Unit 3: Decades of ChangeThe Home Front (chapter 8)

8.3.3 Analyze the effects of the Second World War on Canada and its people

Economic Effects Economic boom (demand created for raw materials,

weapons war supplies) Federal government intervened (plan & coordinate

war production) & continued after the war to play a greater role in the economy– Factories converted to war production

National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA, 1940) gave government more power– Assign workers (skills needed)– Farmers/coal miners jobs vital ( not allowed to join

military)– Manufacturing expanded

Canada & U.S. began coordinating war production– Closer economic connection continued

Canada became a major source of arms/supplies (also see Figure 8.3)

Social Effects Role of women in workplace & military

– Began to do jobs considered men’s work– Volunteered all branches of military service– Armed forces created women’s branches (eg. WRENS

directed convoy operations)– Served overseas (cooks, nurses, welders, radar

operators)– Flew new airplanes from Canada to Britain– Labour shortage gap filled by women (over 1 million

in workforce by 1944) Day care provided in Ontario & Quebec

– Day care a problem (Women paid less than men for same work) Women gained self-confidence

– Expanded a way of life

Social Effects (cont.)

Some women wanted freedom to decide (didn’t want children/to be a housewife) because they proved they were as smart as any other person

Rationing (government role in daily lives increased)– Controlled distribution of short supply products– Restricted amounts of imported goods (eg. Coffee, tea,

sugar)– Rationed products needed by armed forces (gas, rubber,

certain metals)– Synthetic substitutes created– Few consumer goods produced during war– Silk unavailable; women dyed legs and

drew “seam” line Bought victory bonds (help pay for war)

Political Effects Social policies introduced

– Unemployment insurance (1940)– Baby bonus/family allowance (1945)– (To keep voters from CCF)

Conscription– Francophones enlisted (could speak their own

language and be led by francophone officers)– Consription introduced (NRMA) for home defence

(NRMA soldiers nicknamed “zombies”) Newfoundland joined Canada (1949) partly

because of World War II– Military bases established by Canada & U.S.

Newfoundlanders joined Canada armed forces & merchant marine