CHAPTER 5 Canada and the Second World War Timeframe: 1939-1945 Guiding Question: How did the Second World War impact Canada socially, politically, and economically? Causes of the Second World War: (Notes 1 of 7) - Different forms of took hold in Europe, the Soviet Union, and Japan during the 1930s. - Leaders of these states had ambitions to expand their territory and resources. - Germany and Italy felt they had been cheated by treaties at the end of the First World War and wanted to right these wrongs; Japan wanted access to more to support its industries. - In Germany, came to power in 1933. - His plan was to untie the master race of Germanic people and take back territory he believed belonged to. - Starting in 1936, Hitler attacked Rhineland, took over Austria, and invaded Czechoslovakia. Britain and France ignored. - Hitler then signed non- pact with Soviet Union and then attacked Poland. - Britain and France ordered Hitler out of. When Hitler ignored deadline, and France declared war. - League of failed to stop nationalistic aggression elsewhere. - League supposed to maintain world, but too weak and did not have a military to enforce its decisions. - Totalitarian Nations saw League s inability to stop German aggression; began their own. - League s ineffectiveness in putting a stop to invading Manchuria, and Italy invading Abyssinia helped pave road to war.
Canada s Response to the Threat of War: (Notes 2 of 7) - Many Canadians asked why lives should be risked in a European war when Canada itself was not threatened. - Throughout 1930s, Canada practised, keeping out of affairs outside its borders. - Federal government did not want to get involved; conscription would create uproar, economy was just starting to improve, did not want country to plunge back into. - Isolationist attitudes influenced Canada s immigration policies and attitudes towards Jewish fleeing persecution in Europe. - Some Canadians supported who had seized power in Europe and approved of Hitler s policies and hatred of Jewish people. - Anti- in Canada during 1930s shared by many in mainstream society. - In Quebec, some nationalists called for an independent Quebec, with a pure population. - Canada was restricting immigration, increasing. - The S.S. St. Louis refused by Canada and forced back to Europe. Many of aboard later died in concentration camps. - However, also many who did not share anti- Semitic views. - Cairine Wilson, Canada s first female, spoke out against banning of Jewish refugees from Canada. - Rallies held in many parts of country in support of more humane policy. - Newspaper editorials lashed out at the government when the S.S. was turned away.
Canada Declares War: (Notes 3 of 7) - On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany. - Unlike First World War, Canada now an country; not obligated to join when Britain joined. - Decision to join the war had to be a one, decided by Canada s Parliament. - On September 8, called a special session of Parliament to decide whether Canada should go to war. - King gave speech supporting war; promised no as long as his government was in power. - King s position supported by opposition Party. No conscription gave support of Quebec. J.S. Woodsworth (CCF) only leader to argue against going to war. - On September 10, 1939, Canada declared war on. - Despite willingness for war, Canada not prepares for it. Army had only 4300 troops; needed. - Despite lack of excitement for the war, more than 58,000 people volunteered in September of 1939. - Initially rejected -Canadians because of racist attitudes. - As in the First World War, Aboriginal peoples volunteered at a higher percentage of their population than any other group in Canada. - Many people still felt strong ties to and volunteered from a sense of duty. Others, by new sense of pride or steady income. - King hoped Canada s contribution would be mostly supplies and training, rather than troops; wanted to avoid conscription. - (BCATP) brought flight personnel from all over the Commonwealth to Canada to train with British instructors. - Explain what meant for Canada (p.132). Who was the key figure behind it and what did he do?
Canada s Contribution to the War Effort: (Notes 4 of 7) - Canada contributed to the effort on all fronts. - Transported food and supplies across the Atlantic. - Vancouver was building ships for the, Montreal constructing new planes and bombers. - Canada s car companies producing military vehicles and tanks. - Business owners convinced to manufacture goods they had never made before. asked to produce more crops. - The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) played a vital role in the Battle of the. - The credited with providing about half the escorts across the Atlantic. - s Royal Canadian Naval Service created in 1942. Worked as wireless operators, coders, drivers, and operational plotters. - Canada invented/built small warships called to help escort convoys across the Atlantic. - The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) participated in bombing raids in North Africa, Italy,, and Southeast Asia. - The Women s Division of RCAF trained as, cooks, hospital assistants, drivers, telephone operators, welders, and mechanics. - RCAF also participated in bombings over Germany.
The War at Home: (Notes 5 of 7) - Canadians at home made enormous to the war. - joined war industries working as welders, drillers, and punch-press or machine. Rosie the Riveter. - Some companies built close to factories to house workers. Canada s Wartime Economy: - With so much increased and employment, people suddenly had more money to spend. - However, there were fewer goods to buy as most goods produced being shipped to. Nothing to spend money on. - Mackenzie King had task of preventing. - Victory bonds, increased, freeze in wages, and food rationing were all used by government to prevent inflation. The Growing Demand for Social Change: - Shortage of gave trade unions more power. Workers fought for higher wages and right to bargain. - The war also brought changes to the role of government. - government had been involved in every aspect of Canadian lives; many wanted this to continue. - Led to improvements in social assistance. Canada s policy of to grave social began.
The Conscription Crisis: (Notes 6 of 7) - Speed which occupied Europe in 1940 stunned Canadians. - Canadians, including opposition Party, demanded their government do more. - In response, King s government quickly brought in the National Mobilization Act (NRMA). - Act gave government special powers to take over nation s resources. Allowed for, only for home defence. - As war progressed, continued pressure from Conservative opposition and heavy Canadian casualties forced issue of conscription again. - King knew there would be strong from Quebec. - King decided to hold a to get Canadians views on conscription. - Used slogan Not conscription, but conscription if necessary. - In all provinces but, the majority voted yes. Once again, the issue of conscription had divided the nation. - Mackenzie King finally allowed conscription for overseas service in August 1942. - felt betrayed; riots in Montreal to protest decision. - King managed to avoid issue of conscription for next two years but eventually forced to send overseas. - In 1944, King conscripted 15,000 men for active service. 12,908 conscripts were sent to Europe. 2463 of these Canadian conscripts reached the front.
What the War Meant to Canada: (Notes 7 of 7) - Second World War had many long-lasting, social, and political effects on Canada. - Economically, virtually every sector of the Canadian economy during the war. - The value of goods produced rose from $5.6 billion in 1939 to $11.8 billion in 1945. - Great increase in production of, wood and paper, petroleum; discovery of new oil fields in Alberta. - Manufacturing overtook as most important sector of Canada s economy as a result of the war. - Over course of war, Canada transformed itself from rural economy to a modern nation. - War changed in many ways. - Women s contribution helped raise their profile in society; promote their as workers. - Thousands of people displaced by the war came to Canada to start a new life; increased cultural. - Immigration loosened; however, immigration policy did not change. - War also helped to build Canadian. - By end of war, Canada had emerged as a major player in global. - Now had one of world s largest navies and fourth-largest Allied. - War efforts of Aboriginal,, black soldiers during war helped further civil rights for all Canadians.