Transcript CONSCRIPTION IN WWII Reconstructing history Through Primary Source Analysis

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 MacKenzieKing 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 referendumsome 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 overseasprotests follow
• Late 1944- 13 000 Canadian men sent overseas
• Only 2500 of these men ever reached the
battlefield as the war was almost over.