The 1917 conscription debate was one of the fiercest and most divisive in Canadian political history. French-Canadians, as well as many farmers, unionized workers, non-British immigrants, and other Canadians, generally opposed the measure.
Who was opposed to conscription and why?
Almost all French Canadians opposed conscription; they felt that they had no particular loyalty to either Britain or France. Led by Henri Bourassa, they felt their only loyalty was to Canada. English Canadians supported the war effort as they felt stronger ties to the British Empire.
Why did farmers oppose conscription?
The farmers believed that conscription would aggravate the problem caused by the pressure recruiting officers were putting on rural areas by depriving the countryside of the strong men needed for farm labour.
Did English Canadians oppose conscription?
While some English Canadians opposed conscription, nowhere was the outcry greater than in French Canada.
Did all Canadians support conscription?
The debate over conscription consumed and divided the country. Some French Canadians supported it and some English Canadians did not; but for the most part, English Canada backed Borden on conscription while other groups were opposed.
What was the against for conscription?
Anti-conscriptionists also argued in the name of ‘liberty’ – defending the right of ordinary men to decide for themselves whether to fight and die. They argued that conscription was the ultimate form of state tyranny.
Why were so many people opposed to the draft?
Many in the North saw the draft as violation of individual freedom and civil liberties. When the first national draft was carried out in July 1863, the result was widespread protest and violence.
Who opposed the draft?
It was in response to local and state militias that the first draft resisters appeared. The earliest resisters were primarily from religious groups, including the Quakers, who arrived in the 1650s; the Mennonites, including the Amish and Hutterites (1683); and the Brethren (1719).
Why should conscription not be allowed?
Conscription not only drills men’s bodies, but their minds. It makes them obedient to authority, whether right or wrong; takes away their power to think originally; makes them expert with guns, and there- fore, eager to use them; and gives them a hatred of independent thought and contempt for human life.
What did indigenous peoples think of conscription?
Not all Indigenous peoples were supportive of the war or the wartime policies; some petitioned for the soldiers from their communities to be returned home, many were opposed to active recruitment on reserves and there was considerable opposition in Indigenous communities to the introduction of conscription in 1917.
Who opposed conscription in ww2?
Virtually every French-speaking member of Parliament opposed conscription; almost all the English-speaking MPs supported it. The eight English-speaking provinces also endorsed Borden’s move, while the province of Quebec opposed it.
Who was exempt from conscription in ww2?
The National Service (Armed Forces) Act imposed conscription on all males aged between 18 and 41 who had to register for service. Those medically unfit were exempted, as were others in key industries and jobs such as baking, farming, medicine, and engineering.
Who was exempt from conscription in Canada?
Those who have the age of twenty years, born not earlier than 1883, and are married or a widower with a child or children. Those born in the years 1876 to 1882 inclusive, and are unmarried or a widower with no child.
Why did conscription happen?
The government saw no alternative but to increase numbers by conscription – compulsory active service. Parliament was deeply divided but recognised that because of the imminent collapse of the morale of the French army, immediate action was essential. In January 1916 the Military Service Act was passed.
What was the conscription crisis in Canada?
The Conscription Crisis of 1944 was a political and military crisis following the introduction of forced military service for men in Canada during World War II. It was similar to the Conscription Crisis of 1917, but not as politically damaging.
Is conscription against human rights?
The right to object to conscription for compulsory military service is closely linked to the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief. In recent decades, many states have abolished universal conscription in favour of voluntary enlistment.
What were the effects of conscription?
One consequence of conscription is that by levying a tax in kind through involuntary labor, it imposes costs on the participants that are not accounted for in national budgets (Oi, 1967). It also imposes a career break for those affected, which may have negative long-run effects on labor market outcomes.
Why were people mad about the draft?
Resisters believed that without the draft, there would be no war. Consequently, the draft became a contentious lightning rod and a point of vulnerability in the war effort, and so it became an ongoing focus for political action.
How many people opposed the draft?
Between July 1863 and December 1864, 161,224 men failed to report to service under the draft.
How did people resist the draft?
They burned or surrendered draft cards, surrendered student deferments, refused induction, and staged disruptive protests at draft boards and induction centers, employing in some cases tactics of peaceful civil disobedience, in other cases damaging property and battling with police.
Did people refuse the draft?
Some members of The Resistance publicly burned their draft cards or refused to register for the draft. Other members deposited their cards into boxes on selected dates and then mailed them to the government. They were then drafted, refused to be inducted, and fought their cases in the federal courts.