Social Studies 10 Lessons 📖

By: Gen L

In partnership with Hyperion University, 2023

Lesson 5: The War in Canada

The War in Canada

  • Changed Daily Life
  • Any disaster quickly rumoured to be the work of Germans
  • By 1917, munitions manufacturing was largest industry in Canada
  • High demands placed on agricultural industry (contributed to the "Thirties Dust Bowl")
  • Canadians ate "War Bread" & had "Meatless Mondays", Inflation was on the rise, strikes were banned, railroads & banks under national control.

Paying for the War

  • Soon, the Government was running out of money.
  • They sold "War Bonds" & "Victory Bonds" to raise money.
  • From 1915-1917, over raised
  • More money was needed, so a temporary tax was introduced.
  • This tax is still with us today: "Income Tax"

Ethnic Problems in Canada

  • In 1914, Germans, Hungarians & Austrians lived in Canada
  • Loyal people returned home to fight, those who stayed viewed with suspicion
  • By Summer 1915, "enemy aliens" living in internment camps.
  • City of Berlin, Ontario changed it's name to Kitchener.
  • Many companies & workers saw this as good chance to remove ethnic competition in workplace.

Political Change

  • Women experienced more responsibility and influence
  • Many women pushed for suffrage & prohibition
  • A grain shortage made prohibition easy, which grew a push for suffrage.
  • 1917: Women with family in CEF given suffrage to support conscription
  • May 1918: All women over 21 gained suffrage.

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