1. How did the Treaty of Versailles impact them?
2. What type(s) of government did this country have in the interwar years(1919-1938)?
3. How did their leader, that led them throughout WWII, come to power?4. How did this leader change their country(for the better and worse) prior to WWII?
5. What were the goals of the leader?
6. What was the military strategy of this country in the inter-war years(1919-1938)?
7. What role did they play in WWII?
8. Who were their allies in WWII?
9. How did WWII impact/effect the country?
1) Canada was not nearly as affected by the Treaty of Versailles as countries such as Germany or Great Britain. They did, however receive a small amount of the war damages paid by Germany. Canada did not want any direct benefits from the treaty. They gained no land, and barely any money. Canada did receive more recognition as a nation though, because of their participation in the war.
2) Canada, for the longest time, was under direct power of Great Britain. However, between the years of 1919 an 1938, Canada followed their own Prime Minister, primarily Mackenzie King. Their government was and still is very similar to Great Britain's, as it is driven by the debates of parliament. There was much debate on whether Great Britain's declaration of war against Germany carried over to Canada, because the two shared a common Monarch. However, Prime Minister Mackenzie King was determined to let parliament decide on the issue, and later declared war with Germany as well as the other Axis Powers.
3) Mackenzie King was elected to parliament as a liberal in 1908. He moved through parliament for years until in 1921 when the Commons came under a majority of liberal seats, and Mackenzie was elected Prime Minister. Though he could not speak french, and cared little about it, Quebec gave him much support in his first election.
4) Mackenzie King shifted much of his attention to the prairies and the pioneers of Canada. He stopped the focus on the,"interests" and cared much more about the people. He also rallied for an independent Canada, one not overshadowed by the opinions and politics of London, but in control of its own policies and people. Great Britain did not rule Canada, but Canadian's desired to have their own voice in the world. He fought for this during his terms. Mackenzie also ushered in "old-age pensions" similar to American Social Security, only given upon need.
5) The Prime Minister of Canada, Mackenzie King was very concerned with social reform. One of his dearest projects was the expansion and betterment of the national capital. This plan involved town planning and more aesthetic beauty through things such as city gardens.
6) Though Prime Minister King did not believe in overseas concription, and reassured the people of Canada that there would be no such thing, there was a mandatory national registration for war service for all people over age 16. This registration was for home defense, not to fight overseas. However, this did not last long. All provinces of Canada, besides Quebec, voted for a national overseas conscription in necessary. After the Normandy invasion, Canada's man power had dwindled to the point where in 1944, draftees were sent overseas to Europe for the first time during the war. Canadians were instrumental in many parts of the war, such as the capture of Caen and the closing of the Falaise gap. Canada also produced nearly one million vehicles for the Commonwealth in WWII, such as the C15TA Armored Truck.
7) As I mentioned above, Canada had a huge industrial advantage for the Allies. Canada manufactured many vehicles and weapons to be used against the Axis powers, Canada provided thousands of men and received thousands of casualties. They also played a crucial role and provided hope for the longevity of British Government. It was established that if Germany managed to invade Britain, the entire British Government would be transferred to Canada. Luckily, this never happened. Canada was also the only Allied Power to win a D-day battle, with immensely strong forces behind them.
8) Canada was a part of the Allied Powers, which included Great Britain, the United States, France, Soviet Union, China, and Australia.
9) The Great Depression had affected Canada just as it had affected the USA, and WWII effectively brought an end to it. It increased the Canadian work force as they produced raw materials and goods needed to fight in the war. Industrialization spread rapidly through Canada and many technological advances were made.
When I first chose the topic of Canada for this blog, I wasn't expecting to even be able to answer all the questions. I had this notion that Canada's involvement in WWII would be small, even minuscule. However, upon my research, I took away much more than I expected, and found Canada to be a strong, resourceful nation, especially in the time of war. It was definitely a pleasant surprise.
Sources:
http://linksnorth.com/canada-history/canadaandworldwar2.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lyon_Mackenzie_King
Comments
O' Canada!! People need to realize Canada's involvement and give then the respect they deserve!
Well done!