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Triple Alliance
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Triple Entente
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Development of the Alliences
This is when Britain, France and Russia joined together to form the Triple Entente and Austria-Hungary, Germany and Italy joined together to form the Triple Alliance. The alliances were formed to stop wars from occurring by having an equal amount of military force within the alliances. They thought it would form a stalemate of power and both Britain And Germany were partaking in an arms race to have the largest army in their history. -
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The assassination was carried out while Franz Ferdinand was visiting Sarajevo, a city in Austria-Hungary, bordering Serbia. Serbia has been facing constant opposition from Austria-Hungary, which led to unease within Serbia. -
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (continued)
The assassin group, The Black Hand, then travelled to Sarajevo and with 2 quick shots from Gavrilo, both the Archduke and his wife Sophie, were killed. Gavrilo Princip was caught and imprisoned for 20 years but his colleague who escaped was never found. Gavrilo, while he was in prison, died before the war could end. -
Franz Ferdinand
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The First Canadian Division
Canadians first battled in the war in August of 1914 -
The Second battle of Ypres
This battle takes place in Ypres, Belgium where France, Britain, Canada, Germany and even Morocco joined to fight. This battle introduced the use of chlorine gas in chemical warfare, with Germany completely overthrowing the British and French forces with brutal attacks of chlorine gas strait into the trenches. -
The Second battle of Ypres (continued)
Shortly after the Canadians showed up and put up slightly more of a fight by covering their faces with urine soaked rags, but they still met their demise by the hands of the Germans. By the end of the war many casualties occured, Ypres was left in ruins and the poem “In Flanders Fields” was written. -
Women in Manitoba Voting
Before 1914 no women in Canada were allowed to vote, but on January 27th, 1914 a group of men and women, members of the Political Equality League of Manitoba, showed up to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly to make a case for women suffrage. In December of 1915, a petition with over 40,000 signatures for women's right to vote was delivered. And on January 28, 1916 the Lieutenant Governor passed the law of the right to vote for women in Manitoba. -
The Battle of the Somme
This battle happened in France at the Somme River, this is when Britain and France joined forces to ultimately and utterly destroy Germany. But Germany was equally determined to leave France and Britain in ruin. -
The Battle of the Somme (continued)
This rivalry led to one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the world. With more than 300,000 deaths, Britain sustained 420,000 casualties, 125,000 deaths, France with 200,000 casualties, including deaths, Canada with almost 25,000 deaths and Germany a whopping 500,000 casualties, including deaths, this quickly led to a different thought process to military supplies and different tactics to avoid high casualty numbers. -
Technology in the First World War (continued)
Poison Gas was a brand new toy that had never been used before so the use of it was devastating to everyone on the battlefield, this also forced the creation of gas masks. Warplanes and tanks were also brand new and they were mobile fortresses of destruction, capable of launching attacks with suh immense amounts of power it would render entire trenches or cities as useless as a pile of dust. -
Technology in the First World War
With the innovations of Machine guns, Artillery, Grenades, and the inventions of Poison Gas, warplanes and tanks, war had forever changed. Machine guns led to long sustained firing times instead of the short single firing rifles used prior to this invention. Artillery and Grenades led to long range sieging of trenches and strongholds. -
The Introduction of Income Tax
In 1917, because of the low funding for military expenses, the government passed a temporary act known as the Income Tax War Act. This covered both personal and corporate income meaning that the income of regular workers and the income of corporations such as factories and stores were taxed a portion to fund the war. -
The Conscription Crisis
Conscription in canada in 1917, because of the laws passed by Britain, was pretty much if someone tells you that you’re going to war, you are going. Conscription is just being drafted / enlisted into the army but because of the War Measures act, they could emprison, detain or execute you if you don’t follow their orders. Because of this, many farmers, labourers and french canadians were distraught because they couldn’t leave their farms, jobs or they didnt feel loyal to canada. -
The Conscription Crisis (continued)
The farmers needed their sons to help with the farm and the french canadians didnt feel loyalty to canada and many officers didn’t speek french made them feel unwelcome. The divide was becoming much clearer with eastern canada wanting to stop conscription and military wives, mothers and cabinet members of PM Borden. -
The Russian Revolution
This happened during the final phase of the Great War. it completely removed Russia from the war and transformed The Russian Empire into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This replaces russias old monarchy with the worlds first comunist country. Without the russians, the allied forces lost a large portion of their fire man power and they needed to end the war quickly or else they could suffer large amounts of casualties. -
The Battle of Vimy Ridge
This Battle was a Canada versus Germany extravaganza showcase of pure canadian power in the form of a 4 day rushdown of a town, a stronghold and a strategic checkpoint north of the main french attack force. It started with an order from Britain telling Canada to overtake Vimy Ridge from the Germans. The Canadians made their way north and on the first day of their advance they overtook hill 145, the highest point at Vimy. -
The Battle of Vimy Ridge (continued)
After some classic trench warfare the Canadians had an opportunity to push forward and take the “Pimple”, a german stronghold on the 4th and final day. The casualties were 30,000, 10,000 of which were Canadians and 3,000 were canadian deaths. The other 20,000 were German but we don't know how many deaths they suffered. This battle, albeit a short one, netted a flank guard from the north that was exceptional at checking German attacks in 1918. -
The Battle Passchendaele
This battle, also known as the Third battle of Ypres, took place on the Ypres Salient on the western front of Belgium. This is where Germany and the Allied armies had been fighting for 3 years. The British thought that a new attack in the ruined village of Passchendaele would break the German lines. -
The Battle Passchendaele
After Britain, Australia, and New Zealand launched failed attacks, the Canadian Corps joined in October 26. On November 6th, the canadians captured the ridge at Passchendaele. Almost 16,000 casualties were sustained, including deaths and this battle did nothing to help the Allied Effort and became a symbol of useless slaughter. -
The Khaki Election
In this Election, in December 1917, between sir Robert Borden (conservative)and sir Wilfred Laurier (liberal), Borden introduced 2 new acts to help secure former prime minister his spot back as prime minister. The 2 acts were the Wartime Elections act and the Military Voters act. -
The Khaki Election (continued)
The Wartime Elections act made it so that anyone who wasn’t born in Canada or Britain or who hasn't lived there since before 1902 couldn’t vote. It also allowed women who are related to servicemen could vote. The Military Voters act allowed men oversees in the war to vote. The name Khaki Election comes from the colour of the soldiers uniforms. -
Armictice
This is a formal agreement to put a hold on war, or to stop warring countries from fighting. It isnt the end of a war as it may be recontinued but it is a truce for a certain amount of time. Armictice day, or remembrance day, is celebrated on November 11, every year to commemorate the end of the great war and the sacrifice of our brave soldiers.