CONSCRIPTION IN WWII

Reconstructing history Through Primary Source

Analysis

Instructions for class today…

1) For the first 30 minutes of the class you will work as an individual to prepare your notes for the 2 articles assigned to you.

2) Please use the handout provided to make your notes it will be collected to see how you did!

On your handouts… follow the prompts

Date: don’t assume that the date stamped on the article is the date of production….it could be the archive stamp

Central issue: What issue related to the conscription crisis did this particular article focus upon?

Bias: Is the author presenting only one side of the issue

Quote: Use a quote from your article that shows you understand the central issue…pick one that you feel sums up the tone/focus of the article

In the second part of the class you will work in assigned groups…

1) Your goal is to piece together evidence from the primary sources to get a sense of what the mood in Canada/Parliament was around conscription in WWII

2)Your task is to create a chart or list of issues/events/debates related to the conscription crisis

Final Challenge

1)Try and put the articles in sequence in order from first to last

2)Re-read- does it make sense based upon what you learned in class about the way in which MacKenzie- King handled the issue?

A Quick Review…

• Prime Minister Mackenzie King does not want to force conscription upon Canadians (remember it had divided the country in WWI)

• From the outset, some feel conscription should be implemented to avoid the difficulties faced in recruiting during WWI

• 1940-King implements the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA)

• All single men 18 and older must register for compulsory military service- they will not be sent overseas but will remain in Canada for home defence (nicknamed “Zombies”)

A Quick Review (continued)• By 1942 there was a genuine fear that

Britain would soon fall to the Nazis

• In 1942 King addressed the issue with a referendum (plebiscite) – he asks Canadians to release him from the promise that there would be no conscription

• He faced criticism for holding a referendum- some felt the Government should make such decisions

• “Not necessarily conscription but conscription if necessary.”

• 73 % French Canadians vote NO while 80% English Canadians vote YES

A Quick Review (continued)

• As the country is once again divided, King makes further appeals for volunteers

• 1944- high casualties mean more troops are needed

• King mobilizes the Zombies to go overseas- protests follow

• Late 1944- 13 000 Canadian men sent overseas

• Only 2500 of these men ever reached the battlefield as the war was almost over.