THE WAR AT HOMETHE WAR AT HOME

Wars = Fought by soldiers on the FRONT LINESWars = Fought by soldiers on the FRONT LINES

WWI was an exception to this:WWI was an exception to this:

Although the battles of WWI never took place on Although the battles of WWI never took place on Canadian soil, the impact and cost of war was felt Canadian soil, the impact and cost of war was felt throughout the entire countrythroughout the entire country

The war affected the The war affected the home fronthome front in two very in two very significant ways:significant ways:

1. 1. It changed the Canadian Economy; andIt changed the Canadian Economy; and

2. 2. It changed the lives of Canadian women.It changed the lives of Canadian women.

The Canadian EconomyThe Canadian Economy

WWI – WWI – Canadian government now responsible for Canadian government now responsible for manufacturing and shipping millions of dollars manufacturing and shipping millions of dollars in war supplies to help support the in war supplies to help support the British British Army Army and and Canadian troopsCanadian troops::

1.1. MunitionsMunitions

2.2. ShellsShells

3.3. Aircraft PartsAircraft Parts

4.4. ClothesClothes

5.5. FoodFood

Demand for these supplies was extremely HIGH!

Canada was spending more than 1 million dollars a day!

STRAIN on the ECONOMYSTRAIN on the ECONOMY

PROBLEM:PROBLEM:

Men fighting in Europe + Women on their own Men fighting in Europe + Women on their own trying to raise and support family = Less trying to raise and support family = Less spending on goods and services.spending on goods and services.

SOLUTION:SOLUTION:

1.1. War LoansWar Loans

2.2. Victory BondsVictory Bonds

3.3. War Income TaxWar Income Tax

War LoansWar Loans

What = What = Government Government borrows money by borrows money by selling bonds to selling bonds to Investors and private Investors and private corporations. corporations. Redemption of money Redemption of money after 5, 10, or 20 years after 5, 10, or 20 years with 5% interest.with 5% interest.

Earnings = Earnings = $500 million$500 million

Victory BondsVictory Bonds

What = What = Government borrowed Government borrowed money by selling victory money by selling victory bonds to the general public. bonds to the general public. Redemption of money after Redemption of money after 5, 10, or 20 years with 5.5% 5, 10, or 20 years with 5.5% interest.interest.

Earnings = Earnings = More than 3 million More than 3 million Canadians bought VBs = Canadians bought VBs = $738 million$738 million

War Income TaxWar Income Tax

What = What = A direct tax A direct tax established in 1917. The established in 1917. The government collected government collected 3% 3% of gross earnings (before of gross earnings (before deductions) from a family deductions) from a family that earned more than that earned more than $3000 $3000 a year and from a year and from individuals who earned individuals who earned more than more than $1500 $1500 a year.a year.

This did not end with the This did not end with the war as the government war as the government promised!promised!

Canadian Women and WWICanadian Women and WWIIMAGINE: IMAGINE: The year = 1914The year = 1914

Men went to work everyday.Men went to work everyday.

Women remained at home to clean Women remained at home to clean the house, shop, cook, take care of the house, shop, cook, take care of children, do the laundry, etc.children, do the laundry, etc.

Women did not have the right to Women did not have the right to vote and jobs they did have were vote and jobs they did have were unskilled and paid very little.unskilled and paid very little.

NOW IMAGINE:NOW IMAGINE:

The Year = August 1914The Year = August 1914

Canada is suddenly shot into an Canada is suddenly shot into an epic World Battle.epic World Battle.

Millions of Canadian men sent Millions of Canadian men sent overseas to FIGHT.overseas to FIGHT.

Millions of Canadian women left Millions of Canadian women left home to support themselves and home to support themselves and their families and to fill the roles their families and to fill the roles that men left behind.that men left behind.

The Role of WomenThe Role of WomenFactories:Factories:

The Canadian government The Canadian government needed war supplies to be needed war supplies to be manufactured in Canadian manufactured in Canadian factories factories BUT BUT men overseas = men overseas = women begin to work in women begin to work in factories making war supplies.factories making war supplies.

Nurses:Nurses:

Over 2400 women enlisted in Over 2400 women enlisted in the army as nurses.the army as nurses.

18 women were killed.18 women were killed.

TOTAL WARTOTAL WAR

Total war is a conflict of unlimited scope in which a Total war is a conflict of unlimited scope in which a belligerent engages in a mobilization of all belligerent engages in a mobilization of all available resources at their disposal, whether available resources at their disposal, whether human, industrial, agricultural, military, natural, human, industrial, agricultural, military, natural, technological, or otherwise, in order to entirely technological, or otherwise, in order to entirely destroy or render beyond use their rival's capacity destroy or render beyond use their rival's capacity to continue resistance.to continue resistance.

From what you have learned about WWI – Do you From what you have learned about WWI – Do you believe it was a TOTAL WAR?believe it was a TOTAL WAR?

YOUR TASKYOUR TASKThink about and respond to the following question in a well written and Think about and respond to the following question in a well written and

proper paragraph:proper paragraph:

Was the change that Canadian women experienced during Was the change that Canadian women experienced during WWI a positive change OR do you think they were being WWI a positive change OR do you think they were being exploited?exploited?

Consider the following when developing your response:Consider the following when developing your response:1.1. Poor wages BUT Extra IncomePoor wages BUT Extra Income2.2. InflationInflation3.3. Child Care DilemmasChild Care Dilemmas4.4. Societal Expectations of WomenSocietal Expectations of Women5.5. Lost jobs when soldiers returnedLost jobs when soldiers returned6.6. New found independenceNew found independence7.7. The VoteThe Vote