Conscription In World War One

Description caption: This picture portrays Mackenzie 's disapproving face of how unwilling he is to introduce the conscription. However, the governor general and his assistant look very happy since king introduced conscription and convinced them that it was going to make the conditions of overseas soldiers better. Mackenzie king did not want conscription because of the tensions that French and English Canadians faced during world war one. He didn’t want to imitate the mistakes again. In fact, he only wanted a limited number of men going overseas as a result of tremendous number of causalities.

So, many saw enlistment as an opportunity for better pay, employment, education, and travel (Deadly Story, 2015). Others wanted to prove themselves as equals to those of European background (Department of Veteran's Affairs, 2023). Yet, few got the chance to fulfill their desires by reason of the legislation in force. The legislation exempted “persons who [were] not substantially of European origin or descent” (Defence Act 1910, 1910) from military service. Men and women deemed insufficiently European could not serve.

Soldiers had no choices in WW1.The first example is the daft. there were people making a petition against the draft.” we respectfully submit that our government has no constitutional Authority to order out of state to which they belong”(document 16 ) .This proves soldiers have no choice because even if the troops they made petition the government still made them go out of state and fight in the war did not believe in.another thing that proves soldiers had no choice. A poem by Wilfred Owen shows how horrible the war is ”all my dreams before helpless sites he plunges at me gagging choking drowning” This shows how soldiers got drafted and didn't know what they were in for they had to see their friends and other soldiers dead on the ground, bullets

W.L. Mackenzie King’s decision to conscript soldiers during WWII is necessary and justified. The poster 's message is to simply convince Canadian citizens to agree that conscription is necessary for the Allies to win the war. The propaganda poster is targeted towards Canadian citizens but mainly young males and French Canadians living in Quebec. It is important to target French Canadians to agree with conscription because majority of French Canadians voted “no” and are against conscripting soldiers for the reason that they feel excluded and not connected to the war. Whereas, English Canadians feel nationalism causing them to agree with conscription and vote “yes”.

This promise would appeal to the French Canadians that did not feel a connection to Britain and did not feel any sense of loyalty. He also saw how conscription divided Canada at the end of the first world war, and did not want to recreate that scene. There came a time near the end of world war two when there was a shortage of men. This was due as a result of D-Day and the Dieppe raid. Many men were dying in the war and that must have discouraged other men in Canada from signing up.

Secondary Sources Walker’s article Race and Recruitment in World War I: Enlistment of Visible Minorities in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, discusses racism specifically towards the visible minorities during World War 1 in Canada. The article focuses on the racism experience by the Indians, blacks, and Japanese men, who although volunteered to give their time to serve in the war could not due to stereotypes that were upon them. In the introduction of this article, there is no doubt that racism was evident during this time, yet Walker questions, if World War 1 in Canada was a “white man’s war” meaning only whites are able and capable of fighting for this nation.

Legalized conscription truly revolutionized Canada’s future. The efforts put into making conscription possible created positive results, the increase in Canadian economy , increase in respect for women, and women 's political rights. All of this had only happened because of conscription. The Canadian economy improved drastically due to conscription.

World War One was a war unlike any other before or after; as time went on, countries from all around the world were dragged into European affairs, which led to powers exhausting resources to the fullest extent. Total War required all members of society to contribute and take on jobs of much significance that had lasting effects on culture. Throughout World War One both soldiers and civilians endured similar sufferings; however, the roles of each were significantly different from one another and they were affected by the war in various ways.

From the beginning of the United States’ history, conflict has always been prevalent. The need for armed forces continually grows, especially in times of war, as the fight for freedom becomes more challenging. Conscription, better known as the draft, was first introduced during the Civil War as a way to get more individuals involved in the military to fill vacant positions. The practice of the draft was finally discontinued in favor of an all-volunteer military system, when the need for troops was no longer necessary. After almost two decades of being involved overseas, the demand for armed troops is imperative once again.

onscription seems to violate some of the rights mentioned in both the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The debated constitutionality of conscription has gone on for years because the practice is listed in the constitution. However, there is no max extent to conscription power leading to disagreements between citizens and the government about how the use of this practice can lead to the constraint of other constitutional rights.

World War One was a time of great nationalistic and patriotic pride in the UK. There was a huge surge in the number of men voluntarily enlisting in the military during this time. During the months of August and September 1914, a total of 478,893 men joined the army. It was expected that the able-bodied young man would do their duty and go off to war and defend his country. No one thought it was an inhumane thing to expect the young men to go off to fight for a nation that they may or may not return to.

In 1939, no one thought that women, who weren 't even considered people decades before, would have such a massive impact in the Second World War. Canadian women 's contribution to the war effort, and their role at the home front and overseas had greatly increased since the previous, devastating First World War. The Second World War brought change to Canadian women on an unpredictable scale, though their volunteer work, paid labour force, and their contributions in the armed forces. Surely without the contributions made by the Canadian women, Canada and her allies would not have been as successful as they were. By far, the prime contribution made by Canadian women to the war effort came through their unpaid labour as volunteer work.

While this chapter covers World War II it is important to look at some of the outcomes and civil rights movements caused by this war. Due to a looming war, Congress approved the first Peacetime Draft in October of 1940, President Roosevelt calling for a “great arsenal of democracy.” While 15 million Americans joined the military it should be noted that due to this draft not all of them were willing recruits. America gave up its last apprehensions to join the war completely after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Americans of all ethnicities flocked to defend our country.

“The Draft,” as it is commonly referred to, was enacted in September of 1940. Even though the United States was not yet involved in World War II when the act was passed, President Roosevelt regarded it as a vital method of training American men for military service. By 1940, tensions between the United States and Germany were rising as the Nazis had invaded numerous European countries and the news of concentration camps was spreading. Throughout July of 1940, England was the next country to face Nazi aggression, as they faced attacks from the German airforce and navy. With fears that America would be the next country to face a German invasion, Roosevelt signed into law the Selective Training and Service Act, also proclaiming, “America stands

Events from the Home Front #1 - Conscription One of the most serious controversies experienced by many at the home front during WW1 was conscription. In 1914 Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden declared that conscription would never be necessary in Canada. Only 2810 men signed up to fight during the war but the Canadian government needed more men. In 1917 conscription was introduced and men were forced to enlist for the war as a result of the Military Service Act that was passed by Prime Minister Borden. Men aged 20-45 were forced to leave their families, join the war and fight for Britain.