Why did Quebec not agree with conscription during World War 1?

Answer 1

Quebec was angry about conscription because many of them were farmers. They did not care for France and they really did not care what happened to England. They did not want to fight in a war they thought they had nothing to do with because unlike the majority british speaking canadians, the french felt they were not involved in this war.

the french and English speaking parts of Canada were not really happy with each other around these times

AnswerThe answer above is misinformed about the history of your OWN country.

After their defeat, by the British Army at Quebec City in 1759, the Quebecois were ALLOWED to retain their own language, religion, and system of laws ( The Napoleonic Code) . This was a much better deal than MOST conqured people got in those days. That deal was re-inforced in the BNA Act at Confederation in 1867. Guranteed rights and freedoms, under the Canadian Law, from day one of Canadian governmental regulations.

Now we come to 1914, the beginning of the FIRST WORLD WAR. Canada agrees to support Britain, and provides a massive number of troops, over six hundred thousand men , in total. The number of French speaking troops from Canada? A paltry 22,000. Hardly a good example of "being part of the country", is it?

Now in 1939, the call to arms sounds again, and again the french Canadian response is pittiful in it's numbers. But this time many french Canadians are only too happy to get good paying jobs in war factories in Canada, and make lots of overtime money, but without any chance of getting killed, or wounded.

That is one of the basic reasons why many older generations of Canadians are so scornful of the Quebecois, who are still remembered as cowards.

Answer

The above answer is even more equally misinformed about Canadian history and Quebec society. Quebec, being a conquered nation in 1756 did not feel obligated to fight in a war that England had begun. England and the sovereign were considered a conquering power even in 1914. Connections with France had long been severed so the desire to protect a "mother country" was not present. Also, the Roman Catholic church in Quebec maintained that traditional Quebec life was agrarian and most Quebecers were encouraged to remain tied to the land as farmers or farm workers. Throughout the war and until conscription was introduced, all farm workers were exempt from enlisting. In addition, most Quebecers could not speak English and there were no French-speaking units until the formation of the 22e in 1917. All officers were English as well, meaning the few French could climb the military hierarchy. Faced with bigotry in the forces, few French felt a desire to enlist.

In the Second World War, French units had already been established and many from Quebec did enlist. After the depression, it meant an income for men who had been out of work for a decade.

Today, French-speaking soldiers comprise almost 30% of our military and the 22e is famous for its courage. The statement that Quebecers are mocked for cowardice is entirely incorrect and verges on racist, showinig little understanding for Quebec politics.

Answer 2

French speaking Quebecers saw themselves as distinct from a very pro-British English speaking Canada. The war was not their fight. Ill treatment of Francophone soldiers already fighting and mutual distrust and antagonism between Quebecois and Anglophone soldiers only added to the situation. Conscription was seen as further proof of Anglophone dominance and suppression of the Quebecois that had started with the Conquest.