-
A lot of Canadians wanted to be enlisted to the war because of patriotism, adventurism, opposition to German aggression and or personal ties to Great Britain. Those who did not enlist were seen as cowards by the public. Things like newspapers, speeches and lectures told men it was their duty to to serve in the military and would shame them if they did not enlist. -
The Canadian Patriot Fund (CPF) was a charity fund started in 1914 for soldiers and their dependents. They raised almost $50 million for these families. -
In 1915, Prime Minister Borden replaced the Shell Committee with the IMB. It answered solely to Britain but was run by a Canadian. It eased the problems of scarce labor by hiring 30,000 women to work in offices and factories. -
The outbreak of war threatened an economic crisis but because of the high demand for war supplies it created more jobs. The high demand of military service, industry and agriculture had made unemployment virtually gone by 1916. -
Conscription was passed in late august of 1917. It was an act that would have all male citizens of Canada from the ages 20-45 be able to go to war when needed. This caused many debates and protests throughout Canada. -
The Wartime Election Act was what gave female relatives of soldiers who were overseas. It also took away the vote from immigrants that come from “enemy” countries. -
Ottawa appointed food and fuel controllers to help encourage production, avoid food waste and manage shortages. propaganda posters pushed things like “fuel-less Sunday” and “meatless Fridays” -
December 6, 1917, the Mont Blanc was carrying 2.9 kilotons of explosives but not flying the flag that indicates that. The Mont Blanc and the Imo ship collided and started a fire on the Mont Blanc causing a huge explosion. The death count was 1963, 9000 injured, and 6000 people ended up homeless. -
The Spanish flu was a flu spread by bodily fluids and it killed 20 million people worldwide and 50,000 Canadians. Many soldiers that arrived safely at home were soon killed by the flu. The amount of deaths from the flu combined with the amount of deaths from war put a huge toll on the workforce, left families without a primary wage earner and orphaned thousands of children. -
Prime Minister Borden had promised some exemptions to farmers from the conscription but ended that promise in April of 1918. The farmers felt betrayed by Borden and united in protest but were unsuccessful in ending conscription.