20s AND 30s HISTORY REVIEW 1

UNIT 2: 20s AND 30s REVIEW

Topic 1— Post War Problems:
INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC
Identify:
Also known as Spanish Flu
Thousands weakened form the virus and died from pneumonia
Happened all around the world after WWI (soldiers carried it out)
Explain:
Schools, theaters, and churches closed; communities tried to set up a total quarantine so no traveling in/out
Government went into action and created a federal Department of Health in 1919
Assess:
50,000 Canadians died during the epidemic
Federal and provincial government collected vital statistics; birth/death rates, infant mortality rates
Signaled that Canadians were becoming more aware of public health concerns
ONE BIG UNION
Identify:
Post war event (1919); a group of workers that wanted better working conditions
Led by leaders
Influenced by the Bolsheviks in Russia
Explain:
Foreign workers were suspected the most
Government feared workers were planning a revolution
When western Canadian trade unionists met in Calgary, gov’t made sure police agents were there to monitor events
Assess:
More unions developing
Believed that by standing together, workers could force employers to pay higher wages and establish shorter working hours
WINNIPEG GENERAL STRIKE
Identify:
One Big Union vs. Government
Workers that wanted better working conditions
May 1, 1919 the Building and Metal Trades Councils in Winnipeg voted to go on strike
Explain:
Workers asked for: decent wages ($0.85 per hour), eight hour day, right to bargain collectively for better working conditions
May 15, 1919: 30 000 additional workers walked off their job
Strike sped from industry to industry
Assess:
Impact on Canada’s economy
All industries and key services were shut down; stores and factories were closed; dairies and bakeries stopped delivering
Streetcar operators, garbage collectors, postal workers, telephone operators, firefighters and hydro workers refused to work, even police supported the strike but remained on the job (for safety reasons)
XENOPHOBIA
Identify:
A term that refers to the fear of that which is different, foreign or strange; an irrational and unreasoned fear
Happened around 1920s during the Great Depression
Explain:
Law discriminated those who weren’t British or Americans
Immigration rates dropped from 1921 to 1931
Assess:
Made Depression worse
Canada’s economy was failing
Canada’s immigration rate and population decreased

TOPIC 2—CANADA’S GROWING AUTONOMY:
THE CHANAK AFFAIRE (1922)
Identify:
Britain became embroiled in a dispute with Turkey at Chanak, a small town on a strait
Turkey threatened to take control of the area even though they were on the losing side during WWI
Britain sent in troops/ships and asked Canada for military support if war developed
Historical Significance:
Canada didn’t want to become part of foreign conflicts (called isolationist)
William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Prime Minister, decided if Canada didn’t want to get involved, they didn’t have to; made Canadian Parliament decide whether to send troops or not
During WWI, Canada stood by Britain without question so King said Canada should be allowed to make their own foreign policies
Britain and Canada’s interest in foreign policies were not always the same
HALIBUT TREATY (1923)
Identify:
Canada and the USA worked out an agreement on the fishing season for halibut in the north Pacific
It had no direct concern to Britain
Historical Significance:
Britain always signed treaties for Canada
King insisted that only representatives from Canada/USA sign the treaty
Britain eventually agreed and Canada won the right to sign treaties with foreign countries on its own
THE KING-BYNG CRISIS (1926)
Identify:
Governor General Julian Byng refused to dissolve Parliament and call and election when King requested it
King accused Byng of ignoring advice from elected government
King argues that it was a breach of the principle of responsible government
Historical Significance:
King was determine to clarify the role of the Governor at next Imperial Conference General (redefine it)
This change occurred in all the Dominions (countries under the Crown)
THE BALFOUR REPORT (1926)
Identify:
At the next Imperial Conference, King and the delegates talk about the powers of the Dominions and the nature of their relationship to each other/Britain
King determined that Canada should make their own decisions about foreign policy without British interference
No longer called “Dominions of the British Empire” but remain part of a new Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth nations were equal in status and united by their common allegiance to the British monarchy
Historical Significance:
Canada/other Dominions were declared self-governing and independent nations
Canada won concession on the issue of the Governor General’s powers
Governor General would be the representative of the Crown in Canada, not British government
STATUTE OF WESTMINSTER (1931)
Identify:
11th December, 1931, British Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster
In two areas Canada did not claim full independence
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Britain is one court higher than the Supreme Court of Canada
Provinces and the federal government could not agree on a method for amending the BNA, so that power remains the British government’s responsibility
Historical Significance:
Made Canada a completely self-governing country, bound by no laws other than its own
Britain could no longer make laws for Canada
Canada achieved complete autonomy in 1931 TOPIC 3—SOCIAL CHANGE:
PROHIBITION
Identify:
The banning of production, import, and transportation of liquor across the country
United States was dry from about 1919 to 1933
Explain:
People bought “bootleg booze”
Illegal liquor made by organized bootleggers and other small-time operators
Customers were given drinks through a peephole
Druggists would sell alcohol as a tonic
Assess:
Crime rate for smuggling alcohol
Private clubs known as “speakeasies” sprang up in business
Business for druggists
JAZZ
Was move north from New Orleans, US and was make popular by musicians such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, both Black Americans
The Charleston was fast and wild paced; it became the emblem of the “Jazz Age”
Innovating in the 20s and 30s
FLAPPERS
Was a young women who dress outrageously
Wore galoshes with unfastened buckles; hemlines above the knees and silk stockings rolled down; a short “bobbed” style
PERSON’S CASE
Underlined the inequality women faced
Emily Murphy was made first women judge in the British Empire and she was appointed to an Alberta court
A lawyer in the courtroom challenged her tight to judge any case because she was a women; he said that no woman was a “person” in the eyes of law. Murphy was supported by the Supreme Court of Alberta
In August 1927, Murphy and four other prominent women decided to petition the prime minister because woman asked him to appoint a woman to the Senate and he said the BNA act stated that only qualified “persons” could receive appointments
Famous Five
Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Edwards, and Irene Parlby asked, “Does the word ‘persons’ in Section 24 of the BNA act include female ‘persons’?”
In April 1928, the Supreme Court of Canada decided women were not “persons” qualified
The Famous Five appealed their case to the Privy Council in Britain and they declared the word “persons” included both men and women
Emily Murphy won her fight
EDMONTON GRADS
Basketball was one of the first sports played by women on the world circuit
Grads dominated women’s basketball for over 20 years; from 1915 to 1940, they played 522 games and lost on 20
Represented Canada at four Olympics (1924-1936) and won 27 consecutive games
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
Hockey and baseball became well known; as cities grew, they could afford larger hockey arenas and baseball diamonds
Strong ties developed with the US because professional teams required a large market
The National Hockey League (NHL) was formed in Canada in 1917; became the top professional league in North America; most American clubs were owned/managed by Canadians
“Hockey Night In Canada” broadcasted over the radio with Foster Hewitt (the best know announcer) giving a play by play
By 1939, only Toronto and Montreal were left in the NHL because professional became centered in the US (most players were still Canadian)

TOPIC 4—TECHNOLOGY:
RADIO
Who was involved in the introduction and evolution of this new technology?
Guglielmo Marconi was the inventor of the first wireless radio
In 1919, he set up his first commercial radio station in Montreal
In 1925, Edward “Ted” S. Rogers, discovered how to plug the radio directly into household electrical current; the world’s first battery-less radio
In February 1927, Ted Rogers set up his own radio station in Toronto
Description of product
Earliest home set had no tubes, but a crystal (a thin piece of quartz)
Tuned in a signal by moving a fine wire “whisker” over the surface of the crystal
Weren’t very loud, so several pairs of headphones were needed
Later, radios were built in elaborate wooden cabinets; tubes replaced crystals and speakers replaced whiskers
Significance to Canadian Society
Voices, news, and music could be broadcasted across the country using radio signals
People living in isolated rural parts were brought in touch with the cities
Inexpensive entertainment
ASSEMBLY LINE/AUTOMOBILES
Who was involved in the introduction and evolution of this new technology?
Henry Ford wanted to make an inexpensive car that almost anyone could afford
Apply to car manufacturing method of mass production; set up assembly line
Introduced “Model T” aka Tin Lizzy
1920s, small companies could not compete with American firms
1918, Samuel McLaughlin who started car production in 1908, sold his company to General Motors
1925, Walter P. Chrysler bought the struggling Maxwell-Chalmers Company and turned it to Chrysler Company of Canada
Ford manufactured cars since 1904
Canada was second largest producer
Description of product
An assembly line; as it moved new parts were added to the frame by workers
By the end of the line, a car was assembled and ready to drive
Standard car parts: wheels, engines, bodies were all the same
A crank and tow rope were equipment in every automobile
Cranked used to get the engine started
Tow rope was used when motorists get stuck in mud or snow
Many did not attempt to drive in the winter
Put car on blocks because engines seized up with cold.
Significance to Canadian Society
Changed our way of living; put North America on wheels
Farm families could travel to nearby towns to shop and buy goods, farm children could get to school/hospital faster
In movies, cars gave a sense of individualism/freedom
Government spent money on roads, highways, bridges.
Air pollution, increase in crime rates, traffic jams
Introduced traffic regulations (speed limit, drivers licenses)
Resulted in industries such as gasoline, rubber, glass, oil, asphalt, paint, etc.
Jobs created in service stations, roadside restaurants, parking lots, repair shops, etc.

TOPIC 5—THE GREAT DEPRESSION:
BUSINESS CYCLE
Typically runs 3-5 years but can last longer
Prosperity – economy expands; unemployment is low; income rises; and consumers buy more products. Businesses increase production and offer new, better products
Recession – Slowdown in economic activity; GDP decreases; unemployment rises; and since people have less money to spend, business revenues decline
Recovery – Economy starts growing again
Depression – Severe long-lasting recession
STOCK MARKET CRASH
“Black Tuesday”– the day the stock market crashed in October 1929; one of the most dramatic events signalling the Depression
Many people dreamed of getting rich; buy when stock’s price was low and sell when price was high
Many people who invested lost everything in the crash
CAUSES OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION
Over Production and Over Expansion
During prosperity, agriculture and industry reached high levels of production
Many industries were expanding; profits were spent on adding to factories/building new ones
Huge supplies of food, newsprint, minerals, and manufactures goods were produced and stockpiled
Automobile centres manufactured 400,00 cars and Canadians already owned cars
Everything was produced and nothing was sold so factory owners began to slow down production and lay off workers; sales slowed down even more
Canada’s Dependence on a Few Primary Products/the United States
Canada’s economy depended on basic products, known as staples; includes wheat, fish, minerals, pulp, and paper (these were Canada’s most important exports; as long as the world demanded these products, Canada would prosper)
The Depression hit countries worldwide and demand for Canada’s products fell
Regions which depended on one primary product were in deep economic trouble; the Maritimes depended on fish; the West depended on wheat production
Late 1920s, Argentina and Australia became wheat-exporting countries; with a surplus in the market, the price of wheat dropped
Chain reaction: Drought in summer = no wheat = no money to purchase machinery from eastern Canada/no money to pay mortgage on farm; no wheat = no flour
Canada’s Dependence on the United States
Bought 65% of imports from the US, 40% of our exports were sent to the US; was our most important trading partner
“When the United States sneezed, the rest of the world got pneumonia”

TOPIC 6—THE WORST YEARS:
CONDITIONS
Almost a third of all Canadians were unemployed; people roamed the city and hitched rides on trains to try and find jobs
No income = no food, clothing, and other necessities; people lived near starvations and suffered from malnutrition
No unemployment insurance, no family allowance, and no government sponsored medical care
Wealthy lived comfortably because prices were low
RELIEF
In the past city governments and private charities provided help for the poor and needy, but when the Depression hit, too many people were seeking help
Federal Government was reluctant to become involved in the economy
When the market crashed in 1929, William Lyon Mackenzie King said the best way to handle the Depression was to just wait it out; he thought it would be short-lived and that better economic times were not far off
The city government laid of city workers, cut expenses, raised taxes, and borrowed money
Some cities went into debt, others insisted that they collect relief; people had to prove they could not pay rent, and that their phone, water and electricity services had been cut off to get relief
In 1932, government set up numerous relief camps for single unemployed men; were operated by the Department of National Defence; single men 18 years and older worked eight hours a day cutting brush, moving rocks, and builing rocks. In return they got food, shelter, clothing, and a pay of 20¢ a day
WILLIAM LYON MACKENZIE KING: 5-CENT PIECE SPEECH
In 1930, he insisted that social welfare was the responsibility of the provinces and declared that he would not give a “five-cent piece” to any province that did not have a Liberal government; biggest political mistake of his career
In the election, the Liberals were voted out and the Conservative party came into party
Richard Bedford replaced prime minister King and accused him of ignoring the plight of the unemployed and the problems caused by the stock market crash R.B. BENNETT
Bennett promised to give each province $20 million in emergency finds for relief payments; he raised tariffs on imports to boost Canadian manufacturing and provide Canadian businesses with better trading opportunities
His policies did very little to ease the economic crisis
Bennett Buggies – Cars that could not run for lack of gas, hitched up to farm animals
Bennett Boroughs – Shacks were unemployed people camped in around cities
Bennett Coffee – Made from roasted wheat or barely, a cheap substitute for real coffee
Bennett Blankets – Newspapers used as covers by homeless people on park benches
BENNETT’S NEW DEAL
In 1935, Canadians were growing angry and the Depression was dragging on so Bennett introduced radical reforms; he wanted to establish unemployment and social insurance, set minimum wages, limit the hours of work, guarantee the fair treatment of employees, and control prices so that businesses could not make unfair profits
Political opponents suggested that the New Deal was just to win votes in the upcoming election and felt that his reforms were made to late to do any good
In the 1935 election, King and the Liberals swept back into power
ON-TO-OTTAWA TREK
In June 1935, thousands of men fed up with life in the British Columbia relief camps boarded freight trains bound for Ottawa to protest to the government
As they moved eastward, they were joined with more men; they wanted clear economic reforms such as minimum wages and a genuine system of social and unemployment insurance
They were stopped at Regina by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Bennett claimed the trekkers were disobeying the law and were part of a plot to overthrow the government
SOCIAL CREDIT
In 1935, the Social Credit part swept to power as the government of Alberta; was a movement of regional protest—the West against Central Canada
Leader was William Aberhart, a school principle who was a solid and responsible citizen; he was religious and well known; a popular radio preacher
Based on the writings of Major C. H. Douglas; basic problem of the economy was that people did not have enough money to spend on the goods being produced; Douglas’ solution was that every citizen should be given a “social credit” or cash payment; with more cash, people would spend more and improve the economy/end the Depression
Aberhart promised to give a “social credit” of $25 per month to every adult in Alberta
The Social Credit party remained in power for 35 years and came to power in British Columbia in 1952; they became a federal party and won seats in Alberta and Quebec in a number of elections
CO-OPERATIVE COMMONWEALTH FEDERATION (CCF)
Was formed in 1932 by farmers, labour groups, university teachers, and a few Members of Parliament; they wanted social and economic reforms to end the human suffering caused by the Great Depression
The first leader, James S. Woodsworth had been arrested for his involvement in the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919 but he was later elected as a Member of Parliament
Set out a document called the Regina Manifesto; called for the public ownership of banks and major services such as transportation and electric power, demanded improved health and social welfare services, called for more government support of agriculture and conservation, suggested a start on slum clearance and the extension of electricity services to rural areas
Was a socialist party; believed the government should own and control the means of production
Members were accused of being communists but they rejected armed revolution; they wanted to bring change through elections to the government
The Liberals adopted some CCF ideas: welfare insurance, family allowance, unemployment insurance, and compensation for injured workers; by 1961, CCF reorganized to the New Democratic Party (still active in politics)
The party gained some seats in provincial elections in British Columbia and Saskatchewan in 1933-34
UNION NATIONALE
In the 1920s, Quebec society changed; more people left farms to work in the large hydroelectric, mining, and pulp and paper industries; Quebec gradually became industrialized, the province’s natural resources, industries, and finances were largely in the hands of English-speaking business owners
BY 1933, 30% of Montreal’s workforce was unemployed; economic and social grievances led French Canadians to form the Union Nationale
The party leader was lawyer, Maurice Duplessis; claimed the English-speaking minority and federal government were the cause of Quebec’s problems; he vowed to defend the French language, Roman Catholic religion, and culture against English-speaking businesspeople
Union Nationale promised to improve working conditions, find new markers for farm products, and build affordable housing
In 1936, they swept to power in provincial elections; Duplessis domination until his death in 1959
During power, Union Nationale changed direction; passed anti-strike laws to put down labour unions, passed the Padlock Law (the right to padlock the premises of any “subversive” organizations) which was aimed at communists and Jewish people; despite this Quebeckers admired Duplessis’ nationalism