History Unit 2 Test Flashcards
Stock Market Crash/lack of social safety net
On Tuesday, Oct 29th, 1929, also known as “Black Tuesday”, the stock market crashed, leading to a huge loss of money and bank failure, kick starting the Great Depression.
This Great Depression was made worse because of a lack of: Insurance against “Bank Failure”, Unemployment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Worker’s Compensation (if you’re injured and can’t work), Free HealthCare, as well as because women couldn’t work themselves and were dependent on men being in the workforce.
Relief
As relief there was: Local government “relief” (temporary financial help), and help from Charities, and Religious Institutions.
R.B Bennett (Letters of Bennett) - why did people write to him? What did they ask for/get
R.B Bennett was a Consevative Prime Minister of Canada from 1930 - 1935. People wrote to him because they were desperate during the Great Depression and knew he may be able to provide financial support for their hardships. They often asked for/got financial aid for clothing, shoes, medical support, etc.
Relief Camps - what was wrong with them
As provinces and municipalities were overwhelmed with the need for relief, the federal government stepped in and created relief camps for unemployed single males – the transients who had been riding the rods! What was wrong with the camps were their conditions: the shacks resembled dog houses, workers lost the right to vote, they worked for 8 hours in order to receive a “gift” of 20 cents as a form of “slave wages”, anyone who left would be denied all further relief, and work sometimes included “building a road from nowhere to nowhere,” digging holes for no reason, or re-grading the same bend in a road every day.
On-to-Ottawa Trek/Regina Riot
Over a thousand angry unemployed men left federal relief camps in British Columbia and boarded boxcars to take their demand for work and wages directly to Ottawa.
Regina Riot
Under Bennett’s orders, the RCMP and Regina city police attack a large group of people in support of the strikers, leaving 1 person dead, several hundred injured, and thousands of dollars of property damage in ruins.
The Trek was disbanded, Bennett’s conservatives were voted out, the relief camps were shut down, and plans for a new welfare system started.
Anti-Semitism in Canada and Europe
Anti-Semitism was legal in Canada, there were signs that stated Jews weren’t allowed in certain places, swastika clubs, Christe Pie Riots (swastika banners unfurled, cries of “Heil Hitler” appear at a baseball game), The Kristallnach “The Night of Broken Glass” (on Nov 9-10, 1938 hundreds coordinated acts of vandalism occurred against Jewish property in Germany, Austria and Czech. Jews were blamed for the violence, thousands arrested and taken away to “relocation camps” for their own protection).
William Lyon Mackenzie King’s diaries, visit to Hitler
William Lyon Mackenzie King kept diaries throughout his whole life, there is a debate on whether or not they should be public as they are a great primary source but also very private information. After he met Hitler, he wrote about him in the diaries and it came across as if he fell under Hitler’s spell because of how fondly he spoke of him e.g. “he smiled pleasantly and indeed had a sort of appealing and affectionate look in his eyes.”
What were the political parties of the 1930s?
- Social Credit, “Bible Bill” Aberhart
- CCF, J.S. Woodsworth
- Union Nationale, Maurice Duplessis
- Communist Party of Canada, Tim Buck
Social Credit, “Bible Bill” Aberhart
An Albertian party led by William Aberhart, known for his religious beliefs. Had the idea to give people $25 dollars/month but never did because the money would eventually become worthless.
CCF, J.S. Woodsworth
A more left-wing party located in the Prairie Provinces led by J.S. Woodworth (pacifist during WWI). Had the idea of Social Safety Nets (pensions, health and welfare insurance, unemployment insurance, a family allowance, and workers’ compensation) but they didn’t know where the money would come from.
Union Nationale, Maurice Duplessis
A conservative, nationalist, party from Quebec led by Maurice Duplessis. They blamed English businesses that controlled much of Quebec’s commerce for the Depression and overall believed in a strong independent Quebec based on family values as represented by the Quebec Roman Catholic church.
Communist Party of Canada, Tim Buck
A far left-wing, communist, federal party of Canada led by Tim Buck. They tried to fight against the harsh conditions of the Great Depression, formed many trade unions, and began a countrywide movement for unemployment insurance. Overall they seek better worker’s rights, expand health care and other social programs, and reduce poverty.
The Road to War: what were the five reasons you studied?
The Treaty of Versailles - Harsh terms intended to make Germany powerless.
Rise of Facism - A system of government in which: nationalism is promoted, labour and industry are regulated by a strong national government, all opposition is suppressed.
Failure of the League of Nations - The League of Nations was established in 1920 to prevent war, but its decisions were not legally binding.
The Manchurian Crisis - Sept. 1931: Japan invaded the Chinese province of Manchuria on the pretext that China attacked the Japanese-owned South Manchurian Railroad.
Spanish Civil War - In 1936 a Spanish civil war breaks out between: New Republic government led by communists vs. Fascists led by Francisco Franco.
Appeasement
A negotiating strategy where you give the other side a little bit of what they want in the hopes that they will be satisfied with that.
German Rearmament
When Hitler broke the Treaty of Versailles, created an air force, expanded his army, and introduced conscription while the rest of the world was understanding.
Rome-Berlin Axis
When Hitler created an agreement between Fascist Italy (dictator Benito Mussolini) and Fascist Germany, it’s a new alliance but it seemed peaceful. The rest of the world is fooled and doesn’t know Germany and Italy planned to conquer Europe so they do nothing.
Rhineland
When Hitler had an area of Germany bordering France when no German military was allowed there he still moved military into this area, breaking the Treaty of Versailles again. The world was understanding about the unfair treaty again but France was upset.
Anschluss
When Hitler invaded the German-speaking country of Austria to make a larger “Germany.” Due to the treaty, Austria had limited military and thus, could not defend themselves. However, the invasion was looked at as “peaceful” as there was no loss of life. Appeasement began, the rest of the world “let” Hitler have this, but promised no more.
The Sudetenland, the Munich Agreement, Neville Chamberlain’s “peace in our time”
When Hitler broke the treaty again by invading and taking over a part of Czechoslovakia which is mostly German speaking. The rest of the world reacted with appeasement again with the The Munich Agreement, he can’t have all of Czechoslovakia, just this part. Neville Chamberlain has so much faith in this agreement that he brandished a statement signed by the two leaders which said that it promised “peace for our time.”
Kristallnacht
When hundreds of coordinated acts of vandalism against Jewish property occurred in Germany, Austria and Czech. Then Jews were blamed for the violence, and thousands were arrested and taken away to “relocation camps” for their own protection. The rest of the world reacted by protesting at Maple Leaf Gardens (15,000) in Canada, and by nobody believing that the German Jewish people did this to themselves. However, the world leaders let this happen as they believed it was an internal matter, meaning they couldn’t interfere.
Czechoslovakia
When Hitler took the rest of Czechoslovakia, the rest of the world was shocked and confused that the Munich Agreement was broken. It is now more closely judged if appeasement was truly working or not.
