Canada's Involvement in World War One Research Paper

The First World War, which occurred from 1914 to 1918, was one of the largest and bloodiest wars in the history of humankind. At that time, Canada was a colony of Britain and was therefore forced to participate in the war. Some historians believe that it was righteous for Canada to enter the war, while others think otherwise. All in all, Canada should not have been forced to support Britain in the First World War because it was militarily, economically, and socially unprepared.

Firstly, Canada was not prepared for the war in terms of its military. In August 1914, Canada had a professional army of just 3,100 men to train a militia of 59,000. Consequently, the soldiers in the militia received faulty equipment and were ill-trained. Moreover, the Canadian navy comprised two obsolete British ships, and the country lacked an air force entirely. It is evident that Canada was militarily unprepared for the war in every aspect, whether it was its army, navy, or air force. The Second Battle of Ypres was the first major battle of World War I fought by the Canadians. They carried Ross Rifles, but those weapons were unsuitable as they jammed frequently. While the Canadians were ill-equipped, the Germans prepared chlorine gas, which was highly deadly and contributed significantly to the death count. Walter Thomas Robus was a Canadian soldier who participated in the Second Battle of Ypres. “The Huns used gases on us, and a lot died with them. It was awful for a while,” he wrote in a letter. In total, the battle resulted in approximately 6,500 Canadian casualties. At the end of the First World War, nearly 61,000 Canadians lost their lives, and 172,000 were wounded. Despite the dangerous and life-threatening nature of war in general, Canada’s unpreparedness played a major role in the substantial losses it faced, especially during the beginning of the war. If Canada were more prepared, there would have been fewer deaths and injuries, and if Canada did not participate in the first place, it would have avoided the casualties altogether.

Furthermore, Canada was unprepared for the war with respect to its economy. The Canadian economy was in a recession prior to the First World War, and the outbreak of the war placed Canada at risk of economic crisis. According to the Canadian War Museum, “Like most other combatants in 1914, Canadians expected the war to be short, victorious, and relatively inexpensive. They were wrong.” When the war began, it gave rise to layoffs, cutbacks, and the cancellation of contracts. The Canadians evidently underestimated the length and cost of the war. Considering that Canada was already in an economic recession before the war began, joining the war was not a decent option. Additionally, the wartime expenditures raised the Canadian federal budget and accumulated debt. The federal budget was around $185 million before the First World War, but at the peak of the war, the budget escalated to $750 million. The debt increased as well, and it quadrupled from approximately $300 million to $1.2 billion. Given the statistics, it is clear that the First World War significantly added to Canada’s economic burden, and for this reason, Canada should not have been obliged to participate. Overall, the eruption of the war placed Canada on the verge of an economic crisis, and as it prevailed, it caused the federal budget and national debt to inflate.

Finally, Canada was socially unprepared for the First World War. A considerable number of people from minority groups opposed the country’s participation in the war. For instance, religious pacifists and conscientious objectors were against the concept of war as a matter of principle. Canada also had immigrants from opponent countries such as Germany and Austria-Hungary, and they opposed the war due to obvious reasons. It is tangible that not all Canadians were supportive of the war, and as a result, Canada’s involvement led to conflict and tension within the country. Moreover, the relationship between French and English Canada was strained ever since the Rebellions of 1837 to 1838. The First World War added to the friction between the two groups, especially when Prime Minister Robert Borden introduced conscription in 1917. The action sparked aggressive opposition, particularly in Quebec, a French-speaking province. The country faced division, and an election occurred in 1917. In the election, Robert Borden of the pro-conscription Union Government faced Wilfrid Laurier of the anti-conscription Liberal Government. The Union Government won with 153 seats to 82, which led to the enforcement of conscription. According to author Lorne Brown, “Military conscription was implemented, accompanied by fierce opposition and considerable disorder in Quebec and sections of English Canada.” Anti-conscription riots took place in Quebec City in 1918, and the violence killed at least four people and wounded 35 others. It is evident that the First World War intensified the already-existing tension between the French and English Canadians, and therefore, Canada should not have been forced to support Britain. All in all, the Canadian involvement in World War I upset many minority groups and brought the hostility between French and English Canadians to new levels.

Overall, Canada’s pre-war drawbacks in its military, economy, and social relations rendered it unprepared to assist Britain in the First World War. Regarding its military, Canada had an ill-trained army, a futile navy, and an absence of air forces, which played a role in the appalling casualties faced by the nation. In terms of its economy, Canada was already facing an economic recession prior to World War I. The outbreak of the war caused the Canadian economy to plummet, and it augmented the federal budget and national debt. Regarding social relations, the Canadian involvement in the war enraged many minority groups, and the implementation of conscription aggravated the existing bitterness between the French and English Canadians. On the whole, Canada was by no means prepared to participate in a war that came to be one of the deadliest in history.