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Conscription
In the first months of the war a mix of patriotism, moral indignation,
unemployment and a naive lust for adventure fuelled Sam Hughes' recruitment drive.
In August, 1914 most would-be soldiers and their families thought the war would
be over by Christmas. But, as the war dragged on into its second year and the
Canadian casualties mounted in conflicts like the Battle of the Somme, recruits
started to dry up. In Quebec, Henri Bourassa, who had been behind the war at
the outset now said that French Canada's real enemies were not overseas. They
were the "English-Canadian anglicisers, the Ontario intriguers, or Irish
priests".
In late 1916 Lloyd George became the leader of a coalition government in Britian.
He called Borden and other Dominion leaders to England and encouraged them to
send more troops. The visit came just when Canadians played a decisive but costly
role (more than 10,000 casualities) in winning the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Borden
returned to Canada |
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convinced that conscription – though he had been against it at the
beginning of the war – was now necessary. On May 18, 1917 he told the Canadian
people conscription was coming.
There was strong opposition to the decision from unions, farmers and French Canada.
In the end, Borden attempted to create a coaltion government with Laurier, but
the leader of the Liberal opposition refused it. Instead, Borden strengthened
his government by creating a coalition Union government made up of 12 Conservatives,
9 Liberals or independents, and one labour representative. The Unionists promised
conscription and to give women (and soldiers overseas) the vote. The new party
won the December, 1917 federal election by a huge majority. Conscription came
into effect in Canada on January 1, 1918. The war would be over 10 months later.
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Anti-Conscription Prostests
Protests
like this one in Victoria Square, Montreal, greeted Prime Minister Borden's news
that conscription was coming to Canada. |
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