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Background to the War
Franz Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Serbian nationalist secret society, the Black Hand. -
Schlieffen Plan
It was the German General Staff's strategic plan for victory in a war. -
Triple Entente
The Triple Entente is the name of the alliance between Russia, France and Britain, so whenever one of those countries goes to war the other countries come and back them up. The Triple Entente was originally created on August 31, 1907. -
Triple Alliance
The Triple Alliance is the alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. It came to use in 1914 but was originally created in 1882 -
War Measures Act
Was a statue of the Parliamant of Canada that provided a declaration of war. It came into act August 4th 1914. -
2nd Battle of Ypres
It was a battle between Germany and Britain and Canada. It took place in Belgium. During the battle of Ypres, the Germans used gases against the allied forces for the first time. Close to 10,000 people died in the first few minutes. The allied forces defeated the Germans and won this battle. -
Battle of the Somme
The Battle of Somme lasted until November 18 1916. It took place in Verdun. 60,000 British soldiers died the first day and over one million people were killed. -
Vimy Ridge
It is a 3 day battle that Canada won. It is the first time soldiers were given maps. Soldiers used the tactic called the "Vimy Glide". They would advance at 100 yards every 3 minutes. They also started using blistering gas and grenades. -
Passchendaele
Ended on November 6 1917. Fought between the British and the allies and the German Empire. It took place on the Western Front. The British and allied forces won but with 15,000 men killed. -
Suffragists
The Wartime Elections Act implemented by Borden, as an effort to gain popularity, gives the right to vote federally to women related to servicemen. Women gain rights and respect as working women in the war effort, making munitions, farming, and taking care of the factories with the men gone. They are partially responsible for Canada's success in the war, due to voting for conscription. -
Military Voters Act
The vote was given to all Canadian soldiers no matter how long they had lived in the country. Along with giving women the vote, this was a tactic for Borden to gain popularity. -
Halifax Explosion
At 9:30 AM, the Mont-Blanc and Imo collided in the Halifax harbour, combusting over 2600 tons of explosives. It was the biggest man-made explosion at that time, killing 1900 people, 250 with eyes removed, 37 blinded, and 25 with limbs amputated. Devastating to the people and port city of Halifax. -
Operation Michael
German military operation that began the spring offensive on March 21 1918 (until April 5 1918) It was launched from the Hindenburg Line. It's goal was to break through the allied lines and advance north-west and seize the Channel ports which supplied the BEF (British Expeditionary Forces) -
Conscription Crisis
Borden attempted to implement conscription in 1917 because too many soldiers were dying without enough signing up. The French Canadians, farmers, and labour unionists said no, they had other things they needed to do or didn't feel a relation to the war. In order to implement conscription, Borden gave women related to a serviceman the vote. -
Armistice
A treaty between the Allies and Germany to end hostility and fighting, signed at Compiègne, France. Celebrated annually on Armistice Day, or Rememberance Day. Two consecutive minutes of silence take place at 11am to remember those who were lost in the war, and those left behind. -
Paris Peace Conference
Meeting between the Allies who had won the war, setting out peace terms to move forward. They remapped some of Europe, and came up with the reparations and war-guilt clause to impose on Germany -
Treaty of Versailles
The peace treaty at the conclusion of World War I. The Allies had discussed for six months at the Paris Peace Conference what would be on the treaty. It stated that the Germans would have to pay 31.4 billion dollars (at that time) in reparations, and accept war guilt. It would prove to be a factor in the cause of World War II. -
League of Nations
An international organization formed at the end of World War I, with the goal to maintain world peace. It was a measure to avoid a war similar to the one they had just had, but as we all know, World War II crept up and it all went to waste.
