French English Relations

Assimilation

French Canadians felt as though the English Canadians were trying to strip their culture i.e. the bill passed in 1912 which limited French-speaking schools

English Canadians lost respect for French Canadians

English Canadians were disappointed that French Canadians chose not to enlist into the war

English Canadians felt that French Canadians were betraying Canada

English Canadians felt very loyal to Britain

Henri Bourassa (journalist and politician)

part of the Quebec Assembly

inspired nationalism

wanted Canada to be an Anglo-French country

Sam Hughes

Quebec was "overlooked" when he organized the battalions at the beginning of the war

did not allow a French Canadian battalion in the First Contingent to go overseas

didn't trust francophones and Catholics

French Canadians felt loyalty to no one

did not feel tied to Britain nor France

believed France showed no interest in the welfare of French Canadian

CONSCRIPTION

heavily divided Anglophones and Francophones

Francophones were against conscription

Anglophones were in support of conscription

French-Canadian propoganda reflect Canada’s “pressing demand for manpower during the First World War.”

French-Canadians became violent in protests against conscription

Sir Wilfred Laurier

Supported Borden's decision to send troops to war but did not agree with conscription

Former PM (before war started) was a Liberal

Recruitment encouraged Canadians of British descent to identify with their past

French Canadians could not relate; felt no connection with France