The MAIN Causes of WWI
The M in the M.A.I.N causes stands for:
Militarism
What was the role of the No. 2 Construction Battalion?
This battalion was created for Black Canadian Men. They were not allowed to fight, but they cleared land mines, built roads and dug trenches.
Give one example of a new type of technology used for the first time in WWI.
Machine gun
Chlorine Gas
Trenches
Barbed Wire
Airplanes
What could be considered a trigger cause of WWI?
The Assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
An example of the A in the M.A.I.N causes of WWI would be:
Alliances between any of the following:
Allied Powers: France, Britain, Russia, Italy, and later the United States
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria
What were two jobs available to women during WWI that they could not have had before the war?
Truck Driver
Farmer
War nurse
Factory Worker
What was a short term and long term effect of the use of chlorine gas during the Battle of Ypres?
Short Term: Soldiers were surprised and had never seen this type of weapon before. As a result, many people died in this battle because they had no way to prepare themselves.
Long Term: Soldiers who lived suffered severe burns to their skin, lungs, eyes and throats. They lost their vision (went blind) and were permanently disabled. Eventually, gas masks were developed that helped soldiers protect themselves.
What caused the explosion in Halifax in 1917?
Halifax was a major shipping port in WWI. Munitions made around the country came to Halifax before being shipped off to the war in Europe.
There was a fire on a munitions ship that caused a chain reaction of explosions.
An example of the I in M.A.I.N would be:
Imperialism, an example would be any of the European nations (especially Germany) wanting to expand their empires by seizing more land and colonies
Why were some people placed in "Enemy Alien Camps" during WWI?
Some people were placed in Enemy Alien Camps by the Canadian Government because they were from countries that were not allied with Great Britain, such as Germany, Ukraine, Austria-Hungary and others. The Canadian government was afraid that these people might be spies for enemy governments, so placed them in forced labour camps for the duration of the war.
What was a short term and long term impact of the use of machine guns used at the Battle of the Somme?
Short Term: Soldiers were not prepared for machine guns, and many thousands died at once.
Long Term: Eventually, both sides developed the use of machine guns. They were mounted on airplanes and then tanks to be used in different settings.
What was one thing that made the Battle of Vimy Ridge different from other battles that Canada was involved in during WWI?
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was the first time that all of the Canadian divisions were together.
The Canadian army succeeded in taking Vimy Ridge when all other groups had failed.
The Canadian military was the first group to plan their approach so thoroughly and to give each soldier a map.
An example for the N in M.A.I.N would be:
Nationalism, which is when a country believes that they are the best and all other countries should be like them or a part of them.
Ex. Great Britain feeling like everyone should want to be a part of the British Empire
What were the short-term and long-term consequences of the Halifax Explosion in 1917? (One each)
Short Term: destruction of the city for 2 km squared near the explosion, loss of lives, loss of homes, businesses, etc. Injuries, fire, damage and death.
Long Term: cost and time taken to rebuild the city from the ground up, interruption to students' academic progress, loss of revenue and disruption to the economy in Halifax
How did airplanes change the course of WWI?
Airplanes at first allowed each side to spy on the other by doing aerial reconnaissance. Deliveries of supplies could also be made using airplanes. Once guns were attached to planes, dogfights in the air began.
Why did Prime Minister Robert Borden decide to break his promise and pass the War Measures Act, conscripting all able-bodied Canadian men to fight in the war?
The number of casualties in WWI had risen, and the number of people voluntarily enlisting had fallen. Prime Minister Robert Borden felt that without forcing people to enlist, there would not be enough men to win the war.
Choose one of the M.A.I.N Causes of WWI. Define it and explain HOW it contributed to WWI
Example:
Militarism: Increasing military production and size increased countries' readiness for war and desire to test their military's weapons and skills
Alliances: Tight connections between countries caused the war to escalate into a large world war.
Imperialism: Empires' desire to expand their size lead to many countries choosing to engage in war with the hope that they could expand their empire in the process.
Nationalism: Excessive pride and feeling that all countries should want to be a part of a specific country lead countries to ignore options for peace and choose war instead as a way to force other countries to be part of their country.
What did French Canadians feel about Conscription being introduced by Prime Minister Robert Borden during WWI and why?
They felt betrayed because at the beginning of the war, the Prime Minister had promised that he would not force French Canadians to participate in the war.
Describe what it would have been like to be a soldier in the trenches during WWI. (Sensory details - sight, smell, sound, taste, touch)
Sight: The trenches were cramped and small; soldiers would have been surrounded by dirt, mud and other people.
Smell: The trenches were muddy and dirty. They would have smelled other men's body odour, the smell of decomposing bodies left on the battlefield field and the smell of explosives.
Sound: The trenches were noisy. There would have been the sound of other soldiers, guns and heavy artillery.
Taste: The food in the trenches was very bad. Soldiers often reported that it tasted like gasoline because it was transported in old gas canisters.
Touch: Soldiers would have felt cold, tired and wet. The trenches were very muddy, and long-term exposure to wetness could lead to conditions like trench foot.
What was the Historical Significance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge for Canada?
Historians have argued that the Battle of Vimy Ridge is Historically Significant because it contributed to Canada's reputation as a nation at the time and after WWI. On the other hand, Canada had a very high number of casualties during this battle and was not the only British Commonwealth country participating in the battle.