History 2201E Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Royal Canadian Legion, Total War, Canadian Literature
2 May 2018
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February 6, 2018
The Interwar Period: Part I
Part I. Post War Canada: Political and Economic Implications
1. Demobilization
- Nobody prepared on ally side for war to end – military and political leaders thought it
would continue until 1919-1920
o American soldiers had just gotten to Europe and fought their first battle
- Trends
o Total war – conscription taking effect
- War ends and Canadians soldiers want to get home
o Govt facing pressure to return them ASAP
o Takes over a year
o Waiting in military camps
o Soldiers are unhappy,
- Questions
o How quickly can we get them back?
o What will they do once they get back?
o What jobs are available for them?
o English/French Canada tension
o Govt farmers conscripted feel betrayed
o Those who earned poor wages didn’t complain
▪ About the national interest
- 1918: Department of Soldiers Civil Reestablishment
o established by the govt
o for vets not injured that are returning to Canada
o had problems readjusting
o trying to ease men back into civilian live
o only provided some of the things the men needed for a successful postwar career
and life
o disconnect between civilians and those who served in the military
- Great War Veterans Association = Canadian Legion
o Can talk to each other and be understood
o Shared a number of concerns
o Lobbying for rights and benefits of soldiers
- Social readjustment: making soldiers into farmers?
o Initial area that vets were eligible for
o Got farmlands and loans to start a farm
o Program failures:
▪ No prior experience of rural life and agriculture
▪ Given poor land and not well suited for agriculture
- Feelings of under-appreciation
o Pensions and benefits offered were not good
o 2nd biggest gov’t adventure was paying for soldiers’ pensions
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Post war canada: political and economic implications: demobilization. Nobody prepared on ally side for war to end military and political leaders thought it would continue until 1919-1920: american soldiers had just gotten to europe and fought their first battle. Trends: total war conscription taking effect. War ends and canadians soldiers want to get home: govt facing pressure to return them asap, takes over a year, waiting in military camps, soldiers are unhappy, Great war veterans association = canadian legion: can talk to each other and be understood, shared a number of concerns, lobbying for rights and benefits of soldiers. Feelings of under-appreciation: pensions and benefits offered were not good, 2nd biggest gov"t adventure was paying for soldiers" pensions legions constantly push for better benefits. More than 3,00 canadian veterans of the great war attended the unveiling of the. Canadian national vimy memorial on july 26, 1936. Factory workers immediately after the war revolted: job walk-offs, mass strikes.
