Canada’s Role in the Past

People were really struggling in the dirty 30s, the great depression made the whole economy world collapse, and the only way to stop the depression was to start World War II! Canada had gained a lot of power over the past few years. This resulted in a better role for the Canadians in that upcoming war. Following are some of the factors that benefited Canada during World War 1 and the interwar years. 

Firstly, Canada played a great role in WW1 as one of the members of the Allies of World War 1 when it joined Entente Powers led by Great Britain, France, and Russia. Canada made huge progress in the War. Its offense during the campaign was able to break through lines and win important battles at Arras, Cambrai, and Valenciennes. At Paris Peace Conference, Canada gained international recognition as an independent nation for the first time by having its own seat at the conference. Bordon insisted that he be included among the leaders who signed the Treaty of Versailles. 

Secondly, after WW1, Canada changed relations with Britain by being more independent as a separate nation. At the Imperial Conference, Canada was able to make the greatest progress towards changing its legal dependence on Britain. The Balfour Report was published, and it stated that Canada was acknowledged as an autonomous community within the British Empire. Later in 1931, the Balfour Report was passed down as a law, officially recognizing Canada as an independent country. The British Empire turned into the British Commonwealth, and Canada could make its own laws like Britain. This changed Canada’s role in WW2 by fighting as an independent country. 

Lastly, at the end of the First World War, there was a rise of communism, which also affected the role of Canada in WW2. A lot of production factories and disrupted transportation were publicly owned, which meant that there was no private or individual ownership of business or land. This affected the role of Canada by having revolutionary-inspired workers in Canada trying to improve working conditions, which placed a more significant role in WW2. 

About WWI

As events soon proved, Canadians excelled in aerial combat. In providing many members of the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Naval Air Service, and later the Royal Air Force, Canada made a great contribution in this field. More than 23,000 Canadian airmen served with British Forces and over 1,500 died.

Source: https://www.mta.ca/library/courage/canadasroleinwwi.html

About WW2

Their main duty was to act as convoy escorts across the Atlantic, in the Mediterranean, and to Murmansk in the USSR. They also hunted submarines and supported amphibious landings in Sicily, Italy, and Normandy.

Source: https://www.mta.ca/library/courage/canadasroleinwwii.html

Feature Image : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1974-118-18,_Mobilmachung.jpg

By Yichun Eason Shi

Hello I am a Concordia Ontario Academy Student Reporter

No widgets found. Go to Widget page and add the widget in Offcanvas Sidebar Widget Area.
Search