World War I & The Battles
Name the four "M.A.I.N." causes that led to the build-up of the First World War.
Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism.
Describe the practice of "Meatless Mondays" and explain how it helped the war effort.
Citizens gave up meat on Mondays to save supply for soldiers. It showed "Total War"—where civilians at home were as vital as soldiers.
What was the "Military Service Act" of 1917, and what did it require Canadian men to do?
Mandatory military enlistment for all healthy, eligible men.
List three new household inventions from the 1920s that turned Canada into a "consumer country."
Radios, electric stoves, and vacuum cleaners.
Define "Assimilation" as it was used by the Canadian government in the early 20th century.
The policy of forcing a minority group to lose their culture and adopt the culture of the majority (Euro-Canadians).
Explain why the Battle of Ypres (1915) is considered a turning point in the history of modern warfare.
It was the first large-scale use of chemical weapons (poison gas). It forced the development of gas masks and changed how soldiers had to defend trenches.
Why was the Halifax Explosion of 1917 such a devastating blow to Canada’s military logistics?
Halifax was Canada’s main port for shipping soldiers and munitions to Europe. The explosion destroyed the infrastructure needed to supply the war.
Why did Henri Bourassa and many people in Quebec strongly oppose the idea of conscription?
They felt the war was a British imperial conflict that didn't involve Canada. They had no loyalty to the British Crown.
What are "Branch Plants," and why did American companies build them in Canada instead of just shipping goods across the border?
They were US-owned factories in Canada. They were built to bypass tariffs (import taxes), allowing US companies to sell to Canadians more cheaply.
Why were children at Residential Schools forbidden from speaking their traditional languages?
This was a key part of assimilation. If children lost their language, they lost their connection to their culture and their parents, making it easier for the government to "re-train" them.
Identify the "Schlieffen Plan" and explain why its failure was the main reason Germany eventually lost the war.
It was Germany’s plan to knock France out of the war in 6 weeks to avoid a two-front war. Because it failed, Germany was stuck in a war of attrition (wearing down resources), which they eventually could not win.
Discuss the role of women during WWI. How did their work in factories change the social perspective of their "proper place" in society?
Women took over high-intensity factory jobs. It proved they were physically and mentally capable of "men's work," which helped lead to women's suffrage (the right to vote).
Explain how the "Wartime Elections Act" changed who could vote in the 1917 election and why Prime Minister Borden passed it.
It gave the vote to female relatives of soldiers (who supported the war) and took it away from "enemy aliens" (who might oppose it). It was designed to ensure Borden won the election.
Explain why the demand for Canadian wheat, nickel, and copper skyrocketed during this decade.
Europe was rebuilding after WWI and needed raw materials; Canada had a massive supply of natural resources.
Explain the 1920 amendment to the Indian Act regarding "compulsory attendance." What happened to parents who refused?
It made attendance mandatory. If parents refused, they could be fined or imprisoned by the Indian Agent.
Explain the historical significance of Vimy Ridge. Why is it often called the "birth of a nation" for Canada?
It was the first time all four Canadian divisions fought together. It was a tactical masterpiece that gave Canada a sense of national identity and independence from British command.
Explain how Canada paid for the war. What were "Victory Bonds"?
Through Victory Bonds (loans from citizens)
How did the Conscription Crisis impact Canadian farmers, and what was their primary argument against joining the military?
Farmers opposed it because it took away the labour (young men) needed to produce food for the war, which was their livelihood.
How did the mass production of the automobile (the Model T) impact other sectors of the Canadian economy like construction and natural resources?
It created a "ripple effect": more cars meant more roads (construction), more gas (oil), and more tires (rubber), booming the whole economy.
Describe two ways the Residential School system impacted the health and well-being of the children.
1. Many children suffered from overcrowding and poor food, leading to diseases like tuberculosis. 2. Many suffered emotional or physical abuse from the staff who ran the schools.
Compare the conditions and objectives of The Somme and Passchendaele. How did the geography (mud vs. trenches) affect the outcome?
The Somme was a "meat grinder" with massive machine-gun casualties and little ground gained. Passchendaele was defined by deep mud and rain; while Canada won, the casualties were extreme for land that was eventually given back.
Analyze the impact of the war on Indigenous Canadians. Why was it ironic that they were recruited to fight despite not having the right to vote?
Over 4,000 Indigenous men served. It was ironic because they fought for a country that denied them the right to vote and used the Indian Act to control their families at home.
Evaluate the long-term consequence of the 1917 "Khaki Election." How did it affect the relationship between French and English Canada for the next century?
It created a deep, permanent distrust between French and English Canadians, leading to decades of tension and the rise of Quebec nationalism.
"The 1920s roared for everyone." Using your notes, argue whether this statement is true or false, providing evidence of who might have been left out of the boom.
False. While middle-class city dwellers prospered, Indigenous peoples faced increased oppression under the Indian Act, and many farmers struggled with falling prices after the war.
What is "Intergenerational Trauma," and how did the Residential School system cause it?
It is when the trauma of the schools is passed down from parents to children. Because the students grew up without their families, they often struggled to learn how to be parents themselves, impacting Indigenous families for generations.