*Britain still controlled Canada’s foreign policy

*When Britian declared war on Germany, Canada, along with the rest of the British Empire, was automatically at war.

*Prime Minister Robert Borden ($100 bill) offered Britain 25 000 troops, but more than 30 000 volunteers from across Canada signed up within the first month.

*Most believed that the war would be short and they would be home for Christmas

*This was not the case

*Some were looking for an exciting adventure

*Some were looking for a chance to escape financial hardships at home

*The English Canadians remained committed to the war effort

*French Canadians did not

*English Canadians felt that if Germany was a threat to England then it was a threat to Canada

*The French acknowledged their place in the Empire but did not feel the need to fight for Britain – isolated from European Conflict for the most part

*Introduced by Borden almost immediately after war was declared

*Granted the Canadian government the authority to do everything necessary “for the security, defence, peace, order, and welfare of Canada.”

*Classified Germans, Austrians, and Hungarians who had not yet become British subjects as “Enemy Aliens”

*Government had the power to:

*Detain people without laying charges

*Censor mail

*Strip ordinary Canadians of their civil liberties

*This act extended voting rights to all men and women serving in the armed forces regardless of age or ethnicity

*As volunteers became few, the Borden government felt the need to continue supporting Britain

*This Act called for all men aged 20 – 45 to report for compulsory military service

*Quebec hated this

*On website.