Most Canadians were ready to do their part and help Empire and King:

Men enlisted in the Canadian Corps Men/women joined church groups and

formed charities to help the families of men who had left

Women’s societies sent people for medical purposes

Everyone adopted a policy of rationing and conserving – Soldiers of the Soil – farming to serve troops overseas

Created by parliament

Collected money for families affected by the war until 1916, when the government took over the responsibility

Coop stores were set up where families could buy cheap products

Pacifists: those who opposed the warMennonitesHutteritesEducation rights, rights to vote were

taken awayThose who refused to fight due to

religious rights had to face discrimination and aggression

German Canadians:Targeted by Canadians as being

unsupportive to the war effort and anti patriotic

Often led to hatred of all things German and Austrian

Kitchener, Ont. – formerly named Berlin, with a large German population. Germans living there faced discrimination

Enemy AliensUkrainian immigrants who were suspected

of sympathizing with the enemyIf they weren`t yet Canadian citizens, and

therefore a citizen of a foreign country, they were seen as enemy aliens, because they often came from A-H

Internment camps: forced labour, harsh living conditions, government confiscated property

At the start of the war in 1914, Canadians of all colors rushed to enlist – many were originally sent away

Upon hearing that Black Canadians were eager to join, the military attempted to incorporate them into a segregated work battalion

General belief of the Canadian military: 1.  Nothing is to be gained by blinking

facts.  The civilized negro is vain and imitative; in Canada he is not being impelled to enlist by a high sense of duty; in the trenches he is not likely to make a good fighter; and the average white man will not associate with him on terms of equality. 

2.  In France, in the firing line, there is no place for a black battalion, C.E.F.  It would be eyed askance; it would crowd out a white battalion; and it would be difficult to re-enforce.

3.  Nor could it be left in England and used as a draft-giving depot; for there would be trouble if negroes were sent to the front for the purpose of reinforcing white battalions; and, if they are any good at all, they would resent being kept in Canada for the purpose of finding guards, etc.

  (a) As at present, to allow Negroes to enlist, individually, into white battalions at the discretion of commanding officers.

      (b) To allow them to form one or more labour battalions.  Negroes from Nova Scotia, for example, would not be unsuitable for the purpose.

The decision of the Canadian officials was that most Black Canadians were placed in labour battalions, where they:

Dug trenchesBuilt bridgesdefused landmines

Some Black Canadians did get to see front line action and were quite successful

Jeremiah Jones – served on front lines during Battle of Vimy Ridge (1917)

Crossed the battlefield and single handed

killed 7 Germans with 1 hand grenade

Marched 6 Germans back to front lines as POW’s

Recommended for a Distinguished Conduct Medal - he never received it