Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
War in the Air
Great Britain declared war on Germany after its invasion of neutral Belgium. As a former colony and now self-governing dominion, Canada is automatically involved too. German Schlieffen plan involves attacking France through Belgium, partly to avoid French fortifications. Alliances had been signed between Belgium and the United Kingdom and the British were worried about their own security (the Germans in close proximity to mainland Britain worried them).
The Battle of the Somme was a massive attack launched in July, 1916 by the Allies against a line of German trenches near the Somme River in France. The battle lasted five months and some say that this battle, “epitomized the futility of trench warfare.” Unfortunately for the Allies the attack failed mainly because Allies shells didn't destroy German defenses, commanders used outdated tactics, and the attack continued even when commanders realized that they were taking heavy losses but failed to do anything about it. Only 13 km of land was captured at the expense of 623,907 Allied men killed. Nearly 24,000 Canadians died in this battle, with many regiments being almost completely destroyed (Newfoundland Regiment alone lost approximately 90% of it's men).
January 12th, 1919
The battle of Passchendaele was an attempt by the Allies to recapture the town of Passchendaele in Belgium. The aim was mainly to breakthrough Flanders to the coast of Belgium so that German submarine pens could be destroyed as they were severely harming Britain’s shipping. An artillery barrage was launched at the Germans for 10 days (4 million shells were fired). As a result of the massive shelling the Germans were fully expecting an attack. Making the planned advancement worse was the fact that the area had been saturated with the heaviest rain the region had seen in thirty years, effectively turning the area into a swamp (which made the tanks get stuck). The battle of Passchendaele was a very costly battle for just a few kilometers being gained. The British had lost 310,000 men (15,000 of which were Canadians) and the Germans lost 260,000.
The Khaki Election was the Canadian federal election of 1917. It has been described by one historian (Michael Bliss) as the, “most bitter election in Canadian history”. The primary issue was conscription and Robert Borden’s party ended up winning the largest percent share of the popular vote for a single party in Canadian history. Borden had introduced two new laws before the election that helped him achieve a majority government. These were the Wartime Elections Act and the Military Voters Act. The Wartime Elections Act prevented those who were immigrants from enemy countries and those who were conscientious objectors from voting in the federal election. The act also allowed the female relatives of servicemen the right to vote. The Military Voters Act, “allowed soldiers serving abroad to choose which riding their vote would be counted in, or to allow the party they voted for to select the riding the vote would be counted in. This allowed government officials to guide the strongly pro-conscription soldiers into voting in those ridings where the government felt they would be most useful. Servicemen were given a ballot with the simple choice of 'Government' or 'Opposition'.
In WWI Vimy Ridge was a key position in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. The vantage point on the ridge gave the holder of the area a clear view of surrounding countryside, supply routes, and enemy positions. As a result of it's strategic significance, French and British forces had tried to capture the ridge but were unsuccessful for the two year prior to the Canadian attack. In late 1916 Canadian troops were told to capture the ridge. The attack was planned carefully and was rehearsed until the Lieutenant-General Julian Byng was satisfied. On April 9th Canadian troops moved into position and started their assault. By April 12th they had taken the last German position.
Up until this point Canada didn't have any policies concerning conscription, enlistment was purely on a voluntary basis. Although, with the heavy losses in Europe and with many men working hard in factories, there began to be a shortage of people enlisting in the military. The Military Service Act was the Federal Government's way to fix the problem. This when against a clear promise that Prime Minster Borden made at the beginning of the war saying that there would be no conscription in Canada. He probably wouldn't have made the promise if he knew how many men would be needed. He saw how many men were needed to win the Vimy Ridge battle and realized that Canada needed to send more troops to Europe. Conscription became a very controversial issue in Canada and it highlighted the differences in beliefs of Canadians (francophones were usually opposed to the war) .
During the war the Halifax harbour was a major departure point for Canadian supplies heading to Europe. With so many ships in the waters surrounding the harbour and with extremely insufficient traffic control, collisions were frequent. On December 6th, 1917 the SS Mont Blanc collided with the SS Imo and the 2500 tonnes of explosives in the SS Mont Blanc exploded, destroying much of the Halifax harbour. 2000 people were killed, 9000 were injured and many were left homeless by the fires caused by the explosion.
Women's contributions to the war gained women new respect and made them determined to have the same rights as men. Without women contributing and filling positions at home Canada's economy would've collapsed. During the war Canadian women filled a large variety of positions that were normally men's jobs, such as working on farms or operating fishing boats. Before the war women usually just had jobs from home. Because of their new importance in society and in the economy, many women began to feel that they should be able to make decisions about how the country was run. The prairie provinces were the first to give women the right to vote. When the Liberal Party in Manitoba was elected in 1915 they kept their campaign promise and gave women the right to vote in provincial elections in January 1916. Alberta and Saskatchewan also gave women the right to vote in 1916 and Ontario and British Columbia followed their example, giving women in their provinces the right to vote in 1917. Under pressure, and seeing what the majority of the provinces had decided, the federal government gave women the right to vote in 1918. Aboriginal and immigrant women were still not allowed to vote at this point.
Heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand (a group fighting for Bosnia's independence). After a failed attempts by the Black Hand to assassinate the Archduke earlier in the day, Gavrilo Princip stood outside Schiller's Delicatessen and fired two shots at the Archduke's car with a Fabrique Nationale model 1910 semi-automatic pistol. One shot hit Franz Ferdinand in the jugular and the other hit duchess Sophie in the abdomen. Sophie died upon arrival at the governor's residence and Franz died ten minutes later. Austria-Hungary claimed that Serbia was responsible for the assassination (Bosnia wanted to become a part of Serbia, so assassination gave Austria-Hungary an excuse to attack Serbia so that Bosnia wouldn't break away from the Aus.-Hun. Empire).
Canada's economy went from stagnant to booming. The government spent millions of dollars on the war, much of it fuelling the production of goods at home. Production of all sorts boomed. Canada was producing as much as it could, everything from raw resources like copper, lead, nickel and lumber to rifles and shells were being sent to Europe to support the Allies. The Imperial Munitions Board was set up and munitions factories started to build ships and airplanes as well as shells. Production of goods in Canada reached record highs. Canadian farmers produced as much beef as and wheat as they could to feed the troops overseas. This demand for Canadian goods helped it's economy boom during the war. With large numbers of men enlisting in the military there wasn't any shortage of jobs available for those staying in Canada.
To meet the demands of war, Prime Minister Borden introduced the War Measures Act In 1914. The Act gave government the government the authority to do everything necessary for the, “security, defence, peace, order, and welfare of Canada.” This gave the federal government the power to intervene in the economy by controlling transportation, manufacturing, trade, and agricultural production. This of course, also meant that it limited the freedom of Canadians. It could censor mail for example, limiting freedom of association. It also suspended habeas corpus, which meant that police could detain people without laying charges and if arrested the police didn't have to bring you in front of a judge at all. Anyone suspected of being an “enemy alien” or a threat to the government could be imprisoned, or deported or both and throughout the war many were imprisoned without actually committing an offense. Recent immigrants from Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were treated particularly harshly under the War Measures Act. Approximately 100,000 of them had to carry special identity cards and report regularly to registration officers. More than 8,500 people were held in internment camps located in 24 camps scattered across Canada. The Act encouraged nationalism and prejudice in Canada, and it led to attacks on German-owned clubs and businesses.
The Second Battle of Ypres was one of the bloodiest battles of the early war and the Canadian troops of the Canadian 1st Division fought well. They were moved in to reinforce the Allied line where progress had been made (the Allied line stretched across the German line) but the Germans were determined to eliminate this advancement. The Germans saw the opportunity to use poison gas to push back the Allies and took it. On April 22nd 160 tons of chlorine gas were released into a northeast breeze where it drifted across the to French and British forces which quickly crumbled under the effects of the gas. The Germans had violated an international agreement signed in 1907 that outlawed the use of gas on the battlefield. The Canadian forces were hit with the gas too, but unlike the French and British forces, they didn't retreat or flee; they were the only ones that held the line. All through the night the Canadians fought to close the gap left by the British and French forces and suffered more gas attacks from the Germans. The battle went on for a month, with neither side gaining much ground or advantage. More than 6000 Canadians were killed, wounded, or captured holding their ground. One of the doctors there was John McCrae, who wrote the famous poem “In Flanders Fields” commemorating Canadians who served at the Second Battle of Ypres.
Propaganda is information, usually produced by governments, presented in such a way as to inspire and spread particular beliefs or opinions and in the First World War, Canadians were bombarded with it. Propaganda was put anywhere where the government could get the message out. It was in movies, magazines, radio shows, political speeches and posters. The point of this propaganda was to convince the people to work hard, conserve material, support the government and enlist in the army. To convince people to do these things, the truth was distorted. Allied deaths were minimized and enemy deaths were exaggerated. Propaganda also exaggerated the actions of the Germans. They were branded evil, barbaric people that were determined to destroy all other countries and the civilized world. Although the propaganda was just meant to make citizens determined and hard working, it had the side effect of fuelling immigrant discrimination in Canada. Violent attacks on German owned businesses were fairly common and internment camps were seen as necessary.
German military resources had been spread thin up until March 3rd, 1918 when the treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between Russia and the Central Powers. As a result of this treaty, Germany no longer had to fight a war on two fronts and could concentrate their military resources on fighting the Allies in the West. They made massive gains and Many British and Canadian troops died as a result. The German advance was halted however with the arrival of U.S. troops. Their arrival greatly helped the allies and led to the Hundred Days Campaign. The Allies were able to rally and stop the German advance and make advances of their own. The Hundred Days Campaign consisted of a number of attacks which in included Canadian troops. Canada's offensives were among the most successful of all the Allied forces during the campaign. Canadian troops, under the command of General Currie, broke through German lines and won important battles at Arras, Cambrai, and Valenciennes. This was the first time the Allies were able to push the Germans back, into a steady retreat.
The Paris Peace Conference was a conference between countries that won the war to decode the terms of the peace agreement signed on Nov. 11th, 1918. It lasted six months, with a number of treaties being signed which defined new borders. Compensation was also a major issue at the conference. More than thirty countries attended, including Canada, but there was heated debate as each country came to the conference with their own agenda. Germany wasn't allowed to participate and Russia wasn't invited.
With many soldiers returning home conditions were right for viruses to spread across North America. People returned to all parts of the country, carrying the Spanish Flu with them. Young people were especially susceptible to the virus, which caused an estimated 21 million people worldwide, more than the war itself. During the height of the epidemic from 1918-1920, approximately 50,000 Canadians after contracting the virus. Many Aboriginal communities were greatly affected because they had no immunity. In an effort to stop the spread of the Spanish Flu, schools and public buildings were closed for months and in some communities people were required to wear masks.
Before the outbreak of war, militarism and imperialism caused many European countries to build up large naval forces. They were needed to maintain control of their overseas territories (such as the ones in Africa) and to ensure their country's protection from other European empires. Although Canada didn't have a large navy at the time, in 1910 Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier authorized the building of Canadian warships (Naval Service Act) that could be turned over to Britain in the event of war. So, although they weren't under our control in the war, we did contribute ships to Britain's navy. German U-boats posed a significant problem for the Allies at the beginning of the war. Traveling underwater with torpedoes, the German submarines could travel around and attack without warning. Many military and merchant ships were destroyed by the Germans until a system to locate the U-boats was developed and the convoy system was introduced.
Airplanes during the were a relatively new invention and mechanical failures were frequent. Canadians who wanted to join an air force had to join the British Royal Flying Corps because Canada didn't have an air force at the time. Many Canadians died due to mechanical failure or were shot down over enemy territory. Although many Canadians died, Canada produced a number of air aces. Among them were Billy Bishop, Ray Collishaw, Billy Barker, William May, and Roy Brown. Some credit Roy Brown with shooting down the German air ace Manfred von Richthofen, also known as the Red Baron (he had the record of the most enemy planes shot down at 80). Elaborate arial dogfights with other planes were common and pilots had to be sharpshooters with nerves of steel. Pilots were tasked with reconnaissance, dropping bombs over enemy territory and shooting down enemy aircraft.
On August 6th Britain accepts Canada's offer of troops and volunteer recruitment begins. Prime Minister Borden initially offered 25,000 troops but more than 30,000 enlisted in the first month. These volunteers then went to the newly built Camp Valcartier in Quebec to train for four months. On Oct. 4th the 1st contingent Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F.) sets sale for England, and arrive in England 11 days later. Sam Hughes (Minister of Militia) attempts to organize the Canadian war effort.
1916
1917
1918
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand was the spark that started the First World War. Although the initial assassination had little immediate effect on Canada, the later implications of it had a massive impact. The set of alliances formed in Europe meant that once war broke out, many countries became involved. The assassination heightened the tensions in Europe and the chain reaction caused Britain (as later seen) to declare war. Canada then became involved because we were a British Dominion. The bonding in Canada from having a common goal and The assassination resulted in Canada sending troops to Europe and it caused a massive government expenditure which caused the economy to boom. All of the effects that the First World War had on Canada were caused partly because of the assassination Franz Ferdinand.
As a former British colony Britain still controlled our foreign affairs and, as a result, Canada became involved in the war at the same time as Britain. Many Canadians were of British descent and still had patriotic feelings towards Britain and were happy to support Britain in the war. The declaration of war by Britain officially entered Canada into the war and the results of this would go on to change Canadian life, attitudes and perspectives for the rest of the 20th century.
World War One, although it was a terrible event, made Canada's economy boom. Very few were out of work and many people made huge profits. Most of what Canada produced was exported to Europe, so many goods became scarce within Canada, which caused prices to rise. Some Canadian businesses made enormous profits from the inflated prices. The production for the war effort meant that infrastructure and lines of communication had to be established to get the goods off to Europe. This increase in infrastructure helped Canada in the years following the war. The establishment of factories also had an impact on Canadian life as the factories caused cities to increase in size. In order to work at a factory you had to be fairly close by, so factory workers had no choice but to live close together (rather than earlier times when people lived on farms where their houses were often miles apart). Wartime production also resulted in women gaining more rights. The shortage of labour in Canada meant that women were hired in all parts of the economy. Women were vital to the production of Canadian goods and they gradually gained more respect because of their massive role in the economy.
The Military Service Act had a large effect on Canadians. It exposed and agitated the divides in the country and the effects of this would continue to trouble Canada throughout the rest of the 20th century. Most residents of Quebec felt that they should have no part in the war in Europe because it was really none of their business. Because they had been Canadian residents for so long, they felt no moral or patriotic connection to Britain and didn't feel any connection to France. As a result, riots and protests were started in many cities in Quebec.
In the Battle of the Somme Canadians confirmed their reputations as good, hardworking soldiers. Loyd George wrote that, "The Canadians played a part of such distinction that thenceforward they were marked out as shock troops; for the remainder of the war they were brought along to head the assault in one great battle after another. Whenever the Germans found the Canadian Corps coming into the line they prepared for the worst." The Battle of the Somme claimed the life of approximately 24,000 Canadians. The first task of Canadians in the battle was to secure the town of Courcelette, France. They captured most of the German trenches there and returned to the Canadian Corps at Vimy Ridge on November 11th.
The Second Battle of Ypres established a good reputation for Canadian forces as they were the only ones able to hold their ground. It was also the first time a former colonial power (1st Canadian Division) defeated a European power (the German Empire) in Europe. Canadian casualties from April 22 to May 3 were 5,975 of whom 1,000 men were killed, the worst day being 24 April when there were 3,058 casualties during infantry attacks, artillery bombardments and gas discharges. It was also the first time Canadians had been attacked with gas on the battlefield, showing them some of the true horrors of war. The poem written by John McCrae as a result of this battle would become a symbol of remembrance for the soldiers lost in the war.
The First World War had a massive impact on Canadian culture and identity and the mobilization of troops was the first event to contribute to this. Before the war there was relatively little communication and travel between regions. When soldiers enlisted and went off to train together, people from all over Canada came together and realized their similar views, outlooks and traditions a national identity emerged. The war also brought more lines of communication between Canadian regions as citizens came together in factories and mines to support the growing need for military products.
The War Measures Act was a major setback for human rights in Canada. It fuelled discrimination and it gave the government huge powers so that they could run the country with more control. People no longer had to be arrested for a reason and business no longer had the right to decide what they wanted to do. The War Measures Act also set a precedence for what the country would do in future wars or war like conflicts. The War Measures Act fuelled nationalism but it also fuelled discrimination against immigrants (especially from Germany and Austria-Hungary). This immigrant discrimination would go on to influence immigration policies and opinions for many years. Government control of the economy left workers frustrated (especially the fact that they were keeping wages low) and some groups attempted to strike for a higher wage.
The Battle of Passchendaele is seen by many to be one of the most senseless battles of the war. Many believe that it was started at a terrible time of year and that the cost of the offensive wasn't worth the potential benefits. This view that it was senseless helped to change the mindset of the Allied leaders as General Haig was fiercely criticized for the attack and for failing to modify his plans as the attack clearly was not going to be a success. For Canadians, it the battle marked the first time a Canadian had taken part in the war as a commander (General Arthur Currie). More than 15,000 Canadians died in the battle at the benefit of only seven or eight kilometres of ground gained by the Allies. Nine Canadians were presented with the Victoria Cross because of their actions in the battle as the Canadian forces built on their good reputations.
Propaganda fuelled the nationalism in Canada that was developing and ultimately helped lead us to being a completely independent country with our own social values and beliefs. At the start of the war it was all about supporting Britain, but by the end there was a shift so that people wanted Canada to succeed along with the rest of the Axis powers. The racism and discrimination that propaganda fostered would continue to shape Canadians beliefs in the years after the war. Propaganda also helped to unify English-speaking Canada as many of the propaganda slogans emphasized working together to defeat the evil Germans. Propaganda also greatly influenced the financial system of the time as Canadians were constantly encouraged to buy war bonds and the financial effects of so many war bonds being bought influenced the financial markets and helped Canada and the Allies win the war.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a crucial victory for the Allies, and a true show of the strength of the Canadian forces. Although the attack was a success, it had a high cost. More than ten thousand men were dead or wounded capturing the area and the attacked made April 9th, 1917 the worst day's losses for Canada in the war. Canadians captured more prisoners and had taken more artillery than any previous British offensive in the entire war. It was also important because the battle was the first time that Canadian divisions attacked and fought together. This success gave Canadians a sense of national pride and gave Canadians and furthered Canadians reputation for being an elite fighting force.
The federal election of 1917 was the first time Canadian women were allowed to vote. This was a shift in how women were viewed in society and it was the beginning of gender equality rights in Canada. It was also important to Canada because it was one of the first times that the governing party took away the right to vote of some demographics. The Military Voters Act was also a major violation of democratic election rules as soldiers votes were allowed to be counted in any riding which, “allowed government officials to guide the strongly pro-conscription soldiers into voting in those ridings where the government felt they would be most useful”. The major election issue was perhaps of the most importance to Canada. The election results basically decided whether or not we would have conscription and with Robert Borden winning a majority, conscription was continued.
The Halifax explosion was the first time Canadians at home experienced the power and destruction that 20th century warfare had. The invention of new war materials had revolutionized the way war was fought and many Canadians felt somewhat removed and isolated from what was going on in Europe. The massive amount of death and destruction that the Halifax explosion brought really made Canadians realize the true importance of the war and the destruction that war was having on European countries. The Halifax Explosion also effected volunteer numbers. When the Halifax Explosion happened, Canadians realized how horrible and destructive the war was and many didn't want to become involved if the war was really that destructive. The Halifax Explosion further decreased the romanticized view of war seen at the beginning of the war when Britain declared war on Germany.
Giving women the right to vote was a major event in Canadian history. It was a major milestone for gender equality in Canada. The fact that governments had decided women were competent and capable enough to make political decisions, it put other types of discrimination in to question. It made people think, “if women can vote, what's stopping them from doing other things?". It also made people realize that women could do nearly everything men could. Giving women the right to vote set Canada on a path to eliminate all forms of gender discrimination.
The Hundred Days Campaign was the first time Canadian troops were able to steadily force the Germans into a retreat. The Hundred Days Campaign’s success would bring an end to the war and an end to the massive amount of military casualties. Although 45,835 Canadian troops died during the attacks in the Hundred Days Campaign, Canadian troops lived up to their reputations as an elite fighting force, fighting well in battles at Cambrai, Arras and Valenciennes. Canada's offensives were among the most successful of all the Allied forces during this campaign.
One of the treaties that came out of the Paris Peace Conference was the Treaty of Versailles which laid out the terms of peace between Germany and the Allies. United States President Woodrow Wilson proposed a plan of forgiveness but it was rejected by other Allied countries such as France who wanted to shame Germany and get compensation for the damage their countries had suffered during the war.
Four Canadians earned the Victoria Cross because of their bravery and heroism
Billy Barker
The impact on Canadian society and the economy from losing 30,000 to 50,000 people to the virus was profound. Combined with the number of dead from the war in Europe, the workforce was significantly reduced and there were many tragic stories of soldiers surviving the war and coming home with the influenza and spreading it to family members who often died from it. The influenza also posed a problem for governments. As a result of the pandemic, many families were left with only one wage earner and in some cases the parents died of the Spanish Flu and their children survived. There was a sharp increase in the number of orphans after the pandemic. The pandemic also affected Canada because many people stayed inside and away from public places and gathering points out of fear of catching the Spanish Flu. Parts of the economy were impacted by people staying home and flu contributed tho the brief downturn in the economy after the war.
The massive success of Canadian pilots in the war was a major source of pride in Canada. Billy Bishop for example had the highest number of kills of any pilot in the war except the Red Baron (the Red Baron had 8 more kills than Bishop). Many air aces were Canadian even though supplied only a quarter of Britain's pilots. Bishop was the first Canadian pilot to receive the Victoria Cross and, as the toast of Canada, he was pulled from active duty to promote the war effort and sell Victory Bonds. The success of Canadian pilots helped Canada's image form and it gained more respect for Canadians contributions to the war. The pilots success was a source of pride in Canada and helped us establish a national identity and the success and popularity of the pilots fuelled Canadian enlistment.
RMS Lusitania, sunk by German U-boat on route from New York to Liverpool. Most of those lost in the sinking were either British or Canadians but the loss of 128 Americans in the disaster is what made it a significant historical moment.
As stated earlier, Canada had a small navy and didn't contribute much in military operations though we did build some ships for Britain. More important for Canada ans the Allies , was Canada's merchant marine. Many ships were sunk and many lost their lives ferrying munitions and food to Britain. Without the flow of supplies for the war effort, Allied offensives may not have had enough materials and food as WWI turned into a war of attrition. In theory, more Canadian soldiers would’ve died if Canadian goods didn't get to Britain as the flow of materials coming from Canada likely shortened the war. Another event that impacted Canada was Laurier's 1910 Naval Service Act. Many French Canadians felt that Canada shouldn't automatically support Britain in the war and saw the act as unbeneficial and a waste of money. The act increased tensions between Anglophones and Francophones and would contribute to the anger and separation between Quebec and the rest of Canada. The Germans also suck the Lusitania which was one of the major reasons for the United States entering the war. As a result of the U.S. joining the Allies, it reduced some of the strain on Canada.
Roy Brown
HMHS Llandovery Castle was one of five Canadian hospital ships that served in the First World War. On a voyage from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool, England, the ship was torpedoed off southern Ireland on June 27th 1918 with the loss of 234 lives, and only 24 survivors. This caused outrage as the ship was clearly marked as a hospital ship.
The Paris Peace conference was an important moment for Canada. We were given an independent seat at the conference which illustrated our growing independence as a unique country with it's own opinions and beliefs. Because Canada had contributed such a large amount of material and because so many soldiers had died, Prime Minister Borden had demanded a seat at the conference. For the first time, Canada gained international recognition as an independent nation with our seat at the conference and our leaders signing the Treaty of Versailles. Prime Minister Borden also won the right for Canada to become a member of the newly formed League of Nations which gained up further independence from Britain.