1920-1930 Flashcards
(17 cards)
Bloody Saturday
Workers were striking for better wages, working conditions, and recognition of their rights.
The Royal Northwest Mounted Police intervened, resulting in injuries and deaths.
This event marked a turning point in Canada’s labor rights movement and the government’s handling of protests.
Causes of the Great Depression
Stock Market Crash of 1929: The U.S. stock market crash sent shockwaves across the globe.
Overproduction: Farmers and manufacturers produced more than people could buy.
High Tariffs: International tariffs, such as the U.S. Smoot-Hawley Tariff, worsened the global economic situation.
Unemployment: In Canada, unemployment reached as high as 30%.
Economic Instability: The crisis led to economic hardship and political movements for change.
Prohibition
Reasons for Prohibition: The movement was influenced by moral concerns, particularly from religious groups, about alcohol’s negative effects on society (e.g., family violence, worker productivity).
Impact on Society: Bootlegging and organized crime grew, especially in larger cities.
End of Prohibition: By the early 1930s, Prohibition was seen as unsuccessful and was repealed in favor of regulation.
1920s Inventions
Radio: Revolutionized communication and entertainment, providing news, music, and cultural connection across Canada.
Automobiles: The widespread availability of cars (especially the Ford Model T) made personal transportation accessible to more people.
Household Appliances: Innovations like washing machines, refrigerators, and vacuum cleaners improved the standard of living.
Aviation: Commercial air travel began to emerge, changing the way people traveled.
Cinderella Man
The film highlights the struggles of the working class during the Depression and shows how people like Braddock fought for survival.
Many families during the Depression faced food insecurity, job loss, and homelessness.
Persons Case
The Famous Five (Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, and Henrietta Muir Edwards) fought for women’s rights in Canada.
This case was a major step toward achieving gender equality in Canada.
Women gained the right to hold public office and participate in political decision-making.
Indian Act
The Act controlled almost all aspects of Indigenous peoples’ lives, including their land, government, and social systems.
The policy of assimilation aimed to erase Indigenous culture, especially through the residential school system.
The Indian Act remained in effect until reforms in the late 20th century.
Pensions
The Old Age Pension Act (1927) introduced a small pension for elderly Canadians over 70.
The introduction of pensions was an early step toward establishing Canada’s modern social welfare programs.
1920s Women
Women gained the right to vote in federal elections in 1918, though full suffrage for Indigenous women and women of color was not achieved until later.
Women began entering the workforce more in the 1920s, particularly in clerical and retail jobs.
The “flapper” culture emerged, symbolizing the liberation and independence of young women.
1920s Movies
Movies became an important form of entertainment for people worldwide.
Iconic silent films and the advent of talkies (movies with sound) transformed the industry and popular culture.
The Jazz Singer (1927) was the first significant talking film.
The Radio
The radio allowed people to hear news, music, and stories from home and around the world.
It played a crucial role in political campaigning, especially during the Great Depression, when leaders like Franklin D. Roosevelt used radio to connect with the public (e.g., his Fireside Chats).
The radio contributed to the spread of popular culture and helped unite Canadians across the country.
New Political Parties
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), founded in 1932, was Canada’s first socialist political party. It aimed to address inequality and build a more just society.
The Social Credit Party, founded by William Aberhart in 1935, sought to fix economic problems through the issuance of government-backed “social credits.”
These new parties signaled a shift away from traditional political ideologies toward more progressive and interventionist policies.
Farming During the Depression
Droughts and low crop prices severely impacted farmers, leading to widespread poverty and migration.
Dust Bowl conditions in the Prairie provinces further exacerbated the situation.
The On-to-Ottawa Trek was partially fueled by the desperation of unemployed workers, including many farmers, who sought relief from the government.
Stock Market Crash
Causes:
Speculation: Many people invested in the stock market without understanding the risks, borrowing money to buy more stocks (margin trading).
Overproduction: Factories and farms produced more goods than people could buy.
Bank Failures: Many banks had invested heavily in the stock market, and when it crashed, these banks failed, causing people to lose their savings.
Impact on Canada:
Widespread unemployment and poverty.
Industrial production declined, leading to a collapse in key industries such as mining and manufacturing.
The Canadian government initially struggled to respond, leading to growing frustration among the public.
On-to-Ottawa Trek
What Happened:
The On-to-Ottawa Trek was a protest by unemployed men from relief camps in British Columbia who marched across Canada to demand better conditions.
Key Points:
Background:
During the Great Depression, many men were sent to relief camps, where they were forced to work in poor conditions for little pay, often without the right to leave or protest.
After years of poor treatment, the workers decided to march to Ottawa to demand better wages, working conditions, and more help from the government.
The March:
The trek began in Vancouver and the workers moved east, gathering support from others along the way.
Ottawa’s response: Prime Minister R.B. Bennett refused to meet with the protesters, and the government sent in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to stop them in Regina, Saskatchewan, where a violent confrontation, known as Bloody Saturday, took place.
Persons Case
What Happened:
The Persons Case was a landmark legal case in which Canadian women fought for the right to be recognized as “persons” under Canadian law, leading to their ability to hold public office, specifically in the Senate.
Key Points:
Background:
Women in Canada had long been denied full participation in political life, and the legal term “persons” in the British North America Act (1867) excluded women from holding Senate seats.
The Famous Five, a group of women activists (Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, and Henrietta Muir Edwards), challenged this legal exclusion in the Persons Case.
Outcome:
In 1929, the Supreme Court of Canada initially ruled against the women, but they appealed to the British Privy Council, which overturned the decision, and the women were finally recognized as “persons” under Canadian law.
This ruling was a significant victory for gender equality in Canada.
Racialized Peoples in Canada
What Happened:
Racialized peoples in Canada faced significant discrimination, exclusion, and marginalization during the 1920s and 1930s.
Key Points:
Chinese Canadians:
Chinese Head Tax (1885-1923): Chinese immigrants had to pay a head tax to enter Canada, which was a form of discriminatory policy targeting Chinese people.
Exclusionary Policies: Despite contributions to building Canada’s infrastructure (e.g., the Canadian Pacific Railway), Chinese Canadians were excluded from full participation in society, facing racist laws and being denied the right to vote.
The Chinese Exclusion Act (1923) effectively ended Chinese immigration to Canada.
Black Canadians:
Discrimination was widespread in both the workplace and housing, and Black Canadians were often excluded from mainstream society.
Black Canadians faced segregation in schools, public places, and churches, particularly in Ontario and Nova Scotia.
Despite this, Black Canadians contributed to society, especially in the military during WWI and as cultural leaders in the Harlem Renaissance.
Indigenous Peoples:
The Indian Act continued to oppress and control Indigenous peoples, limiting their rights and autonomy.
Assimilation policies, such as the residential school system, attempted to erase Indigenous culture and traditions.
Voting rights for Indigenous peoples were not granted until later years, and many Indigenous people were disenfranchised during this period.
