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Canadian History 1201
The need for a larger labour force increased as factories began to operate seven days a week, with 12 hour days being the norm
As men left vital jobs to go off to war, there was a dramatic increase in the number of women in the workforce
In 1942, the federal government established the National Selective Service(NSS) to recruit as many women as possible for wartime work
At first the NSS only recruited unmarried women between the ages of 20 and 24
By 1943 however, all women were being encouraged to do the “patriotic duty”
Quebec and Ontario provided daycare for some mothers so that they could work and the federal government provided some tax breaks for women
Young women from cities and small towns left to work in factories while other poured into industrial centres
By 1944, the number of women in the work force had grown to over 1 million
Women also played an important role in working side by side with the men who had remained on farms to produced food for the war effort
The more things change, the more they stay the same:
Women were paid less than men for the same work
After the war:
Women`s branches of the military were disbanded
Women weren`t allowed to enlist in the forces again until the Korean War in 1951
Women were expected to ‘give’ their jobs back to returning soldiers
Their contribution was evident as Canada shipped 90 million bushels of wheat to Europe in 1942 alone A bushel contains
approximately 60 lbs
As in the First World War, women volunteers operated service clubs and canteens for military personnel, wrapped parcels for prisoners of war and knit socks and sweaters for troops overseas
Women also raised money for Victory Bonds, which helped finance the cost of war and ran homes and farms
Video: Rosie the Riveter (2:46)
Video: Danger! Women at Work (9:32)
During the Second World War Canadian people, industry and resources were focused on maintaining the flow of weapons and supplies to Britain
Canadian factories created bombs and bullets, while shipyards and aircraft factories expanded their operations
In 1942 the automotive industry also converted to the war effort
The production of sleek luxury cars and family sedans was replaced by the production of Bren-Gun Carriers and armored cars
The federal government played a key role in coordinating war production and planning the total war effort
Canadian war factories were safe from the bombing that was being experienced in Europe
Canada became an arsenal, and was Britain’s chief overseas supplier of war material
Mutual Aid – a lend-lease program for Canadian allies which supplied them with four billion dollars worth of war material
A further credit of a billion dollars was given to Britain
11 billion dollars of munitions
1.7 million small arms
43,000 heavy guns
16,000 aircraft
2 million tonnes of explosives
815,000 military vehicles, 50,000 tanks and armoured gun carriers
9,000 boats and ships
Uranium for the “Manhattan Project”
Canada was faced with the challenge of creating –
practically from scratch – a strong industrial base to
produce weapons and war materials for the war effort.
Canadian industry and the workforce of our country
stepped up with an amazing response to this situation and
helped contribute to the Allied victory in the war.
Buying Victory Bonds (War Bonds) were essential to the war effort on the home front
They were a popular way to pay for the war in all the countries involved
Sugar was the first item to be rationed, followed quickly by tea, coffee, butter, gasoline and other vital materials
People were encouraged not to throw away materials such as metal, rubber, cloth and food waste
They would be recycled and used in the war effort
The war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945, which became known as V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day)
The war in the South Pacific ended on August 14, 1945, called V-J Day (Victory in Japan Day)
This war ended when the United States dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan
The losses Canada had in the war increased patriotism and set the stage for Canada’s role in the world after the war
55 million worldwide died in battles, concentration camps and at home
The Human Cost of the War for Canada
Enlistment Fatalities
Army 730,159 22,917
Air Force 249,662 17,101
Navy 106,552 2,024
TOTAL 1,090,782 42,042
The war had cost Canada $18 billion and created a debt of more than $10 billion
Yet new industries had developed during the war, making Canada an important industrial nation
During the war:
Agriculture became increasingly mechanized
Manufacturing saw massive growth
Exports increased
Government spending increased substantially
Unemployment virtually disappeared
More than 1 million women moved into the workforce
The economy not only recovered from the Great
Depression, which had preceded the war, but it also
gained momentum that would lead to rapid postwar
prosperity
From 1946 to 1957, Canada saw increased prosperity, partly due to the needs of a rapidly growing population for homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and factories
Canada’s exports also continued to grow with its participation in the United States led reconstruction of a war-ravaged Europe
Canada and the United States were the only two major industrialized countries whose infrastructures were substantially expanded during the war rather than devastated