War on the Home Front

1. War on the Home Front

2. A “TOTAL WAR” • World War I was a total war in the sense that the efforts of all Canadians were needed – whether these people were in Canada (the home front) or battling in Europe.

3. What Support was needed from the Home Front during WWI? • Men are needed to enlist in the army and join the fighting. • Money is needed for Canada to continue its war effort. • Production of munitions (military equipment) • High demand for food (bread, butter, meat & sugar in particular) to send to troops. • High demand for coal. • Changing roles of women. • Fear of spying or even an attack on Canadian soil.

4. Encouraging Men to Join the Fight • Massive poster campaign. • “Propaganda” posters.

6. What does the Term Propaganda mean? Information or ideas spread to help support a particular cause or belief.

8. Canadian posters often targeted specific groups of men.

10. Encouraging Men to Join the Fight • In 1917 the debate over Conscription will begin in Canada. (We will look at this soon).

11. Money • By 1918 the war was costing Canada one million dollars per day. • The Canadian government was in need of money and borrowed from citizens by selling them “Victory Bonds”. • After the war the bonds could be cashed in and would have collected interest. • Income tax is introduced as a “temporary” tax to pay for the war. • Canada’s debt increases from $463 million to $2.46 billion by the end of the war.

15. Production of Munitions • 300,000 Canadians employed in munitions factories by the end of the war. • Food, paper and steel factories also do very well during the war. • Canada’s economy is “booming” through out the war. (At the cost of high debt).

16. Demand for Food and Coal • People planted “victory gardens” to grow as much food as possible. • People were encouraged to reduce the food they used and consumed. “Honour Rationing” • Hoarding or stockpiling food was illegal. • Families were encouraged to take “heatless days”.

20. Changing Roles for Women • With many men overseas, women begin working all sorts of jobs typically held by men. • Factories, farms, police service jobs performed by women. • Many munitions factories were very dangerous. • With changing roles, many women decided they deserved a voice in decisions made about the country and war.

21. Wartime Elections Act • Manitoba 1916 – women given right to vote in Manitoba elections. • Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and B.C. would soon follow. • The Wartime Elections Act of 1917 gave all women who were mothers, sisters or wives of soldiers in the armed forces the right to vote. • By the end of the war all women over 21 had the right to vote. • With the exception of Aboriginal, Asian and other minority groups.

22. Nellie McClung • One of the greatest Canadian social activists fought for women’s rights at the time. • From Owen Sound, ON

23. War Measures Act • Many German, Austrian, Hungarian and Ukrainian people living in Canada at the break of the war. • As war progresses, false rumours and hatred towards these people spread. • This act gave the government the power to arrest, search and detain “enemy aliens”. • Over eight thousand “enemy aliens” are held in labour camps in Canada.

24. War Measures Act • Banned publication of written material in “enemy languages”. Why?

25. To show support the town of Berlin, ON changes its name to...? Why?