The Conscription Crisis
Francois Fontaine
May 20, 1917
Prime Minister, Robert Borden, has visited the trenches during the war and has realized our fate Canada continues in this war along the same path.There are rumors that Borden is considering conscription. I don’t know what to say about this, I am only a young man, but will I still be forced into war? I don’t think I can handle the responsibilities that come along with war. Sir Wilfrid Laurier has declined the offer of conscription and hopefully we won’t be forced into doing this. I need to stay at home with my mother and help with the farm, and with the French MP’s all voting against conscription I believe I will be able to do so. I don’t understand how Borden believes that we need to throw ourselves into this war, this war isn’t ours and is only between England and Germany. French-Canadians, let alone Canadians, should not be be being dragged into this war and sacrificing themselves for another country.
August 27, 1917
Tomorrow, I am going to war. The bill was passed for conscription and now I am being torn away from my family. I am outraged by this bill being passed, and am considering joining a riot that I heard will happen. My grateful mother has asked me what meal I want, seeing as how it could possibly be my last at home. Even though I still have lots of life to live, I am being forced into going to war for my country. Risking my life to help some allies, I wish I could just avoid this all. The English voted for conscription and now the French have to suffer with them.Even though I am not French, English, German, or any other country in Europe, therefore I should not be thrown into this war like I am owned by the government. Thousands of Canadians are being forced into putting their lives on the line in order to defend the British from the Germans, and I believe this is ridiculous. It seems that the Canadian Government still does not treat the French-Canadians as equals considering most of the French declined the law, yet it still got approved. It is time for Canada to become one country, a country that is not split by nationality or language, and a country that doesn’t jump into wars that are not their own.
Charles Robinson
May 29, 1917
There are rumors of conscription floating around, everybody is excited to defend our country and put our lives on the line to help defend the British, everybody except the francophones.I can’t believe the francophones are trying to stop conscription. We need to stand for our country and with the forces we have now we will not be able to do so. Canada is trying to help out the British and our allies and by forcing conscription among our country we will be able to do so better than before. As an ally we need to keep our word as a country and back up the British in this war, and with the francophones suggesting this is not our war, the entire world will think we go against our word. The Canadian image is strong and we need to maintain it, not be at war amongst our own. With the anglophones and francophones at war, how does anyone expect us to do anything? I hope this law passes so we can be a force not to mess with. With the french rioting against the government already, even without the bill being approved for certain, it shows that they view themselves separate from the rest of Canada.
August 28, 1917
Today, I am going to war. I will be a soldier among many that are proud to defend our country and help us conquer the battle field. Being a Canadian Soldier is one of the greatest moments of my life and I am proud to maintain the image that Canada carries throughout the world today. I am sad to leave my mother by herself, but glad to join my brothers and father in war. I thank the men that voted for this law to pass, finally allowing me to become a soldier even though I was too young before. I may not have the experience, I have the courage and the drive to work my hardest to help the army. The francophones are starting to riot, and believe that they have no say in this country. It is time for the french and english sides of Canada to unite, become a stronger force, and go to war against the Germans. The brave soldiers before me have sacrificed their lives and I am willing to do the same. I hope that someday all the men that fall in this war will be recognized and appreciated, and hopefully by then the French will no longer think that going to war is ridiculous.
May 20, 1917
Prime Minister, Robert Borden, has visited the trenches during the war and has realized our fate Canada continues in this war along the same path.There are rumors that Borden is considering conscription. I don’t know what to say about this, I am only a young man, but will I still be forced into war? I don’t think I can handle the responsibilities that come along with war. Sir Wilfrid Laurier has declined the offer of conscription and hopefully we won’t be forced into doing this. I need to stay at home with my mother and help with the farm, and with the French MP’s all voting against conscription I believe I will be able to do so. I don’t understand how Borden believes that we need to throw ourselves into this war, this war isn’t ours and is only between England and Germany. French-Canadians, let alone Canadians, should not be be being dragged into this war and sacrificing themselves for another country.
August 27, 1917
Tomorrow, I am going to war. The bill was passed for conscription and now I am being torn away from my family. I am outraged by this bill being passed, and am considering joining a riot that I heard will happen. My grateful mother has asked me what meal I want, seeing as how it could possibly be my last at home. Even though I still have lots of life to live, I am being forced into going to war for my country. Risking my life to help some allies, I wish I could just avoid this all. The English voted for conscription and now the French have to suffer with them.Even though I am not French, English, German, or any other country in Europe, therefore I should not be thrown into this war like I am owned by the government. Thousands of Canadians are being forced into putting their lives on the line in order to defend the British from the Germans, and I believe this is ridiculous. It seems that the Canadian Government still does not treat the French-Canadians as equals considering most of the French declined the law, yet it still got approved. It is time for Canada to become one country, a country that is not split by nationality or language, and a country that doesn’t jump into wars that are not their own.
Charles Robinson
May 29, 1917
There are rumors of conscription floating around, everybody is excited to defend our country and put our lives on the line to help defend the British, everybody except the francophones.I can’t believe the francophones are trying to stop conscription. We need to stand for our country and with the forces we have now we will not be able to do so. Canada is trying to help out the British and our allies and by forcing conscription among our country we will be able to do so better than before. As an ally we need to keep our word as a country and back up the British in this war, and with the francophones suggesting this is not our war, the entire world will think we go against our word. The Canadian image is strong and we need to maintain it, not be at war amongst our own. With the anglophones and francophones at war, how does anyone expect us to do anything? I hope this law passes so we can be a force not to mess with. With the french rioting against the government already, even without the bill being approved for certain, it shows that they view themselves separate from the rest of Canada.
August 28, 1917
Today, I am going to war. I will be a soldier among many that are proud to defend our country and help us conquer the battle field. Being a Canadian Soldier is one of the greatest moments of my life and I am proud to maintain the image that Canada carries throughout the world today. I am sad to leave my mother by herself, but glad to join my brothers and father in war. I thank the men that voted for this law to pass, finally allowing me to become a soldier even though I was too young before. I may not have the experience, I have the courage and the drive to work my hardest to help the army. The francophones are starting to riot, and believe that they have no say in this country. It is time for the french and english sides of Canada to unite, become a stronger force, and go to war against the Germans. The brave soldiers before me have sacrificed their lives and I am willing to do the same. I hope that someday all the men that fall in this war will be recognized and appreciated, and hopefully by then the French will no longer think that going to war is ridiculous.