The Great War
When Britain is at war, Canada is at war,± Laurier had said in 1910 (Morton 1, p.130). Canada, being part of the British Empire, was allied with Britain during the Great War. Thus, as soon as Britain declared war on Germany, Canada was automatically involved. When the Great War broke out in 1914, Canada was a much different country than it is today. At that time, Canada had a population of just over eight million people, most of them immigrants. Still, more than 650,000 men, most of them were British born, signed up to fight overseas due to their strong ties with Britain (°The First World War±). However, the Great War had resulted in having many changes in Canada. The Great War changed Canada by finding Canada¯s independence, recognition and rights of women. To begin with, the Great War changed Canada by finding Canada¯s independence. Although Canada had been independent from Britain for almost 50 years by 1914, it still had very strong ties with the British Empire (Toby). The war, however, propelled Canada towards an independent position in the world. In 1914, Canadians had gone to war as Imperials in the British Army, but by 1917, they were members in spirit and law of a Canadian army (Morton 3, p.
Not only does the Great War changed Canada by finding Canada¯s independence, but also by gaining its recognition. The war brought major changes in the expectations of Canadians. The great achievement of Canadians in the war, such as the Battle of Vimy Ridge, recognized Canadian Corps as an elite corps (Roy). Also, Canada¯s ability to run war industries successfully showed the world the capableness of Canada. By 1917, the Imperial Munitions Board was the largest business Canada had ever seen, with a quarter of a million workers, including 40 000 women, in 600 factories (Morton 3, p.43). By the end of the war, the Board had produced cargo ships, aircraft, chemicals, and explosives, in addition to millions of artillery shells (Morton 3, p.43). It had taken a war to show that Canadians could run a huge, complex industry. Moreover, at the end of the war the world recognized Canada even further. Sir Robert Borden, the prime minister during the war, wrote to a friend, °It can hardly be expected that we shall put 400 000 or 500 000 men in the field and willingly accept the position of having no more voice and receiving no more consideration than if we were toy automata.± (Morton 3, p.61) However, at the end of the war, his wish came alive; Borden signed both the Treaty of Versailles which was a peace treaty signed at the end of World War I between Germany and the Allies (°Treaty of Versailles±) and the League of Nations which was an international alliance for the preservation of peace (Congdon) covenant on behalf of Canada (Morton 3, p.65). By the League of Nations founded in 1919, Canada became a member in its own right and got its own voice in the world (Bliss, p. 296). Also, its membership brought Canada its first official contact with foreign governments, helped establish its position as a sovereign state and confronted it with both the opportunities and the dilemmas associated with problems of international co-o
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Approximate Word count = 1295
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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