THE CONSCRIPTION CRISIS SIMRIT DHALIWAL & MUNEER MOHAMOUD

WAR RECRUITMENT POSTERS

Conscription was brought on by lack of volunteersIn 1916 Canada’s recruitment strength dropped dramatically; the government produced a recruitment campaign as a final effort to refrain from conscription Military wages were better than average → attracting more in a depressed economyMore desperate posters attempted to shame men by questioning their loyalty and manhoodPropaganda targeted at French-Canadians; who opposed conscriptionGovernment was confronted with the fact that voluntarism alone could not possibly maintain forces overseas

Helps us understand that Canada had essentially run out of options and needed a resupply of soldiers → Conscription was our only unused option that would help the war effort

MILITARY VOTERS ACT

This is source is a document regarding the Military Voters Act which was passed into legislation in 1917 as the Conscription Crisis was in full swing.

It tells us that for the first time anyone in Canada; males, females, Canadian residents or not, may vote if they are/were affiliated with military services It was intended to spread information on specifically who may vote and who they may vote forThe directions were distributed by the Canadian Government

Helps us understand that the government believed that this act would help put in place conscription. Also that that the government was very selective of the people they allowed to vote.

VOTE FOR OPPOSITION

This primary source is a document for an election campaign for the Opposition

Opposition consisted of mostly French Canadians and the Liberal Party (Lead by Sir Wilfrid LaurierDirected primarily at the overseas forces and produced by the OppositionThe document states that the Opposition would reinforce the army but take a referendum on conscriptionVery biased towards Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s views and pledges to the public

Helps us understand that the Opposition had very strong views against Conscription. Laurier’s views were almost identical of those who were French-Canadian. Despite this, the Liberal party still joined the Conservatives to form a Coalition government

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The 1917 Conscription Crisis led to a division between those who supported the measure (Canadians/British) and those who were opposed (French Canadians/Non-British immigrants)

It is significant to our history because it had lasting effects on politics and the country as a whole:

Wartime Elections Act gave some women the first right to vote Military Services Act forced men into military services; prepared or not Created division on issues such as language education, religion Led to large changes in the rights of women and immigrants in Canada Damaged relations between French and Non-French citizens, riots, costly

damage Canadians were left divided and distrustful of their government

SHORT & LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES

Short Term First vote ever given to women (wives, mothers and sisters of soldiers) Public divisions in agriculture religion, political rights of women and immigrants Anti-conscription camps Women required to take on men’s roles in Canada

Long Term Led to all women’s right to vote French and Non-French citizens were divided even after the war Woman had actually gained more respect after the war & were treated more

equally due to their contributions in the war effort Immigrants gained the right to vote in 1960

CAUSE & CONSEQUENCE

The biggest historical thinking concept linked with the Conscription Crisis was its causes and consequence

Causes High death toll after the Battle of Somme Needed to assist the British Empire in the war Few volunteers (almost none from French Canadians)

Consequences Division in politics and people Minimal impact of Canada’s war effort Sir Robert Borden’s re-election

CAUSE & CONSEQUENCE

The primary document that relates to Cause and Consequence is the Military Voters Act

Causes Prime Minister Robert Borden put the act in place to strengthen the Coalition

Governments chances at the polls Canada needed a Coalition Government to withstand the war Forces overseas needed to be replenished after the Battle of Somme

Consequences Served its purpose of solidifying the election of the Coalition Government Paved the way for expanding women’s voting rights Conscription

BIBLIOGRAPHY

"Conscription." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/conscription/>.

"Recruitment and Conscription - Conscription, 1917 | Canada and the First World War." Canada and the First World War Conscription 1917 Comments. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/life-at-home-during-the-war/recruitment-and-conscription/conscription-1917/>.

"The Conscription Crisis." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP12CH2PA3LE.html>.

Sungrab, Tenzin. "Women's Rights during WW1 in Canada." Women's Rights during WW1 in Canada. Web. 9 Jan. 2015. <http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/women’s-rights-during-ww1-canada>.