Preview

War Measures Act

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1216 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
War Measures Act
With great power comes great responsibility; that famous quote from Spiderman perfectly describes the war measures act. The war measures act was created in 1914 and gave the government the full power to do anything in order to maintain peace and safety for all Canadian citizens. It was only used three times in Canadian history before it was replaced by the Emergences act in 1988. It was invoked during World War I from 1914-1920, World War II from 1941-1945 and once again during the October crisis in 1970. The question is was the war measures act necessary, or was the Canadian government over reacting over nothing? Still after 40 years since the war measures act was used Canadians and the world are debating on the answer to that question. The war measures act is very controversial because it gave the government in charge the power to remove rights form citizens. Although removing citizen’s rights is wrong the war measures act was 100% necessary and it did its job by keeping Canada safe during the hard times of war/ terrorism. Throughout this essay it will explain how the war measures act protected Canada, strengthened Canada as a nation and saved millions of lives. The war measures act protected Canada and should be given the proper respects it deserves.

The War measures act protected the citizens by creating fear, detaining enemy aliens and arresting individuals that might have been a threat to Canada. Fear is a contributing factor because with the amount of RCMP/ Military soldiers made it virtually impossible to obtain important information during the world wars and impossible to succeed in an act of terrorism. During the October crisis a terrorist group named the FLQ terrorized Quebec but with the quick actions of the government and the deployment of many Canadian soldiers. Just a few weeks later the FLQ gave up and bargained for their lives Secondly the Canadian government during both world wars set up internment camps where enemy aliens were sent “The


Bibliography: 1) Breti, Diana. “Internment camps in British Columbia”. http://www.vancouverisland.com/general/details.asp?id=44 (15/01/2011) 2) Great Canadian Debates. “War Measures Act”. http://www.mta.ca/about_canada/study_guide/debates/index.html (16/01/2011) 3) Smith, Denis. “War Measures act”. The Canadian Encyclopedia. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008439 (09/01/2011)
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Prime Minister Robert Borden and Canada’s Role in the British Empire
    • 297 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Prime Minister Robert Borden and Canada’s Role in the British Empire

    When WW1 started in 1914, Britain controlled Canada’s foreign policy. As the war raged, Canadians disagreed over Canada’s future role in the British Empire. But some people sided with the Conservative Prime Minister Robert Borden, who wanted Canada to remain in the British Empire. His government used Propaganda to keep Canadian patriotism at a high pitch, during the War. To maintain the strength and numbers at the front lines, Prime Minster Robert Borden passed the Military Service Act in July 1917. The act introduced Conscription-forced military service. The conscription divided Canada, but it made little difference to the war effort. In 1919 , when Canada had to go the peace conference held in Paris, Robert Borden argued that Canadians’ wartime record give them the right to sit independently because even at that time Canada was still controlled by Britain. And Canada also signed the treaty by itself. Robert Borden did make huge difference in Canada’s identity by taking that small step and he made the world realize that we can be an independent country too.…

    • 297 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Summary Of Pierre Elliott Trudeau's War Measures Act
    • 1340 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Summary Of Pierre Elliott Trudeau's War Measures Act

    Pierre Elliott Trudeau served as the 15th Prime Minister of Canada, from 1968–1979 and 1980–1984. His charismatic personality dominated the Canadian political scene, one that had never been witnessed before. On October 5th, 1970, British trade commissioner, James Cross was kidnapped in Montreal by members of a terrorist group called, the Front de Libération du Québec or FLQ (The Canadian Encyclopedia). Soon after, provincial cabinet minister Pierre Laporte was kidnapped. This crisis led Prime Minister Trudeau, on October 16th, 1970, to declare through a televised broadcast, the only invocation of the War Measures Act during a time of peace in Canadian history. The War Measures Act gives sweeping…

    • 1340 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    War Powers Resolution Research Paper
    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages

    War Powers Resolution Research Paper

    According to the War Powers Resolution, the Commander in Chief can only send American personnel abroad to take military action against another country only with a declaration of war from Congress. However, according to “statutory authority” or in the case of an attack on the United States, the president reserves the right to take action against a sovereign country, given that the president has issued a forty-eight hour notice to Congress, and the personnel remain active for no longer than sixty days. This important resolution severely limits the power of the Commander in Chief, and lays within the system of checks of balances which is vitally integral to the United States government.…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    War Measures Act Thomas Mai
    • 1120 Words
    • 3 Pages

    War Measures Act Thomas Mai

    The War Measures Act is a federal statute that was created by the Borden government 1 In 1914 or roughly after the outbreak known as World War I. The act gave the Canadian government broad powers that would allow them to maintain the security and order of the country throughout war or insurrection. What did the act specifically say and how did it impact Canada? Throughout this report I will talk about what the War Measures Act specifically stated and how it impacted Canada, not as individuals, but as a country.…

    • 1120 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Pro Conscription Dbq
    • 340 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Pro Conscription Dbq

    • It wasn’t necessary. Canada wasn't in any threat of danger, they had already sent many soldiers, and they needed men for their own country in preparations if they ever got attacked.…

    • 340 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Battle Of Vimy Ridge Battle Analysis
    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Battle Of Vimy Ridge Battle Analysis

    Canada had entered the War to End All Wars out of necessity, and had came out bruised, battered, but stronger than ever. Back home, Canada struggled with conscription among debates centered on nationalism and imperialism. The Military Service Act of 1917 had severely wounded the trust of French-Canadians, targeted farmers, and pacifists. This all resulted in utter chaos in a culmination of riots and protests on the streets of Canada, with little to show for on the actual battlefields of Europe. However, on the battlefields of Europe, volunteer Canadian troops had gone up and above the call of duty during their careers, specifically during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. During that battle, the Canadian Corps fought as a single unit instead of four…

    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Pierre Trudeau React To The October Crisis
    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did Pierre Trudeau React To The October Crisis

    To justify the use of the War Measures Act, the federal government had to first assess the FLQs potential to violently overthrow the government of Quebec, and in this regard, Trudeau had every indication that the FLQ had the intention to do exactly this. The FLQ had made clear that they intended to rally and stir the support necessary to take their demands by force. “In the coming year Bourassa will have to face reality; 100,000 revolutionary workers, armed and organized.” reads a line from the FLQ manifesto, directed at the then Premier of Quebec, just one of many indications for their capability and willingness for violence. Between the kidnappings and the possibility of exponential escalation, it was in Trudeau’s best interest to settle the conflict as quickly as possible.…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    how did war change canada
    • 1338 Words
    • 6 Pages

    how did war change canada

    The act of warfare has never been and will most likely never be celebrated and perceived as a beneficial act for humanity. In most instances throughout history, the act of war has represented loss of life, a loss to great for any wartime triumph to overcome. Despite the negative connotations that warfare implies, a nation which goes through a major war can often emerge positively transformed. The Second World War represents a colossal juncture in Canada’s history as a nation. The war propelled Canada into the latter part of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century as one of the prodigious, western industrialized nations. From an economical standpoint, the Second World War ignited Canada’s ascension into a fully modern and mechanized country. Furthermore, the war changed the social landscape of Canada, fully transforming the roles of women and evolving the immigration policy, which eventually lead to Canada becoming one of the most culturally diverse and interracial nations by modern accounts.…

    • 1338 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Conscription In Ww1 Research Paper
    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Conscription In Ww1 Research Paper

    For the first few years of World War I, the CEF relied solely on volunteers. (Valiante, “The Legacy of Canada's WWI Conscription Crisis”). However, the longer the war progressed, the more casualties increased, and the less men volunteered. The Prime Minister at that time, Robert Borden, had seen the decline in volunteers, and once he had returned from a trip to the trenches he became convinced that conscription was the only way to do soldiers justice (Jones, “Conscription”). The Military Service Act of 1917 was issued on August 29, 1917 and became law (“War on the Homefront”). The majority of French-Canadians and pacifists who have implored the government to not enforce conscription were infuriated. The results of the Conscription act culminated in riots and protests that required soldiers to bring order to chaos, and many searched for ways to be exempted from conscription (Canadian War Museum, “Recruitment and Conscription.”).…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Is Bill C-51 Necessary
    • 668 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Why Is Bill C-51 Necessary

    Undeniably, Bill C-51 is necessary to fight against terrorist acts, especially because no one in the world should have to live in fear and worry about their safety. However, even though this bill protects Canadians, it should not do so by violating the rights and freedoms of the people who are being protected. In order for this bill to fulfill its purpose of protecting Canadians without infringing on their rights, it requires improvements that eliminate the imperfections of this bill. The best improvements for this bill is to honour and respect the privacy of citizens and to find an alternative that does not violate the rights and freedom of anybody. A part of the bill that is understandable is the sharing of personal information for possible…

    • 668 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Canada's Involvement in the Vietnam War
    • 306 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Canada's Involvement in the Vietnam War

    The bloody Vietnam War of the 1950’s was fought by the brave American troops with the help of the Canadian citizens. Though, sources claim that Canada had a limited amount of contribution in the war, facts state otherwise. The Vietnam War took place during the Cold War era where a military conflict had occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from November 1 1955 to April 30 1975. Canada became officially involved in the Vietnam conflict in 1954, as part of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Vietnam. However, Canada did not post troops to Vietnam until 1973, in which Canadian troops remained under the United Nations banner to enforce the Paris Peace Accords. The War had persisted for more than nineteen years, five months, four weeks and one day. During the Cold War era, Canada remained associated with the main stream western powers. Many Canadians who truly wanted to fight in the War had served along the U.S Military. Canadians serving with the United States had occurred as far back as the Civil War. In addition, Canada was part of many organizations such as “N.A.T.O” (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) which guaranteed Canada would not partake in the Vietnam War. Even though people around the world contemplate that Canada had no contribution in the Vietnam War, various facts state that Canadians did have excessive amount of involvement towards the Vietnam War that was never taken into consideration. Throughout this essay, the reader will be able to grasp a general understanding of the ways in which the Canadians had part in The Vietnam War, regardless of what bias sources claim. To start with, Canada sent more than thirty thousand troops into the Vietnam War with the Americans – these troops volunteered and died there. Canadians had also sent plenty amounts of supplies…

    • 306 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Genocide In Canad Documentary Analysis
    • 2396 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Genocide In Canad Documentary Analysis

    The government needs to help repair these reserves to create better living conditions as well as create programs to assist the survivors of residential schools with their emotional and psychological issues that were created from the human rights abuses they faced. The aboriginal people of Canada are owed more than an apology for what was done to them for generations. A number of broken families and lost lives cannot be fixed from the monetary compensation they received. The Canadian government has not done enough to ensure the rights of aboriginals are protected. With the signing of the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous, there is hope for the future improvement and protection of these rights. Allowing for the past and current issues to be corrected and never repeated. It is the responsibility of Canada to recognize the abuses and create changes to protect these rights. It is up to future generations to understand the human rights abuses of the past and ensure that the future will never hold similar conditions for any group of people. The Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission set forth by Harpers government will provide this opportunity as it seeks to educate all Canadians of the Human…

    • 2396 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Japanese Assimilation In Canada
    • 4603 Words
    • 19 Pages

    Japanese Assimilation In Canada

    While Canadian soldiers fought overseas in the name of democracy, the federal government was supporting the re-location of peaceful Japanese Canadians at home. During the Second World War, roughly 22,000 Japanese Canadians were forcibly and unfairly evacuated from the west coast and resettled in other parts of the country. Their struggle continued after the war as they fought for an apology and redress for their loss.…

    • 4603 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Is the Prime Minister Too Powerful?
    • 2075 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Is the Prime Minister Too Powerful?

    In this essay, I will demonstrate that the Prime Minister is powerful and can cause many potential dangers by analyzing different elements inside and outside of our government over the period of different Prime Ministers throughout the Canadian political history.…

    • 2075 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Canadian Peacekeeping In Canada
    • 2704 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Canadian Peacekeeping In Canada

    The Canadian military as peacekeepers is a very prominent notion of the majority of Canadians. It is what distinguishes Canada most strongly from the United States, and what has become an important aspect of their foreign policy. Peacekeeping, since the conclusion of the Cold War, however, is a myth. This essay will explore the history of peacekeeping, its use as a tool during the Cold War, and Canada's very prominent role in its development and use. Peacekeeping, in the traditional sense of the word, ended in the 1980s.…

    • 2704 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More

Related Topics