How Did Conscription Affect Canada

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Conscription generally had an overall negative effect on Canada in World War One; it caused a lot of separation between people which lead to fights. Conscription was created by the federal government in 1917. It was one of the fiercest and most divisive debates in the Canadian political history. Many Canadians were becoming less enthusiastic about war because of the high death rates. Voluntary recruitment was becoming harder and harder so Prime Minister Borden believed in the military value. Conscription made a large gap between many politicians, making them hate each other because they did not believe in conscription. A while before war had broken out French Canadians did not get along with English Canadians which caused only a few French …show more content…
Throughout World War I the enthusiasm that they had went down because of the rising death tolls and taxes for war efforts. When conscription was being put into action Prime Minister Borden knew that English Canadians would vote for him because of their patriotisms. Although many English Canadians were against it because they believed in no violence, majority of them still believed in the war. English Canadians wanted the men to come back home safely so the best option was to send more so they can get help. English Canadians who did not believe in conscription usually joined the non-combatant corps. They took off roles for cleaning and other labour they did not carry weapons but they were trained and expected to know the manner while being in uniform. Lord Hugh Cecil was a well-known church man who was against conscription; he felt sympathy for careful objectors but couldn’t force them to do what they thought was wrong or punish them for refusing to do something that they had though was wrong. If a man refused to go to war he was put in front of a judged which he was able to plead his case and if it was found best that he stays home they do not send him overseas. People believed that if someone was not willing to give service against the enemy the only choice for them was between civil and military positions. English Canadians may have been against conscription but the French hated

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