Impacts of WWI on

Canadian SocietyBy: Liam Deliyannides

Debt/ Taxation:- Canada’s efforts in war lead

to massive debt problems- This lead to a massive

inflation of taxation- The lower class were

outragedPropaganda Posters

- Led to Propaganda posters in order to receive donations

- These propaganda went much better than expected

Debt/ Taxation:Exports:

- Mass exports of Timber/ Wheat assisted in Canada’s debt problems

- Canada had 2 export countries, Britain and USA

- Canada attempted to import very little good, in order to lower debtResults:

- These three ways of overcoming debt assisted, but didn’t overcome Canadas debt problems

- This past debt, likely contributes to Canada’s currents debt

English and French Canadian Relations:

- Rumors suggested the French- Canadians would turn on the English

- This Resulted in hatred between French and English Canadians

- Led to many political parties, either supporting the French, or English

- When WWI ended, the English government showed their respect for French- Canadians

- The government enrolled French as a course within schools across the country

Autonomy:- WWI Reflected Britain’s reliance

on their Commonwealth Colonies

- Canada consistently assisted Britain throughout the war

- The Canadian Military proved itself in battles such as Ypres, Passchendaele, and Vimy Ridge

- Britain showed their appreciation for Canada, allowing them to sign the treaty of Versailles

Women’s Rights:Occupations:

- Due to men being sent to war, there was many job openings for women

- These included factory jobs, mainly involving military supplies

- When the men returned the women kept these jobs, leading to a larger variety of jobs open for women

- Before this, teachers, nurses, or maids were the only acceptable occupations for the women

Women’s Rights:Voting Rights:

- The push in women’s occupations caused women to push for voting rights

- Suffragists claimed they would make a positive political difference

- Suffrages achieved voting rights for women in Manitoba in 1916

- Voting rights for women spread throughout Canada in 1919

- Women continued to push for more rights, prior to WWI

Racism/ Discrimination:Multi- Cultural Military Enrollment:

- Originally Foreign Canadians weren’t allowed to fight for Canada

- French, and English- Canadians were the first allocated to serve

- As less people began to volunteer, more Foreigners were allowed to volunteer

- Over 4 000 Aboriginals, and around 300 Asian Americans fought for Canada in WWI

- These soldiers would fight alongside White Canadian Soldiers

Racism/ Discrimination:Racism Throughout WWI:

- Germans, and Austria- Hungarians were not allowed to fight due to their enemy heritage

- Foreign Canadians who served were not given the same gratification as English and French Canadians

- This led to many protesting the treatment of Foreigners

- Riots began to outbreak throughout Canada

Racism/ Discrimination:War Measurement Act:- The Government implemented a War

Measurement Act during WWI- This Act was heavily favored against the

Germans and Austria- Hungarians- They were forced to carry an ID Card at all

times- They could be arrested without a fair trial- They were often held in internment camps- This was to limit enemy spies throughout

Canada, and to make sure they weren’t living among dangerous citizens

Pandemics:- Many Soldiers returned from the war

with a severe flu- This spread throughout Canada Rapidly- This flu was known as the “Spanish Flu”

or “La Grippe”. - This led to 50 000 deaths of Canadians,

and 21 Million deaths worldwide- Killed more people than the Black

Death- Masks were mandatory in public- Schools temporarily closed down

throughout the country

Conscription:- Conscription is the Random selections of citizens to

fight in the war- Due to limited citizens volunteering for WWI near

the end of the war- Military Service Act placed Conscription upon

Canada- All Canadian Citizens between ages 20- 45 were

forced to fight if selected by the Government- Controversial throughout Canada- French- Canadians were outraged, as this forced

some of them to fight for the British

Bibliography:Canada, Veterans Affairs. “First World War (1914 – 1918).” Veterans Affairs Canada, 30 Oct. 2017,

www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/first-world-war.

Drews, Keven. “WWI Racism: Black, Asian and Aboriginal Volunteers Faced Discrimination.” Thestar.com, 9 Aug. 2014,

www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/08/09/wwi_racism_black_asian_and_aboriginal_volunteers_faced_discrimination.ht

ml.

Government of Canada; Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. “Aboriginal Contributions during the First World

War.” Government of Canada; Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, 24 Oct. 2014, www.aadnc-

aandc.gc.ca/eng/1414152378639/1414152548341.

“Legacy - The War's Impact on Canada.” Canada and the First World War, www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/after-

the-war/legacy/the-wars-impact-on-canada/.

Morton, Desmond. “First World War (WWI).” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-

world-war-wwi/.

“Recruitment and Conscription - Conscription, 1917.” Canada and the First World War,

www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/life-at-home-during-the-war/recruitment-and-conscription/conscription-1917/.

“The War Economy - Finance and War Production.” Canada and the First World War,

www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/life-at-home-during-the-war/the-war-economy/finance-and-war-production/.