Conscription Crisis Research Paper

Conscription Rips Open the Countries Linguistic Divide The Conscription Crisis of 1917 is that there is a depleting amount of soldiers who are fighting and even less who are enlisting. This year was one of worry and despair. After the recruiting effort in Quebec failed Canada turned to its only unused option; conscription (Wikipedia). Conscription is the horrid act of a government forcing individuals to go to war. After countless years of discrimination Canada is now forcing French Canadian to enlist, although Prime Minister Borden promised not to result to this. To make matters worse they are making conscientious objectors (people whose religious beliefs went against the war) go to war (The History Archive). After countless protests and outcries from the people this so called democracy did not listen (The History Archive). They also did not consider the families that would be torn apart and the men who had not chosen this to be their fate. Although war efforts are looking bad conscription should never be the choice. The Conscription Crisis; Crise de la conscription de 1917, as known by the French was the political and military crisis. French Canadians do¬ not feel loyalty to Britain or France (Wikipedia). They were already feeling isolated and disregarded. As a minority they were never treated fairly. They believe that
it was a dishonest oppressive law passed by a government who was more British than Canadian (War Museum). Tensions were already high because of the ban in Ontario of French as a language of instruction in its schools in 1913 (CBC). Sir Wilfred Laurier (leader of the opposition party) and others in his party were with the French. He argued that an intense campaign would increase enlistments and conscription was not the answer (Wikipedia). However as Prime Minister Borden would have it he convinced the English Canadians and took the majority seats and won the vote (War Museum). About five percent of the Canadian army was French. Since they did not speak the mother tongue (English) their chance of survival were slim. The French now felt more isolated than ever (The History Archive). Canada was not listening to the numerous outcries and protests by the French citizens. Only time would tell the outcome of this vile law. Conscientious objectors and those whose moral beliefs went against the war are disregarded and still forced to do what their fate restricted them from. They were conscripted. Conscription was seen as the answer, but taking a man from his religion and beliefs is blasphemous, and the Canadian government is doing just that. Some were pacifists and political objectors who did not consider Germany to be their enemy. Others were religious objectors who believed that war and fighting was against their religion. Groups in this section were the Quakers and Jehovah Witnesses (Conscientious Objectors). These people are non-violent protestors who the Canadian government so blindly forced to do everything that went against their beings. They did not take into account that to them this could have been the ultimate sin. The British Army commander in South Africa - Lord Roberts - wrote this about conscription: "Compulsory service is, I believe, as distasteful to the nation as it is incompatible with the conditions of an Army like ours, which has such a large proportion of its units on foreign service. I hold moreover, that the man who voluntarily serves his country is more to be relied upon as a good fighting soldier than is he who is compelled to bear arms."(Conscientious Objectors). This evidently shows the fact that taking up arms should be a choice and those who are not ready will meet their ends. Conscription is not the answer. Conscription is forced death. In every war comes sacrifice, but not everyone is ready or wants to make it; especially family men. Conscription would mean tearing up families, widowing women and making children fatherless. This would mean stripping farmers from their lands, unionized workers having to fight for a nation that would have to fight for a nation that did not provide them with bad working conditions and non-British immigrants who had no obligation to this country. The facts of fatalities were publicized so people knew what they were getting into (War Museum). The propaganda was bad and deceiving. However the Canadian government looked passed this are sending men overseas and leaving them for dead. Ultimately the law of conscription is downright malevolent.
It is not a military effort, rather a plaque. It is an inception coated with many lies. It is a guaranteed death certificate which is tearing souls from bodies. With the plethora of problems this law has created the government is blindly following it not acknowledging the outcries form the French, the farmers, the works an the men. Conscription is not the choice. Conscription equals to death, hatred, isolation and sin. Conscription is atrocious and a lie. The act of conscription opens the vistas of lies, and deceits from the government. Conscription if the epitome of heinous
crimes.

Mla Works Cited
"Conscription Crisis of 1917." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Feb. 2014. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"WarMuseum.ca - History of the First World War - Life at Home During the War." WarMuseum.ca - History of the First World War - Life at Home During the War. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.
"History Archive - The Conscription Crisis in Canada and the Khaki Election of 1917." History Archive - The Conscription Crisis in Canada and the Khaki Election of 1917. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
"The Conscription Crisis." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.
"Conscientious Objectors." Conscientious Objectors. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2014.