Canadian History 1201

Unit 3: Canada in the 1920’s

SCO: Students are expected to be able to demonstrate an understanding of Canada in the 1920’s of the:

1. Economic2. Political3. Social conditions

3.1 Economics

3.1: Economic conditions: experiences of returning soldiers, rise of the union movement, urban manufacturing centres, and uneven prosperity

1. Economics in the 1920’s

Economy first went into a slumpMunitions factories closedMany workers laid offIndustries shifted from wartime production to production of consumer goods

Returning Soldiers:Returning soldiers were disappointed. Unemployed. BitterVeterans resented fact some business people made huge profits from the war, while they risked their livesFelt country owed them a job and a chance to make a decent living

Pressure on women to return to household. Men wanted to workPeople who had jobs were not much better offPrice of food and clothing greatly increased. Wages stayed sameCost of living doubled from 1914-1919

Housing was scarce and rent was highInflation was a problem

Economy (cont’d)

Led to labor unrest and development of union movementFears of Communist revolutionStrikes became very predominantBest example is the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919

Economy (cont’d)

Winnipeg General Strike of 1919:6 week strike between building, metal workers and their employersLargest revolt in Canadian historyWorkers wanted better pay and working conditionsApprox 30,000 people went on strike to support the workersCity unable to functionSparked strikes across the country

Winnipeg General Strike:Clash between strikers and policeOne man killed and many injured on Bloody SaturdayResult?• Factory owners, government and police

defeated workers• Drew attention to poor economic and social

conditions for workers• Encouraged workers to look to political

parties for support

Video:

Winnipeg General Strikehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfhIyhZ8XEk

Questions:

1. How would you feel being a striker during the Winnipeg General Strike?2. How would you feel being a returning veteran?3. Should government be involved in union and industry disputes?

Economic Boom

By 1923-24 the economic slump was overWorld economy soaredBig demand for canadian wheatDemand for iron ore, nickel, zinc and other minerals caused a mining boom

Pulp and paper industry expandedAutomobile production increasedProduction of household appliances increased (radios, record players, electrical appliances)Cities specialized: Hamilton (steel), Montreal (manufacturing), Windsor (automobiles)

Many moved to the cities from the farms. Costs were high. Inexperienced farmers exhausted land

The economy returned to peacetime productionPrimary industries still importantSecondary industries focused on production of automobiles and consumer goods

Consumer culture developedManufacturing centres grewAmerican branch plants became established

American investment in Canada…The benefits?JobsMore productsCheaper vehicles

American investment in Canada…The problems?Profits sent to USLess research and development

American Investment in Canada…an Activity

American Branch Plants in Canada

Pros Cons

Good idea (for Canada)? I feel…

Life in the 1920’s

Fad’s:CrosswordsRaces and contests (talking, kissing, eating, dancing, sitting, rocking chair)

Life in the 1920’s

FlappersYoung women dressed outrageouslyBobbed hairstyleHemlines above kneeSilk stockings rolled down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3svvCj4yhYc

Life in the 1920’s

Inventions:Radio: provided cheap entertainmentCrystal radios: need headphones

Inventions:Radio: Foster Hewitthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHoort42IOI

Inventions:Ted Rogers: first battery less radioMarconi company: first commercial radio station in 1919

Life in the 1920’s

Inventions:Automobile: Henry Ford developed and manufactured the first auto people could affordFord used mass production and assembly line

Life in the 1920’s

Inventions:Model T: first affordable car

Life in the 1920’s: Entertainment

Music: Jazz AgeDuke Ellington and Louis Armstrong

Barnstorming:Former WWI pilots became stunt pilotsSelling ridesTraveling from place to placeStunts: diving, loop the loop, hanging from the wings

Trans Atlantic Flight:Charles Lindbergh did the first trans Atlantic flightNew York to ParisMade the world smaller

Film: The “Silver Screen”:Silent films“Talkies” (1900 & 1923)Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford

Sports:Sprinter Percy WilliamsGold at the 1928 Olympics

Lionel Conacher: wrestling, hockey, lacrosse, baseballTop athleteAthlete of the Year Award

Fanny Bobbie RosenfeldSprinterTop female athlete -up to 1950

Barnstorming Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6wwizIzkmY

Canadian Politics in the 1920’s

Western farmers were unhappy with gov’t policies during WWI

Unhappy with high tariffs that meant machinery cost moreWar Measures ActConscription

Farmers developed provincial political parties to protect their concerns

In the 1920’s, United Farmers formed gov’t in Alberta, Manitoba and OntarioAt the federal level, the United Farms groups in Ontario and the prairies formed a new party called the Progressive party

The Progressive party received support from unhappy farmers and labor groups

Federal Election results of 1921

Liberals 117

Progressives 64

Conservatives 50

Other 4

The Progressives could have become the official opposition but refused so their members could speak freely on issuesMinority Liberals had to keep Progressives support

In trying to win Progressives support Liberals adopted the following policies:

Old age pensionsTariff reform

Roaring 20’s: A Review

Years of economic boom and industrial growthPeople enjoyed prosperity in a variety of waysNew inventions led to changes in leisure time

Movies and radio brought changes to entertainmentNew interest in the arts, fashion, sportsWomen’s rights were at the forefront

Women and Politics in the 1920’s

Women could vote in the 1920’sAgnes MacPhail was the first woman MPFrom OntarioElected in 1921, 1925, 1926 and 1930 electionsMember of the Progressives Party

MacPhail was the only female MP for 14 years

Women had more opportunities in the workplaceStill many political barriers

Could not hold non-political office (judges & senators)Many still thought women should not have political equalityNot regarded as “persons” in the law

Women and the Law: The “Persons” Case

BNA declared women are persons in terms of pain and penalties, but not in terms of rights and privilegesFamous Five of Alberta launched an appeal to the Supreme Court

Wanted to recognize women under the lawSupreme Court ruled against the women

Famous Five appealed to British governmentIn 1929, Britain declared women were persons, could be appointed to SenateIn 1931, Cairine Wilson was appointed as Canada’s first woman Senator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if_pyx5dm9Y

Growing Canadian Autonomy: 1. The Chanak Crisis

A British diplomatic crisis showed that Canada was not a puppet of BritainBritain feared Turkey would occupy the port of Chanak

This would give Turkey control over the DardenellesDardenelles connect Black Sea and Mediteranean Sea

Britain was willing to go to war over the issueBritain wanted Canadian supportIt was expected that Canada would help (WWI and Boer War)

PM Mackenzie King decided that only Parliament would decide if Canada would helpThis was due to Resolution IX. Canada had autonomous control over its own foreign affairs

Crisis died down. Canada showed that it would make its own decisions

2. Halibut Treaty

Canadian Fisheries Minister signed an agreement with the US regarding fishing rightsWhy significant? First time a Canadian Minister signed an international agreement

Post-War Canada

Canada had a growing sense of national identityCanada had an increased role on the international stage. Examples:

In 1919, Canada had its own seat at the Paris Peace talks

Canada signed independently the Treaty of VersaillesCanada became a member of the League of Nations

3. King-Byng Crisis

In 1926, PM King accused Governor General Byng of interfering in Canadian politics

The Governor General is the Queen’s representative in Canada. The Governor General should not be involved in politics

PM King argued Byng originally refused his request for an electionPM King argued Britain was interfering in the affairs of a sovereign country

The King-Byng dispute was significant because it:

Decreased the amount of interference by the British in Canadian politicsCrisis clarified the role of the Governor General

Byng was the last British Governor GeneralCanada then sent ambassadors to Britain, US and France

“The King-Byng Thing”

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/federal-politics/scandals-boondoggles-and-white-elephants/the-king-byng-affair.html http://stau.ycdsb.ca/Teachers/ciorio/Webpages/KingByngPodcast/Podcast/Podcast.html

4. Statute of Westminster

British law passed in 1931It was significant because it gave self governing Dominions of the British Empire complete control of their laws

Included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Irish Free State, South Africa and NL

Canada had achieved independence on all issues except oneCanada could not change its constitution without British approval