In what ways did canada chage during the course of world war 1?

Answer 1

There was some resentment in Canada about being forced to participate in World War One. At the time Canada was still a possession of the UK, so when the war started Canada was obliged as part of the empire to join. After the war there was a major push for independence, which was successful. Of course when yet another massive war erupted in Europe they still joined, but at least this time it was voluntary and Canadian citizens were not subject to English conscription.

Answer 2

Canada grew as a nation because from the time that Canada automatically entered the war with Great Britain's declaration of war against Germany the people rallied around the cause. Even though Canada was ill prepared for war in 1914 with a standing army of a little over 3,000 and a fledgling navy (sounds like Canada's navy today), within a few months the first expeditionary force of over 32,000 was making it's way overseas. This marked the first time since the British North America act of 1867 had given Canada it's independence from Great Britain that the entire nation had rallied around a cause.

The battle record of that expeditionary force has become a point of national pride. From Ypres through the Somme the Canadians became a veteran & battle tested army, and for the first time in battle Canadian troops were led by their own officers. It was under this leadership that the Canadian corps took Vimy Ridge on Easter 1917 (just as America was finally entering the war) when all other attempts had been a bloody failure. From that point on they were the most feared shock troops on the western front, being sent into the line wherever the top brass needed to have the Germans pushed back.

Canada may have been granted it's independence by Britain in 1867, but it was from 1914 to 1918 that we grew into a true nation.


Before this turns into an essay on the impact of WW I on the growth of Canada as a nation, you can find more here: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/firstwar/canada