With reference to major battles, the home front, and the aftermath of the war, describe the ways in which Canada, as a nation, matured from WWI.
In 1918, at the end of World War One, roughly 60 000 Canadians respectfully lost their lives in order for the safekeeping of millions of women, children and men all around the world. Many people question the loss of all these lives and whether or not it had been a beneficial outcome for Canada. Despite the number of soldiers sent into battle, the magnitude of these men’s deaths, and bodies littered throughout the streets, in the present time, where we have a very different perspective on World War One, many Canadians consider the impacts of this event very positive, taking into account social, economic and political standpoints. WWI helped Canada develop a more equal view on the country’s women, a drastic technological and economic growth, and Canada to become an independent nation from Britain. When looking back it is easy to understand why people view the Great War as the crisis that pushed Canada as a nation to mature.
In the 1900's, a woman's job was simply to remain at home. A woman on an average day would cook, clean, take care of the children and ensure the wellbeing of her home. Her husband would return from work – receiving his wage, which would in turn go to his household and he would spend a comfortable evening with his family. However this dramatically changed when Britain had declared war against Germany; women in Canada had eventually replaced the men’s positions – as well as successfully keeping their own. They stepped into their men's shoes, so to speak, as work in industries, businesses, and farms still needed to be done. Many of these jobs were to provide for the war effort, such as fabricating munitions and working as nurses for the war, both of which were very dangerous. Women also took the roles as farmers and produced much of the food consumed overseas. This immensely changed the way women were viewed, as now the country would see they are capable of working just as diligently as men. In 1917, Robert Borden, the Prime-Minster during World War One, passed the Wartime Elections Act. This act gave the right to vote to all females in the majority who had husbands, brothers or sons enlisted in the war. Although this was a front for Borden to receive votes in his favour, it was a huge stepping stone in the equality for us women. By the end of the war nearly all the women over 21 were given the right to vote as long as they met the racial and property ownership requirement.
