Events that took place from 1915-1917
Vocabulary Definitions Covered in This Lesson: Turning Point, Allied Powers, Central Powers
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1) The Sinking of the Lusitania, 1915 and the United States joining WWI, 1917
A turning point is when something that was in status quo before is changing the balance of how a situation is going.
The event as shown in the movie below shows how the use of new German war technology, the U-Boat, against civilians who were British, Canadian, and American agitated the United States and "persuaded" them to join the war on the Allied Powers side in 1917. (McDermott, 2018)
The event as shown in the movie below shows how the use of new German war technology, the U-Boat, against civilians who were British, Canadian, and American agitated the United States and "persuaded" them to join the war on the Allied Powers side in 1917. (McDermott, 2018)
Cause & Consequence:
1) Germany knew that British ships (whether it's civilian or not) were bringing weapons overseas from North America to help support the war front in Europe. (McDermott, 2018) 2) Germany broke naval rules when it started attacking passenger ships like the Lusitania. (McDermott, 2018) 3) Germany killed 128 Americans when it sank the Lusitania in 1915. 4) Germany also sunk 2 more American ships in 1917. (Hoogeveen, 2014) 5) The United States joined the war in April, 1917. (Hoogeveen, 2014) A) In the above 5 points, indicate whether the statement benefited the Central Powers (Germany, Austro-Hungary) or the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Italy). |
Historical Perspective:
B) Do you think it was fair for the Germans to break naval rules if the British/Canadians/Americans were using passenger ships to send war supplies and weapons to Europe? |
2) The Halifax Explosion: December 6th, 1917
What Happened? (Kernagan & Foot, 2011)
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Statistics About the Event: (Kernagan & Foot, 2011)
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C) Who's Fault Was It & What Can We Learn About This Event?
- Was it the commanding officer of the harbour who was controlling traffic?
- Was it the captain of the Mont Blanc who was coming into the pier and seeing there's a ship in front and "assumed" it was going to move out of the way in time within a narrow channel?
- Or was it someone else?
- Explain your reasoning.
- What can we learn from this event?
3) The Conscription Crisis
--Canada was running out of soldiers by 1917. This is a war. People die and they're never going to come back.
--However, is the war over?
--So what does the Canadian government do?
--However, is the war over?
--So what does the Canadian government do?
Prime Minister Robert Borden Introduces The Military Service Act.
(Cranny & Moles, 2010)
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Remember: Who Wanted to Join the War? Who Didn't?
It was the English speaking Canadians who felt a tie with their "mother" country that signed up to serve.
French Canadians and Indigenous Peoples were absolutely against it. |
--I want you to think: If you, as the Prime Minister of Canada, got elected by your citizens because they trust that you won't force them into going to war---and suddenly you introduce this "Act" that forces people to go to war--what do you think is going to happen to you in the next election??
Ethical Dimensions of History:
D) Do you think it is fair to force people to go to war? Was this move necessary? Why or Why not?
D) Do you think it is fair to force people to go to war? Was this move necessary? Why or Why not?
4) The Khaki Election of 1917 (Cranny & Moles, 2010)
--PM Borden needed to win the next election.
--So he came up with a plan: If the citizens who were living in Canada were not liking his decisions recently, he needs more people to vote.
--So how do you get more people to vote for him?
--So he came up with a plan: If the citizens who were living in Canada were not liking his decisions recently, he needs more people to vote.
--So how do you get more people to vote for him?
Military Voters Act
--This Act allowed men and women serving overseas to vote
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Wartime Elections Act:
--gave the vote to all Canadian women "related to servicemen"
--cancelled the vote for all those who "opposed the war due to religious or moral reasons". --cancelled the vote for immigrants who had come from enemy countries in the last 15 years. |
Continuity and Change:
With all these "specific" conditions of voting in the next election, Borden managed to secure his win once again.
E) Do you think the pros outweigh the cons in this Khaki Election? (Since women of certain families are now given the right to vote, etc. ) Explain.
E) Do you think the pros outweigh the cons in this Khaki Election? (Since women of certain families are now given the right to vote, etc. ) Explain.
Works Cited
- Cranny, Michael William, and Garvin Moles. Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues. Pearson, 2010.
- Hoogeveen, Margaret, and Sarah Murdoch. McGraw-Hill Ryerson Creating Canada: A History -- 1914 to the Present. a History -- 1914 to the Present, 2014.
- Kernaghan, Lois, and Richard Foot. “Halifax Explosion.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, Historica Canada, 13 Jan. 2011, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/halifax-explosion.
- McDermott, Annette. “How the Sinking of Lusitania Changed World War I.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 17 Apr. 2018, https://www.history.com/news/how-the-sinking-of-lusitania-changed-wwi.