Canada: The Arsenal of Democracy

How the War Changed our International Identity

Democracy

• Def’n: – the political orientation of those who favor

government by the people or by their elected representatives

– a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

What does democracy mean to you, knowing so many Canadian soldiers gave their lives for the

preservation of this process?

How we helped

• Canada provided a great deal of economic support to Allied countries during World WarII– Gave $3.4 billion to Allied countries

• In 1939 Canada put $5.6 billion into the war– By 1945 Canada invested $11.8 billion per year in

to the war

Our Economic Boom

• Aluminum– Used in the production of aircraft because it is rust

proof and light weight• Paper– Previous world leaders in paper were Norway and

Sweden, but that area was German occupied and shipment to Allied countries was prohibited

• Oil– It takes oil to wage war, and we found some in

Alberta

Gross Domestic Product

• The value of all goods (such as food, cars, airplanes) and services (such as nursing, insurance, and education) produced in a country in one year.

Value of Canada’s gross domestic product (total value of all goods

and services produced)

Changes to Canada’s Economy

• Canada’s economy was previously based on agriculture– It was overtaken by industry• Manufacturing was now much more important

• Investments in mining, production, transportation and service industries increased

• Cities and suburbs became the big contributors to the Canadian economy

Canadian Identity

World War II is often called the good war?

Why?

He says it was a good war

It was a good war. I’m not talking about a good war from the standpoint of a high moral purpose. If going out and killing millions of Germans to get Hitler off his pedestal is a high moral purpose, then I’m all for it.

But it was a good war for Canada too, because it made us a great nation. I mean it showed what we could do. We just weren’t a bunch of wheat farmers and Nova Scotia fishermen and lumberman in BC. We were a nation. A big and tough and strong nation.– Barry Broadfoot

International Effects

• Canada established itself as a middle power– Smaller than the big, but wealthier than the small

• Started taking on a globally active role• As a middle power Canada would play a vital

role in creating the United Nations

Internationally our soldiers …

• Our soldiers through some very heroic fighting gained a reputation for being effective and fearless– Especially in: • Dieppe• Hong Kong• Normandy• Liberation of Holland

Back at home

• There were large contributions to the war by black and aboriginal people– This was formally recognized by the Canadian

Government and the international community• This helped with the cause of civil rights in

Canada• Women also were recognized for their

contributions

And this all lead to …

• The recognized contributions by minority groups lead to:– Canada being a more tolerant nation (less

discrimination of minorities) • The other effect of the war on Canada was the

baby boom– Men who came home started families (large families) – Many women who met soldier over seas moved to

Canada with the families that they started while the war was in progress• These women were called the “war brides”

Start Studying

• Your test for WW II is on February 22, 2011• You will need to know– Why WW II happened• The rise of totalitarianism• Germany under Hitler• Fundamental causes• Immediate causes

– The events of the European and Pacific theaters• The battles and battle styles

Start Studying

• Canada on the home front– Conscription and the plebiscite– Japanese internment– Spies– NRMA

• Issues and Politics– Holocaust– Atom Bombing

• What we learned about today – Our international image post war

Vocabulary

Totalitarianism U-BoatsMussolini ConvoysHitler Italian CampaignNAZI Operation

Overlord/ D DayAnti-Semitism V-E DayBlitzkrieg Pearl HarbourLuftwaffe POWBattle of Britain V-J DayDieppe RCAF Women’s

Division

Vocabulary

BCATP NRMAEnemy Aliens Internment

CampsHolocaust Final

SolutionAuschwitz TehranYalta

Potsdam