"The Conscription Crisis of 1917"

The Conscription Crisis of 1917 was a conflict in Canada over mandatory military service during World War I. As the war continued, the government faced pressure to increase troop numbers, but many Canadians, especially in Quebec, opposed conscription, citing personal and cultural reasons. This division intensified existing tensions between English and French Canadians, leading to protests and political unrest. The crisis highlighted challenges in uniting a diverse national identity during wartime and resulted in government enforcement of conscription, which deepened regional and linguistic divides but aimed to bolster Canada's war effort.