Canada Prepares for War

Apply Your Knowledge:

1. Explain how Canada’s decision to go to war in WWII was different than WWI

In World War I, Canada was automatically joined the war after Britain declared war on German. In World War II, Canada became an independent country and they had the right to choose whether join the war or not. However, Prime Minister Mackenzie King still concerned about Britain, so he decided to give the option to the Canadian parliament.

2. What were the BCATP and CD Howe’s Total War economy?

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) was a major Canadian contribution to the war effort. Pilots and other flight personnel from all over the commonwealth came to Canada to train with British instructors. King wanted to use this program and to effort on war supplies and training, then avoid conscription.

C.D. Howe was in charge of the department of munitions and supply. He was given authority to do whatever it took to gear up the economy to meet wartime demands. He told industries what to produce and how to produce it. He was responsible for all goods of Canada.

3. Come up with a statement that the best describes Canada’s attitude towards WWII and support it by referring to the evidence from the class and the textbook (#1-2 above).

Canada was struggle with whether join the war or not, but they were willing to join the war. As Canada suffered great losses in WWI, Canada concerned a lot. Canada was not prepared very well for the war and their armed forces were small and unfit for combat. “Unlike the First World War, there were no crowds cheering on the streets when Canada declared war in 1939. Many Canadians vividly remembered the horrors of the last world conflict”. Many Canadian worried about this war and some people against the conscription and they thought Canada was not necessary to join the war. So, King introduced British Commonwealth air training plan to train pilots, instead of conscription.