Effect of the World Wars on Canada - Case Study Example

Effect of the World Wars on Canada Thesis ment: The impact of the First World War on Canada was more significant in terms of political aspects but the Second World War had more prominent positive effects on the social, economic and diplomatic parameters. Social Impacts of First and Second World War: Canada has been put into form by wars more than anyone could have realized it. The wars created the modern Canada, removing all kinds of traditions and memories of a “divided national identity”. Attitude of Canadians towards war was based on historical experience (Morton, 1999, pp. ix-x). The First World War had led to overwhelming changes in the social structure of Canada. The sacrifices and compromises that the average Canadians had to make called for new social order intending for emergence of peace. Groups of labor, women, farmers, churches and political parties all had developed their plans and programs for bringing in changes (Guest, 1997, pp. 49-50) Several social reforms were stimulated by the war. Pension issues, healthcare were some areas which were given special attention. In the field of social welfare, the profession of social work emerged out of liberal individualism. However keeping problems of divided jurisdiction at one side, the administrative problems aggravated by federal government’s failure to contribute to costs. Unemployment relief policy was largely developed at the municipal level, resulting in administrative procedures and policies differing from place to place with absence of standards in the level of aids (Guest, 1997, pp.50-85). Thus impacts of the war could be felt. As it can be understood that War and Society has a deep rooted connection and hence greater impacts are bound to occur on the societal issues when such World War affects or impacts countries individually (Keshen & Durflinger, 2007). However, as in the case of Canada, the effects have not been negative completely. The Second World War too had a reflective effect on the social structure of Canada. The most rigorous crisis of unemployment got ended and the standards of living were raised for a large number of people in Canada. More significantly, the process of “industrialization” and “urbanization” progressed with greater rapidity. Production capacity of industries was stretched and superiority and intricacy of industrial processes also increased. The war had an overwhelming effect on the federal government as a whole. It became one of the largest employers of labor. The war saw several women responding to convene of the war and shedding their homemakers’ role to join the labor force. However with respect to Fordist estimates, the white male enjoyed better privileges than the women. Many women from Poland were brought into Canada and they represented the modern and educated women folk of tomorrow. Unemployment of the country decreased, and personal income and provincial income started increasing (Sangster, 2007, p. 472). As the war had ended with a sound financial form, even problems of agricultural surpluses also were removed. There was also a realization among the governments that social services were not only a luxury, but a crucial item in the smooth functioning during wartimes (Guest, 1997, pp.103-104; Francis, Jones, and Smith, 2007). Thus comparing the effects of the two world wars, it can be seen that the Second World War had bigger positive social impacts on the country. Political Impacts of First and Second World War: The political impact of the First World War formed or enlarged some divisions in the community. Before the year 1914, Canadians who resided in the western region of Canada had to consume products by paying much higher prices than those who were living in the country’s central and eastern regions. Price gaps also existed in the provinces that were existent for long times. By the year 1920s, the western and the eastern regions had divided in terms of prices. According to sources, inflation was prevailing during and after the war, which led to high price ranges on consumable and other items. By the early 1900s, a system of manufacturers’ agents started developing (MacKinnon & Minns, 2005, pp.1-6). Considering the Canadian working class, the Canadian State found itself ill-equipped at the outset to deal with labor “racialism” after certain time of the First World War but the resolutions that it had worked on, constructing on the means of suppression that were developed for other purposes in the early hours of the war, and for other similar experiences, proved to be thriving and robust. The Canadian state had to face certain crisis in terms of the structure of organization for the nation and for the defense mechanism of the nation. Labor revolts were a major impact of the First World War which were managed to be controlled by the government by controlled measures taken (Kealey, 1992, pp.281-282). Canada has been altered since the time of the Second World War by the rising inhabitants and other financial activities in few of the metropolitan regions. The move from an urban society to a metropolitan society had major political impacts that include certain modifications and restructuring at the territorial levels. With a political view, it can be realized that the divergence between the central cities and the urban borders was not very extreme in Canada; the central cities of Canada had in general held a much larger share of the population and economic activity of the metropolitan areas. Thus even after the Second World War, the central cities were unlikely to remain disadvantageous when compared to the suburbs. Particularly, the Canadian experience of metropolitan reorganization was very much subjugated by “institutional solutions” employed by the governments with greater hold on the association of the municipal area (Hoffmann-Martinot & Sellers, 2005, pp.17-18). The First World War therefore has larger and more significant effects compared to the Second War. Economic Impacts of First and Second World War: The First World War had a remarkable impact on the economy of Canada as well as the on the world. Canada to pay for the war impacted the country’s economy and the taxation structure as a whole. Before the First World War, the country had no income tax system and the then finance minister thought it to be necessary to establish a tax payment to manage the costs of the effort needed for the war supplies. The dormant economy of Canada was pressed into soaring pressure by the Great War. New industrial manufacturing sector got created for the production of shells, rifles, etc. to meet the growing demands. Canada was changed from a large rural country to a developed and modern nation. These hasty changes also brought adversity for the country. This caused rise in the inflation, thereby the families getting affected by the higher prices of commodities and products. Thus the economy of the country was badly affected by the war (Canada in the Great War, n.d.). However, the outcome of the Second World War essentially altered Canada and its economy started flourishing. Canada made significant contributions to the war and ultimately achieved the rank of having the “3rd largest navy and 4th largest air force”. This proved to be a big achievement for a small nation like Canada. Also, Canada’s improved performance in the war led its growth to increase higher and higher. Canada also became a leader at an international level. Canada was started to get recognized by other countries as well for its huge military contribution. Agriculture was the biggest sector in Canada before the Second World War. However after the War ended, this scenario started changing as industrialization was replacing the agricultural sector. Also, job options increased owing to Canada’s boost in the industrial economy and its status in the World War II. Thus it can be realized that the War had brought enormous changes in the economic activity of Canada (Impact of World War 2 on Canada, n.d.). In economic respects, the Second World War saw better progress. Diplomatic Impacts of First and Second World War: Canada fought the First World War and paid huge prices for it. At the same time, the country had proved its position through its victory. The First World War was more significant than the Second World War. The First World War had changed the political scenario of the country to a great level, setting changes in the political level as well. However, after the Second World War, the country proved its position by performing enormously well such that other countries also recognized Canadian forces and respected them. Viewing from a diplomatic point, the country can be seen to be impacted positively as the impacts of the two World Wars proved the country to be one of the strong countries in the world, such that economically, politically, and socially Canada was an independently improved nation to be followed by others (Canadian Foreign Policy, n.d.). . Also, after the Second World War, Canada had “signed the UN Charter” which led to the foundation of that organization. Canada was also nominated to a “two-year term as a non-permanent member” of the Security Council for which the country had served for two years each for several years. Canada also played a chief role in forwarding the discussions in determining the Convention on the Law of the Sea (Canadian Foreign Policy, n.d.). Although certain cold wars broke out in between this period, yet Canada continued to maintain the level of peace. Canada proved to be diplomatically impacted in a positive manner as although certain difficulties had arisen and although the country had to pay prices in terms of huge lives being lost in the war, and other huge investments, yet the country maintained its position over a long way in all these years. References 1) Canada in the Great War. (n.d). passchendaelethemovie, Retrieved on July 30, 2011 from: http://www.passchendaelethemovie.com/Canada_In_The_Great_War/wake_of_war_legacy.html 2) Canadian Foreign Policy. (n.d.). thecanadapage, Retrieved on July 30, 2011 from: http://www.thecanadapage.org/ForeignPolicy.htm 3) Desmond, M. (1999). A Military History of Canada. Ontario: The Canadian Publishers 4) Francis, RD, Jones, R. and D. Smith (2007), Destinies, Canada: Nelson College Indigenous. 5) Guest, D. (1997). The emergence of social security in Canada. Canada: UBC Press 6) Hoffmann-Martinot, V. & J.M. Sellers. (2005). Metropolitanization and political change. Germany: VS Verlag 7) Impact of World War 2 on Canada. (n.d.). 123helpme, Retrieved on July 30, 2011 from: http://www.123helpme.com/impact-of-world-war-on-canada-view.asp?id=151770 8) Kealey, G.S. (1992). State Repression of Labour and the Left in Canada, 1914-1920: The Impact of First World War, Canadian Historical Review, LXXIII, 3 9) Keshen, J.A. & S.M. Durflinger. (2007). War and Society in Post-Confederation Canada. Toronto: Thomson Nelson 10) MacKinnon, M. & C. Minns. (2005). The First World War and the Emergence of National Markets in Canada, TCD, Retrieved on July 30, 2011 from: http://www.tcd.ie/Economics/staff/minnsc/research/war_prices_06_09_05.pdf 11) Sangster, J. The Polish ‘Dionnes’: Gender, Ethnicity, and Immigrant Workers in Post-Second World War Canada, The Canadian Historical Review 88, 3, 469-499, 472 Read More