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Introduction
Robert Borden became prime minister of a peaceful and prosperous Canada in 1911. On August 4, 1914 Britain declared war on Germany taking Canada into a long and bloody conflict. More than 60,000 Canadians died in World War I. Canada emerged from the war with a strong sense of national identity.
Fundamental Causes I
Entangling Alliances
The Triple Alliance was comprised of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. The Triple Entente consisted of France, Russia and Britain. War would automatically pit most of these nations against each other.
Fundamental Causes II
Militarism
The European nations had built up large armed forces against the possibility of war. The launching of HMS Dreadnought had resulted in a naval arms race between Britain and Germany.
Fundamental Causes IV
Nationalism
Nationalism was an intense love of country and was directly linked to imperialism and militarism. France had lost the two small territories of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany in 1871 and was driven by nationalism to recover these lost provinces.
The French Flag
The Balkans
This region on Europes southern flank was aptly named the powder keg of Europe. It was dominated by the small but intensely nationalist state of Serbia. Austria-Hungary, a deeply divided multi- ethnic nation, feared the influence of Serbia on her southern border.
Assassination at Sarajevo
In 1908, much to the annoyance of Serbia and her longtime ally Russia, AustriaHungary annexed the two small territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In June of 1914 the heir to the AustroHungarian throne and his wife were shot dead in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, by a Serbian terrorist.
Left Folkstone aboard Victoria about 10 A.M. Rough crossing channel. Arrived at Boulogne at 12:30. Came out to Etaples on motor lorries arriving about 4 P.M. Good supper around 7 P.M. in evening. Wrote S.
German Helmet
Vimy Ridge
By 1917 Canadians had earned a well deserved reputation as shock troops. Vimy Ridge was a German strong point which dominated a vital area of the front. Several French and British attacks had failed to drive them from the high ground. In April 1917 the Canadians were ordered to take Vimy Ridge.
Vimy Ridge II
One of the most able subordinates of the British commander was a Canadian named Arthur Currie. Currie planned every last detail of the assault including a rolling barrage of artillery. Over 3,500 Canadian lives were lost but the Germans were driven from the ridge Today, Canadas war memorial stands proudly on Vimy Ridge.
Victory Bonds
By 1918 the war was costing Canada over one million dollars a day. Large sums were raised through the sale of Victory Bonds.
Food
The produce of Canadas agricultural industry was one her most vital contributions to the war. Farmers profited from the sale of wheat to war-torn France and Britain. Over use of soil or grain mining was to help cause the dustbowl conditions of the 1930s.
Enemy Aliens
German and immigrants from the AustroHungarian Empire were looked on by many Canadians with hostility and suspicion. In 1915 over 8,000 enemy aliens were interned in camps. The city of Berlin, Ontario was forced to change its name to Kitchener.
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Native Canadians
Nearly 4,000 of the 11,500 Native Canadians eligible for war service enlisted. They were much sought after for their skills as infantry and snipers. Johnny Norwest, a Cree sniper, personally killed 115 of the enemy before losing his own life in 1918.
Troops
Casualties Enlistment
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
Conclusion
The war had cost 60,000 Canadian lives but many historians believed that Canada had become a nation on the slopes of Vimy Ridge. Never again would Canada go to war because of a British declaration. Canadian industrial power was considerably expanded. The war had severely strained national unity.
Image Credits
Image Credits
Every effort has been made to credit images and sound used in this presentation. All images and sound clips not otherwise credited have been obtained from clip art collections or are believed to be in the public domain. The authors would be pleased to correct any omissions.
Slide # 1 Canadian War Amps http://www.waramps.ca/Operation/idx-wwi.html Slide # 2 National Archives of Canada PA 028128 Slide #14 National Archives of Canada PA 028128 Slide #16 Private Collection, R.W. White Slide #17 -#21 Private collection, R. W. White Slide #30 National Archives of Canada PA 001370 Slide #33 Canadian War Amps http://www.waramps.ca/Operation/idx-wwi.html Slide #35 Private collection, R. W. White Slide #37 Private collection, R. W. White Slide #39 National Archives of Canada C-097748
Image Credits
Slide #43 Canadian War Amps http://www.waramps.ca/Operation/idx-wwi.html Slide #45 National Archives of Canada C-003624C Slide #52 National Archives of Canada PA-028128 Slide #54 Private collection, R.W. White Slide #60 Canadian War Amps http://www.waramps.ca/Operation/idx-wwi.html Slide #61 National Archives of Canada and The Estate of Mary Riter Hamilton Slide #62 National Archives of Canada and The Estate of Mary Riter Hamilton Slide #63 National War Museum 8158 (Accession # 19710261-042) Slide # 67 National Archives of Canada PA-001370