Canada: The Arsenal of Democracy
How the War Changed our International Identity
Democracy
• Def’n: – the political orientation of those who favor
government by the people or by their elected representatives
– a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
What does democracy mean to you, knowing so many Canadian soldiers gave their lives for the
preservation of this process?
How we helped
• Canada provided a great deal of economic support to Allied countries during World WarII– Gave $3.4 billion to Allied countries
• In 1939 Canada put $5.6 billion into the war– By 1945 Canada invested $11.8 billion per year in
to the war
Our Economic Boom
• Aluminum– Used in the production of aircraft because it is rust
proof and light weight• Paper– Previous world leaders in paper were Norway and
Sweden, but that area was German occupied and shipment to Allied countries was prohibited
• Oil– It takes oil to wage war, and we found some in
Alberta
Gross Domestic Product
• The value of all goods (such as food, cars, airplanes) and services (such as nursing, insurance, and education) produced in a country in one year.
Value of Canada’s gross domestic product (total value of all goods
and services produced)
Changes to Canada’s Economy
• Canada’s economy was previously based on agriculture– It was overtaken by industry• Manufacturing was now much more important
• Investments in mining, production, transportation and service industries increased
• Cities and suburbs became the big contributors to the Canadian economy
Canadian Identity
World War II is often called the good war?
Why?
He says it was a good war
It was a good war. I’m not talking about a good war from the standpoint of a high moral purpose. If going out and killing millions of Germans to get Hitler off his pedestal is a high moral purpose, then I’m all for it.
But it was a good war for Canada too, because it made us a great nation. I mean it showed what we could do. We just weren’t a bunch of wheat farmers and Nova Scotia fishermen and lumberman in BC. We were a nation. A big and tough and strong nation.– Barry Broadfoot
International Effects
• Canada established itself as a middle power– Smaller than the big, but wealthier than the small
• Started taking on a globally active role• As a middle power Canada would play a vital
role in creating the United Nations
Internationally our soldiers …
• Our soldiers through some very heroic fighting gained a reputation for being effective and fearless– Especially in: • Dieppe• Hong Kong• Normandy• Liberation of Holland
Back at home
• There were large contributions to the war by black and aboriginal people– This was formally recognized by the Canadian
Government and the international community• This helped with the cause of civil rights in
Canada• Women also were recognized for their
contributions
And this all lead to …
• The recognized contributions by minority groups lead to:– Canada being a more tolerant nation (less
discrimination of minorities) • The other effect of the war on Canada was the
baby boom– Men who came home started families (large families) – Many women who met soldier over seas moved to
Canada with the families that they started while the war was in progress• These women were called the “war brides”
Start Studying
• Your test for WW II is on February 22, 2011• You will need to know– Why WW II happened• The rise of totalitarianism• Germany under Hitler• Fundamental causes• Immediate causes
– The events of the European and Pacific theaters• The battles and battle styles
Start Studying
• Canada on the home front– Conscription and the plebiscite– Japanese internment– Spies– NRMA
• Issues and Politics– Holocaust– Atom Bombing
• What we learned about today – Our international image post war
Vocabulary
Totalitarianism U-BoatsMussolini ConvoysHitler Italian CampaignNAZI Operation Overlord/ D DayAnti-Semitism V-E DayBlitzkrieg Pearl HarbourLuftwaffe POWBattle of Britain V-J DayDieppe RCAF Women’s Division
Vocabulary
BCATP NRMAEnemy Aliens Internment
CampsHolocaust Final
SolutionAuschwitz TehranYalta
Potsdam