Conscription in WWI CanadaConscientious ObjectorsWhy WhenNational DivisionEnd of the War

1914 Prime Minister Borden• Promised there would

be no conscription or compulsory enlistment

• BUT........

• Needed more men for the war effort

Ex. Vimy Ridge Campaign

1917 Military Service Act

•Made enlistment for military service mandatory

AT FIRST...The Act Allowed for exemptions:-Disabled-Clergy-Essential jobs/skills-Opposed war for religious reasons

Groups to Oppose Conscription

Conscientious Objectors•Those who Opposed the war on religious or moral grounds

- Pacifists- Mormons- “Hippie”

Farmers and Factory Workers• Both groups believed

they were already working for the war effort

• Farms a family business, and sons needed on the farm

• Factory workers did not want to give up their jobs to go overseas

Labour Movement• Groups organized to

improve conditions for workers******

• Ex. 8 HOUR Day- Workers already finding it

hard to provide for families

- Conscription would mean workers make even less

Quebec• Felt little to no

connection to Britain or France

• Military Service Act forcing them to fight distant war

• Language Rights lost outside Quebec

• Majority farmers• Minority group in the

war

Liberal Party Leader Laurier•The “law of the

land...declares that no man in Canada shall be subjected to compulsory military service except to repel invasions or for the defense of the country”

Groups to Support Conscription

Women Connected to Soldiers•Fathers, sons, husbands, brothers at war and in need of help

• Theories:- Helped to promote the

vote for women- Free up jobs for women

The Government•Men needed for

Vimy Ridge•Britain controls

Canada's foreign policy

•Role in war helps to promote our autonomy

The Armed Forces•Needed more men

•High death tolls•Vimy Ridge•100 days campaign

The Khaki Election of 1917•Conscription the main issue in 1917

election

•Called Khaki because of the attempts to win the support of people serving during the war

•Borden passed laws to ensure a WIN!

Military Voters Act 1917•Allowed men and women overseas to vote

•They would side with Borden because he wanted conscription

Wartime Elections Act 1917• Gave the Vote to all

Canadian women related to servicemen

• Cancelled the vote for :- consciences objectors - Immigrants from enemy

countries in past 15 years

Union Government•Liberals lost much support outside

Quebec

•Liberals who favoured conscription joined Borden’s Conservatives to make a wartime Union Government

- won majority votes in 1917 election

Conscription Protests Continue•After election, people of Quebec continue to protest

•“A bas Borden”- Down with Borden

•Canadian troops vs French Canadians who refuse to enlist

Conscription Riots•Quebec City

Easter weekend 1918

•April 1 four protesters shot and killed by soldiers

•10 soldiers wounded

Conscription Numbers•401 882 Canadians conscripted

•125 000 enlisted

•25 000 reached France before end of war