Laurier House National Historic Site of Canada

The conscription crises during the two World Wars

I: About the lesson

II: Setting the scene

Laurier House and Canada during the Two World Wars

III: Figuring out the facts : Readings

Figuring out the facts

1. Letter from Prime Minister Laurier to Mr. Rowell, Leader of the Ontario Liberal party
2. A sad Meeting
3. Mackenzie King's diary
4. Jack Granatstein on the Prime Ministers: Later-day account

IV: Visual Evidence

Visual Evidence

1. Newspaper editorial from Le Devoir, circa 1917 (Henri Bourassa)
2. Photo of young recruits, 1917
3. Recruitment poster, 1917
4. Cartoon of Mackenzie King "Conscription if necessary..."

V: Putting it All Together : Activities for students

Putting it All Together

1. Compare and contrast: an account of the Conscription crisis of 1917 by an English-Canadian historian and one written by a French-Canadian historian.
2. Discussion of 1917 editorial: What would you think of this war if you had grown up in Quebec? If you had grown up in English-Canada?
3. War Letters: research old war letters, and write a description of life at the front.

VI: Supplementary Resources

Supplementary Resources