the Conscription was the distrust between the French-Canadians and the Conservative-Party (which had introduced the Conscription), is to this day distrusted by many French-Canadians and has difficulty finding votes in Quebec.

Results

As a result of the Conscription the relationship between the French-Canadians and English-Canadians was never the same. The French believed that English-Canada had too much dominance and more allegiance to Britain than to the good of it's own country and people.

As a result of the Conscription lot's of English-Canadians were enraged, as they were told there would be no force to join the war. Many Canadians believed that it was time to cut allegiance with Britain to allow Canada to fully develop into it's own nation. Although there were large outcries from English-Canadians, nothing matched those of the French-Canadians.

Impact on themselves

Influential National Interests

By being so vocal and violent the French-Canadians segregated themselves into Quebec making it clear that the choice of the Conscription was a choice of allegiance to Britain over them. Even today this impact can be seen as Quebec desperately wants to separate from the rest of Canada and form it's own nation.

Impact on other nations/groups

My Position

French-Canadian Point of View

I think that English-Canada should have been more loyal to the rest of Canada, they are two cultures that are living under one country and decisions like the Conscription are decisions they should make for the better of their country, not for the better of an allegiance. Canada at that point had no part in Europe's war, it was pure loyalty to Britain they joined and as an independent nation that might not of been in their best national interests.

The impact of the Conscription was the relationship between English-Canadians and French-Canadians. The French-Canadians felt the rest of Canada was being disloyal and that the allegiance with Britain was being taken over themselves. People were killed and badly injured for Quebec to prove this point. This resulted in a rocky relationship between Quebec and the rest of Canada, it truly segregated the communities and lead to a distrust that can still be sensed today.

Influential National Interests

Policies

In the interest of National safety and an allegiance to "mother" Britain, Prime Minister Robert Borden enforced a Conscription during WW1. A Conscription is where the men of a country are forced to fight in a war, against their will.

During WW1 many French-Canadians were opposed to joining Britain to help fight the Triple Alliance, they felt it was no longer their duty or concern to fight a war that wasn't in their interest to fight. Many French-Canadians felt the allegiance the rest of Canada felt to Britain was out-dated, it was time for them move on to a more independent and united country.

On May 18th, 1917 every Canadian man was required to join the military, whether they were English-Canadian or French-Canadian. Regardless of their heritage, many Canadians were displeased with the enforcement of the Conscription, Canada had seen what war could do to people and they no longer wanted any part in it.

English-Canadian Point of View

Canadian Conscription WW1

Results

Tensions between English-Canadians and French-Canadians were stiff even before the Conscription as a result of differences in views on how to run Canada, as Quebec is such a small part of Canada they are often outvoted and denied. Many French-Canadian politicians urged Prime Minister Borden to reconsider the Conscription as they were certain it would result in civil unrest and segregation. It did. Days after the Conscription was released there were riots, loots, and demonstrations.

Policies

French-Canadians felt little attachment to Britain and were adamant to remain removed from WW1, by the time the Conscription was enforced less than 1/20 Canadian solidiers fighting were French-Canadian. The Conscription forced English and French-Canadian citizens alike to fight until November 11th, 1918.