World War 1 (WW1) held the defining years of Canada as a nation and united its people. When studying WW1 the main focus of the people are white Canadians, the other races are not highlighted and brings up the discussion as to what their contributions were to the war. Canada was not always known for its multiculturalism, minority groups were discriminated before, during and after the war; through their contributions came liberation many years later when Canadians learned the minority's will to fight for a country that has so wrongly oppressed them. Life Before the War
During the early 20th century Japanese Canadians were a very limited population and only started to immigrate to Canada in the late 19th century. Canadians were not welcoming of their new residents, racism reached up to government officials who made laws and taxes that made their lives in Canada even more difficult. 1 The hate brewed so strongly that Anti-Asian riots began to bring attention of the growing populations of Asians in Vancouver. Activists of these riots felt that their labor forces were threatened of being taken but because of the Asians very limited choice in work (law made in 1902 prohibited many jobs in British Columbia) there were not many choices, they also feared that their population will be overtaken.2 These riots were violent and destructive, several thousand dollars worth of damage done to stores and homes. Fortunately, there were no casualties; though it was the start of making the Gentlemen's Agreement. These riots were Canadians insisting the government to limit the immigration of Asian people. The Hayashi-Lemieux 'Gentlemen’s Agreement' restricted Japanese males to 400 a year, this was only placed for men so there was an increase of Japanese women joining their husbands in Canada.3 Black Canadians were also another source of cheap labor and although laws prohibited from slave owning, there were still heavy legal barriers that only encouraged a sense of superiority to white Canadians. Black settlements were usually located outside major cities and isolated from other black communities.4 These were attempts to further segregate black people from the white, this followed through in education, public services, and laws. Exploiting the fact that Blacks don't have a fair chance in the job pool, citizens often took advantage of their desperate need for a job and paid them significantly less for a hard labor job. Most of the Jewish population were refugees from Russia, the mass of them were located in Montreal and Toronto.5 They were usually shopkeepers or jobs in business, the rest worked in the labor forces such as factories. Anti-semitism grew explosively in Montreal where most Jews lived, this stemmed from religious ideas of French Nationalism that portrayed Jews "as exploiters, as threats to Christian morality and civilization, and as symbols of the evils of internationalism, Liberalism, bolshevism, materialism and urban life."6 Jewish people established religious importance and had several churches built in their communities and promoted their Yiddish culture with libraries and theatres. 7 Jews were not as discriminated as other minorities because of their past relations with Canada but they were also never accepted as being a Canadian in society. Military Contributions Canadians were excited to serve their country when war first broke out, filled with nationalism eager men enlisted as fast as they could. …show more content…
Although white soldiers were accepted without much exceptions lots of men from other races were denied from joining or the very least, had a lot of difficulty when enlisting. All Asians were refused to join the war in British Columbia, as a result around 200 Issei volunteers overcame B.C's racial barrier and traveled to Alberta where they were accepted.8 Similar circumstances occurred with the Black Canadians, they were initially rejected but after much persistence the Nova Scotia No. 2 Construction Battalion was created solely for them.9 At times of war white Canadians felt that it was their country to defend, not the others but as the minorities endured the racial ignorance and tried to prove to that they were loyal to their new home, Canada became more lenient in accepting their help. Those that did not join the war efforts were usually confined and were under
During the early 20th century Japanese Canadians were a very limited population and only started to immigrate to Canada in the late 19th century. Canadians were not welcoming of their new residents, racism reached up to government officials who made laws and taxes that made their lives in Canada even more difficult. 1 The hate brewed so strongly that Anti-Asian riots began to bring attention of the growing populations of Asians in Vancouver. Activists of these riots felt that their labor forces were threatened of being taken but because of the Asians very limited choice in work (law made in 1902 prohibited many jobs in British Columbia) there were not many choices, they also feared that their population will be overtaken.2 These riots were violent and destructive, several thousand dollars worth of damage done to stores and homes. Fortunately, there were no casualties; though it was the start of making the Gentlemen's Agreement. These riots were Canadians insisting the government to limit the immigration of Asian people. The Hayashi-Lemieux 'Gentlemen’s Agreement' restricted Japanese males to 400 a year, this was only placed for men so there was an increase of Japanese women joining their husbands in Canada.3 Black Canadians were also another source of cheap labor and although laws prohibited from slave owning, there were still heavy legal barriers that only encouraged a sense of superiority to white Canadians. Black settlements were usually located outside major cities and isolated from other black communities.4 These were attempts to further segregate black people from the white, this followed through in education, public services, and laws. Exploiting the fact that Blacks don't have a fair chance in the job pool, citizens often took advantage of their desperate need for a job and paid them significantly less for a hard labor job. Most of the Jewish population were refugees from Russia, the mass of them were located in Montreal and Toronto.5 They were usually shopkeepers or jobs in business, the rest worked in the labor forces such as factories. Anti-semitism grew explosively in Montreal where most Jews lived, this stemmed from religious ideas of French Nationalism that portrayed Jews "as exploiters, as threats to Christian morality and civilization, and as symbols of the evils of internationalism, Liberalism, bolshevism, materialism and urban life."6 Jewish people established religious importance and had several churches built in their communities and promoted their Yiddish culture with libraries and theatres. 7 Jews were not as discriminated as other minorities because of their past relations with Canada but they were also never accepted as being a Canadian in society. Military Contributions Canadians were excited to serve their country when war first broke out, filled with nationalism eager men enlisted as fast as they could. …show more content…
Although white soldiers were accepted without much exceptions lots of men from other races were denied from joining or the very least, had a lot of difficulty when enlisting. All Asians were refused to join the war in British Columbia, as a result around 200 Issei volunteers overcame B.C's racial barrier and traveled to Alberta where they were accepted.8 Similar circumstances occurred with the Black Canadians, they were initially rejected but after much persistence the Nova Scotia No. 2 Construction Battalion was created solely for them.9 At times of war white Canadians felt that it was their country to defend, not the others but as the minorities endured the racial ignorance and tried to prove to that they were loyal to their new home, Canada became more lenient in accepting their help. Those that did not join the war efforts were usually confined and were under