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Question: How was WW1 a defining moment in Canadian History!?
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On the International scene, Canada became a country during WW1!.
Yes, Canada had been granted independence from Britain in 1867 and was self governing, but it was a young country!. The land of Trappers and lumberjacks!. World War I changed the world opinion of the country by the way the men fought in the war!. Regarded as fierce fighters by the Germans, undisciplined by the British, and cocky by everyone else's standards, a country of less than 10 million people suffered over 60 000 dead in the four years!. Go to any Canadian War Memorial and see the names of the great battles, Somme, Paschendale, Vimy Ridge, Armeins, and others!. Often, these battles were for a hill or a few miles of land!. The Ridge at Vimy, no other country could take it from the Germans!. The Canadians took it on an Easter Weekend and held it for a while!. The Canadians were fighting for the most part under the British!. Yes, the British declared war in 1914 and the Dominions, Canada, Australia and other countries who were former colonies of Britain were also at war!. Britian did it on their behalf!. Treated in many ways as a parent would treat a child!. At the end of the war, the child had grown up!. Canada was invited to participate in the Treaty of Paris!. Invited to participate in the League of Nations!. It marked the beginning of Canada as a World player!. The culmination of this new maturity occured in 1931 with the Statute of Westminster, where it was established, Britain could no longer make laws for Canada and other former colonies on their behalf!. Laws could now be made in the Parliament of Canada for Canada!. In Australia for Australia!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Canadians fought, and fought well, in many key battles in the first world war, such as Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele!. Soldiers from Canada had an importance beyond their small numbers, and truly distinguished themselves in the war!. even though we were a British colony at the time, these battles are important to Canadians in a historical context, and in many ways are considered the "forging of our nation"!. It's similar to how the Australians and New Zealanders view the Battle of Gallipoli!. Www@QuestionHome@Com