FREE ESSAY ON CANADIAN HISTORY WW1

CANADIAN HISTORY WW1

The article "Race and Recruitment In World War 1: Enlistment of Visible Minorities in the
Canadian Expeditionary Force*" Written by author James W. ST G. Walker that can be found
in the Canadian Historial Review (March 1989 Edition) discusses the discrimination
against minorities during World War 1. Outlining the events from 1914 through 1917 that
depict this injustice against visible minorities. It gives a detailed view of changing
attitutudes of government and recruiting officials towards visible minorities and their
position and value to the war efffort. James W. ST G. Walker goes about trying to prove
that while World War 1 may have been a step forward for both women and Eastern Europe it
was anything but for the visible minorities of Canada. World War 1 only strengthened the
beliefs of a white man's world by being a white man's war.
At the onset of the war in 1914 the enlistment rate was very high. Due to both patriotic
and economic factors the initial numbers were very high. This continued for over a year.
During this time the requirments to enlist in the war included an unofficail race
criteria. No visible minorities were welcomed to join the war. It was the unofficial
opinion of recruiting officials that visible minorities, such as Blacks and Native
Indians, could not fight in a white mans war. These minorities were outraged. They
demanded to know why they were being turned away. Though it was clear that they were
being excluded for racial reasons in 1914 they were offered no remedies to these unjust
circumstances. The Japenese, in particular, became more persistant in their attempts to
enlist. It was believed that winning the battle to join the war effort would help win the
war against discrimination. Although there was still the strong belief that whites and
black could not fight together the insistance of the black communities to be allowed to
participate in the war led to the creation of a seperate black platoon. In 1915 the
Japenese community tryed to put together a segragated Japenese unit only to be rejected
by Militia headquartes. 
In the spring of 1915 a new policy on recruitment was instituted. Now any patriotic
person or group could form a battalion. Even this was not enough to fill the growing need
for men. So in 1916 the active recruiting of visible minorities was started. All
minorities were recruited by officials who belived that all visible minorites would be
later transferrred to special units. By the summer of 1916 minorities were being actively
recruited for infantry battalions. At the same time visible minorities were also being
recruited for non-combat labour. Two years into the war the policy on recruiting visible
minorities had been completely turned around. Visible minorities were now being welcomed
and actively recruited. This change had come too late. The visible minorities were now
hesitating to join the war effort. The few Blacks and Native Indians who had slipped
through the discriminatort system to make it to the war were sending back stories of
unfair treatment and horrible conditions. The special units designated for visible
minorites who had been preparing for combat were constantly being stalled from going to
Europe. Those who did make it to Europe were for the most part not put in combat
situations once they arrived in Europe. They were seperated and used for manual labor.
Visible minorities were now questioning the Militia and their motives behind welcoming
visible minorities into the army. The saw what was happening to pre-existing battalians
of minorities. They were being seperated to fill gaps left by casualties or reduced to
trench diggers. The demotion of No.2 to a construction company was a grave diappointment
that left Black minorities in particular distrustful and unwilling to volunteer for
service. 
During this time the casualty rate was rising. There was a great need for recruits. So
with the drop in volunteers the Canadian government turned to consription. After having
been turned away multiple times and then being treated badly, the minorities were
outraged. Native Indians were very loud in their refusal to register for consciption.
Their argument was they were not considered citizens nor were they afforded the rights of
citizens so why should they be forced into consciption. The government was forced to give
them immunity from conscription. The Japanese were the next to follow. They too were not
citizens. Although they were considered landed Canadians; they did not have the same
rights as whites. They two were given immunity. Blacks were unfortunately not able to
benefit from these cases. They were considered citizens and therefore they were forced to
register for conscription. The blacks used this opportunilty to once again try and
salvage they position in the war. They insisted if they were going to be forced to comply
with consciption all blacks should be sent to No.2 so that they could be upgraded from a
construction company to a battalion once again. The order went out to all commanding
officers to transfer all black troops to No.2. The order was complyed with and the No.2
Company was soon preparing to go overseas. In May they were once again let down when it
was announced that would not be going anywhere. After one more try by Rev. William White
Captain of No.2 it was finally agreed that No.2 would be sent over. Over seas there was
confusion as to what role visible minorities were to have. The few Japanese who had made
it were allowed into combat, while the Native Indians where divided some were put to work
doing manual labour while others were put to work in a pioneering battalion. As for
blacks, those who were part of a regular battalion because they had volunbtarily joined
the war encountered few problems. But the members of No.2 were not so lucky. Upon
arriving in France they were once again demoted to a construcon company forced to perfor
manual labour. 
James W. ST G Walker writes an article that clearly outlines the actions of a Governement
that is racists and manipulitive. James W. ST G. Walker uses mulitiple sources but
focuses his article the material on the National Archives of Canada. From which he finds
multilple memos and letters from parties directly involved n creating and changing the
unofficial recruiting criteria during World War 1. Reviewing these documents from
1914-1917 helps the author to present a balanced and acurate desciption of the events as
they unfolded. In examining his article you can find many direct quotes and references to
the documents he used from the National Archives of Canada.
The article is written with a very clean style. The author is quite simple in his
descriptions of events and facts. He is focused on getting his point across and this
comes across well in the article. The events are told in chronological order and mixed
with quotes and references to specific memo's and documents making the information flow
easily while still reinforcing the importance of each event. The author does not take for
granted the readers knowledge of the events or time period. Every point and happening are
clearly and well explained. This is to both the authors and the readrs advantage. The
author is rewarded with a reader that clearly understands and enjoys the article. The
reader is rewared with a clear grasp of the authors intention and direction for this
article.
Jame W. St g. Walkers argument that visible minorities were mistreated during World War 1
is quite logical when faced with the events and the supporting documents. In reviewing
the chain of occurences this is easily the conclusion that can be deduced. First the
governments absolute refusal to allow visible minorities into the war. This demonstarted
how racist and unbending the Canadian Government truly was. Second came the change in
policy to allow only certain visible minorities limited entrance once the recruitment
rates began to drop. While the government claimed ignorance to the original race criteria
they still did not allow the visible minorities the proper respect they were due. The
final act of conscription when the Governement forced visible minorities into a war that
would benefit only the white man was the last indicator to the true feelings of the
Government. Based on all the above events and all the supporting documentation, James W.
ST G. Walkers conclusion that World War 1 was a step backard for visible minorities is
the only logical conclusion that an be drwan from this.
James W. St G. Walker offers his opinion that the visible minorities of Canada were used
and abused by a Governent that was completely unconcerned with them. His statement that
World War 1 was a white man's war is proved through his strong arguments that are
supported through his research. his article is more than convicing it is fact. Backed up
with multiple governement document and memo's that can only lend their support to
Walker's thesis.