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Declaration of WW1
the declaration of ww1 sent shockwaves throughout the world, including into Canada.
when Britain declared war with Germany, Canada was forced to get involved because Canada was still part of Britain in 1914.
Canadians had mixed reactions to Canada joining WW1, but a majority wanted to fight for Britain as they saw it as their rightful duty to fight. https://ww1.habsburger.net/en/media/war-declared-special-edition-arbeiterzeitung-29-july-1914 -
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World war 1
This was the first ever major international battle that Canada ever participated in the world stage but still as a part of Britain.
Canada played a major role in taking a significant strategic point Vimy Ridge.
This war was also the first time that forced conscription was introduced into Canada, but despite that, over 330,000 Canadians volunteered during the first year alone, which showed us that many Canadians wanted to fight.
66,000 died, and 176,000 were wounded as a result. -
Vimy Ridge
Vimy Ridge was an important operation to draw and weaken, the German forces away from Arras.
Canadian forces took 3-4 days to take the ridge using a creeping barrage tactic, in which artillery fired at the German fortifications and the Canadian soldiers followed behind.
The capture of Vimy was extremely important as it showed that Canadians were strong and defined themselves as Canadians and as their own fighting force. art:
-Battle of Vimy Ridge -Richard Jack -
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Influenza in canada
Influenza pandemic was the outbreak of the Flu in canada.
Influenza changed many Canadians' lives, and around 5-10% of the world's population died from influenza.
People practiced social distancing and isolation, but a plus of all this was the development of public health and led to the creation of the Federal Department of Health, which still helps Canadians to this day. -
Discovery of insulin
Insulin was a major canadian medical discovery and saved millions of lives, and this major discover is still being used today for diabetics. -
Stock market crash (aka Black Friday)
This was the moment that the Stock Market crashed in Canada, and profits and sales went "Black".
leading to debt, businesses closing. https://www.parisology.net/1929-stock-market-crash -
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The great depression
The Great Depression affected the whole world in different ways in different nations.
Canada was no exception this fact, when the stock market crashed in 1929, many canadians lost their jobs and money, leaving a majority of them poor and desperate for jobs, and with the market crash many businesses were forced to close permanently cutting off many people's lively hood.
The Depression went away with the arrival of WW2. -
The statute of Westminster
The statute of Westminster, was confirmation to the world that Canada was it's own nation in the world, and the moment that Canada was now free to decide on world affairs. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=3563847&q=Walter%20J.%20Turnbull%20/%20Library%20and%20Archives%20Canada%20/%20PA-200350&ecopy=a200350 -
Declaration of WW2
Canada didn't need to join after Britain declared war on Nazi Germany, but still chose to fight to help out Britain with man power and supplies, and they joined fearing the collapse of western civilization in the hands of the Nazis.
This also boosted the economy as factories were being opened to produce wartime products and items like guns, tanks, helmets, and etc. Which gave many Canadians new jobs. -
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WW2
WW2 was a war with the allied forces (Britain, USA, France, etc.) against the axis (Germany, Italy, Japan)
During the war, Canada provided essential war time goods, and helped with food and supplies to Britain.
The war efforts boosted and strengthened Canada's overall economy with more jobs, and jump started the Canadian industrial scene back up.
Canadian troops were crucial to the war, and helped with the turning point to victory on Juno beach.
After the war Canada became a main part of NATO. -
The raid of Dieppe
The raid of Dieppe was an attempt to penetrate the Nazi "Fortress" by disrupting Nazi fortifications along the stony coast of Dieppe.
The high command underestimated the Germans and when landing, the Allied troops were pinned down by machine gun fire and tanks experienced mechanical failure from the stones.
A majority of the causalities were Canadian with 907 killed, 2,460 wounded, and 1,946 troops captured, but it wasn't a complete failure, this was used to plan the next attack better. -
D-Day
D-Day was the second offensive attack on the Nazi Stronghold, this time on the Normandy beaches, and the Canadian forces landed on Juno beach along with half of the British forces.
The Canadian forces finished their task first which was to establish a bridgehead in Juno, and their victory on Juno was a major turning point for the war, as it gave an opening for the Allies to start liberating Europe.