Conscription In Canada Essay

Conscription is the mandatory enrollment of which requires all able-bodied individuals to join the military.1 Approximately 108,000 Canadians were conscripted in World War I.2 Before Conscription, the Canadian government used propaganda to encourage voluntary enlistment. Unemployment was high at the being of the war, so militarily enlistment was a job opportunity. This prompted the heavy flow of enrollment. This means, those who wanted to join the militarily had done so; the rest would have to be convinced or forced. Two years into the war, 75,000 men were required annually to replace the lives lost.3 After these series of events, conscription was put in place. Conscription, when introduced during World War I, created different perspectives,

resulted in tension between English and French Canadians, and impacted the government's war effort.

When Conscription was created in Canada, many opinions about it were formed.

The English Canadians were for conscription. English speaking Canadians, British immigrants, families of soldiers and older Canadians supported it because it was part of the nationalism and patriotism in Canadian.4 This is significant because this is the perspective that Prime Minister Borden wanted. The French Canadians were against conscription. French Canadians did not want to fight for Britain and felt little affiliation to France.5 They felt like they should not have to fight for something that they did not owe anything too. This shows the opposing perspective that caused Canada's biggest debate. Conscription was not favoured by families. Conscription forcefully broke apart families and sent of husbands and fathers off to war with the fear of never returning. This shows a perspective that is different from the main two because it has nothing to do with patriotism or affiliation. Therefore, following Conscription, different perspectives were

created.

Conscription caused tension between English and French Canadians. English Canadians did not believe that French Canadians were providing a fair share to the war effort. The English generally supported conscription and understood why it had to be done. When they saw that the French opposed it, they contributing more than the French and were angered.6 This shows the anger brought about because of conscription. French Canadians stopped believing Canada could be one union of two cultures. French Canadians felt betrayed and dishonoured that they had to be part of conscription.. They did not feel like they should fight for the British or owned the Canadian government anything.7 This is significant because it created the divided between the English and French. Conscription caused the battle between Conservative Sir Robert Borden and Liberal Sir Wilfrid Laurier. In the federal election Borden used unionism and pro-consription to attract the majority of the English Canadian population.8 Wilfrid did not agree to conscription and fought for French Canada. This shows the head to head tension between the government caused by conscription. Therefore, conscription in World War I brought about tension between the English, French and the government.

Conscription impacted the governments war effort and loyalty in Canada.

The Canadian Parliament passed the Military Service Act. On August 28 of 1917, the Military Service Bill was passed and brought Conscription into law. Two days of violence in Montreal followed this. This Québec riot was only the beginning. After arrests, more rioting and even death, English and French Canada was divided.9 This shows the governments actions affecting the Canada because of the war. The issue left Canadians divided and distrustful of their government. In December 1914, Borden promised that “there has not been, there will not be, compulsion or conscription.” Out of the 108,000 soldiers conscription, only 48,000 made it overseas and less than half made it to the front. 10 Borden broke his promise to Canadians and conscription was almost pointless. This shows negativity towards the governments war effort. Conservatives were shut out of Quebec. For 50 years, the conscription crisis made the French nationalism vengeful, driving a wedge between Canada's linguistic divide.11 This shows the problems that the Canadian government had to suffer due to conscription. Proven through these events, conscription impacted the governments war

effort.

In conclusion, conscription in World War I caused tension within Canada, created positive and negative preservatives, and impacted the Canadian government. Conscription caused English and French Canada to divide as two cultures. It also lead to distrust in the government. Conscription caused so much negativity and proved itself pointless. Conscription in World War I lead to many events in Canada and added history to our country.