Contrary to popular belief, the Battle of Vimy Ridge was more than “another bloodshed” to Canada the growth of Canada as a nation. This battle confirmed Canada’s eligibility to participate on the world stage and showed that Canada was not to be trifled with by other nations. The achievements of the Canadian army brought Canada respect from other nations. The Canadian army gained confidence in themselves after their victory in this battle. The Battle of Vimy Ridge was significant to the growth of Canada as a nation.
Canada’s eligibility to participate on the world stage was demonstrated by the accomplishments which occurred at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Canada’s first opportunity to partake on the world stage came soon after the conclusion of World War I, when Canada’s victory led them to the Paris Peace Conference. Prime Minister, Robert Borden argued that Canada’s wartime record had earned Canada a seat separate from Britain. Therefore, Canada was granted the seat despite the disapproval of the American President, Woodrow Wilson. The Prime Minister demanded “ With the conclusion of the First World War, I demand that Canada may be seated on its own during the conference. This shall be as a sign of respect for those sixty thousand soldiers who sacrificed their lives trying to save our world from tyranny”. Through the Prime Minister’s words, it was evident that Canada contributed greatly to the allied forces in the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The approval of Canada’s seat was important to both the significance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the eligibility to participate on the world stage because it was one of the first steps Canada took towards its independence from Great Britain. After the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Canada became ...
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Canada’s role in World War I in both fighting and ending it helped it gain autonomy from Britain. In battle, Canada earned the respect of many of her allies for victories like Vimy Ridge and the Battle of the Somme. The victory at Vimy Ridge helped Canada to earn recognition as an independent fighting force different from the British. This helped to earn Canada an independent seat at the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles was a watershed moment in Canada’s road to autonomy. This “won a separate seat for Canada at the peace conference following the war” (Bradley and Wilson, 126). This was unprecedented in Canada’s history up to...
In the study of Canadian military history the Avro Arrow has become a buzzword found on the lips of all technological, political and even airforce enthusiast. At the risk of seeming unoriginal in topic selection, this critique reviews the fascinating biography, Fall of an Arrow, by Murray Peden. Peden's historical biography accurately covers a variety of aspects of the A. V. Row Arrow, from specifics in military capability, to competing technological and political/economic significance. This critical evaluation of the mentioned secondary source sets out to evaluate the work as a historical source, focussing on evidence of bias, the apparent coherence of arguments and finally the effectiveness of Peden's underlying points.
After the Canadian victory at Vimy Ridge, other counties immediately started to view Canada as a strong and determined army. In earlier years, many British and French attacks had been made against the ridge, as it was the barrier preventing the allies from getting to Lens-Douai Plain. The French has lost 150,000 men at Vimy, while the British also suffered heavy causalities. Before the battle at Vimy, Canadian forces were not recognized for any significant military contributions, and a Canadian had never been commander of more than a single division of soldiers. After their victory, however, both Britain and France viewed Canada and their soldiers as a military force to be reckoned with. In fact, Sir Arthur Currie became commander of the entire Canadian corps after his performance in commanding the first Canadian division at Vimy. This showed that the British commander...
Canada was one of Great Britain’s empire who fought under British units or in the Canadian Corps, formed by the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. These Canadians who fought aside with Great Britain earned a recognition of becoming an independent strong fighting force. They earned this reputation through one of World War One’s battles called, Vimy Ridge. Canadian soldiers who were in the Canadian Corps had an awful General named, Sam Hughes who preferred to use the Ross rifle. This type of weapon was too heavy and often jammed too many times to be used as a rifle for upcoming horrific battles. Thus, a new general replaced Sam Hughes and that was, Arthur Currie. General Currie had the desire for the Canadian Corps’ four divisions to fight together to take hold of Vimy Ridge. Arthur Currie made precise plans of military tactics that no general had done to their troops. General Currie gave his troops maps and had a duplicate model of Vimy Ridge so that troops are able to have an ideal look of what they should be taking hold of. Als...
some of the positive ways in which the war changed Canada but the most negative way in which
Battles such as Vimy Ridge, the Second Battle of Passchendaele and the Battle of the Somme were some of the worst battles that the world can find Canadian's. Our northern nation had boasted over 600,000 soldiers to the battlefields whilst also providing vital manufacturing facilities and training soldiers from across the world. The strong imperial bond between Canada and the 'Motherland' was an important factor in Canada's decision to participate wholeheartedly in World War I, and influenced many in their decision to join the army. Most Canadians felt a strong connection to the British Emp...
Robertson Davies, Fifth Business, Penguin Books Canada Ltd., Toronto, 1970. Sara Jeanette Duncan, The Imperialist, McClelland &Stewart Inc., Toronto, 1990. George Grant, Lament for a Nation, Carleton University Press, 1995, SOSC 2200 9.0A course kit. Sandra Gwyn, Tapestry of War, (Harper Collins, 1992, SOSC 2200 9.0A course kit. C.P. Stacey, Mackenzie King and the Atlantic Triangle, Joanne Goodman Lectures, 1976, SOSC 2200 9.0A course kit. Professor John Hutcheson, "King: The Quebec Connection and The U.S. Connection", SOSC 2200 9.0A Lecture, York University, Toronto, 4 Oct. 1999. Eric Kierans, The Source of All Our Troubles, Canadian Forum, 1992, SOSC 2200 9.0A course kit. Hugh MacLennan, Barometer Rising, McClelland &Stewart Inc., Toronto, 1989.
Canada also became a leader internationally as well. With such an enormous military contribution during the war, other countries began to recognize the success of Canada. People wanted to know more about Canada. Consequently, the war advanced Canada’s sense of identity.
Canada’s women and economy experienced some of the positive effects of World War 1, while the Canadians originating from different countries either than France and Great Britain (e.g. Germany, Austria and Ukrainians) experienced a higher level of discrimination. Increased discrimination against “ethnic Canadians” or “enemy aliens”, a bigger and wealthier Canadian economy and a new role and greater independence for women are 3 of the main effects from World War 1 on Canada’s homefront. The homefront of Canada was never the same after the effect of World War 1.
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Two history texts by Bumstead and Silver will be considered. The manner in which they organize Canadian history into logical and comprehensive periods will be taken into account. Each text establishes a chronological framework and within this, creates historical periods. Each period is intended to represent as logically as possible, the major cultural inclinations, political and social events, and thematic trends occurring within that period. Bumstead and Silver outline several broad periods, then delve into each period with a precise focus. Silver has a social focus within each period, and Bumstead has a thematic focus.
Bennet, P.; Cornelius J.; and Brune, N. Canada: A North American Nation. Second Edition ed. Canada: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, 1995.
Eden Robinson’s short story “Terminal Avenue” presents readers with the dystopian near-future of Canada where Indigenous people are subjugated and placed under heavy surveillance. The story’s narrator, Wil, is a young Aboriginal man who struggles with his own inner-turmoil after the suicide of his father and his brother’s subsequent decision to join the ranks of the Peace Officers responsible for “adjusting” the First Nations people. Though “Terminal Avenue” takes place in Vancouver there are clear parallels drawn between the Peace Officers of Robinson’s imagination and the Canadian military sent to enforce the peace during the stand-off at Oka, Quebec in 1990. In writing “Terminal Avenue” Robinson addresses the armed conflict and proposes
Thompson, John Herd, and Mark Paul Richard. "Canadian History in North American Context." In Canadian studies in the new millennium. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2008. 37-64.