The Roaring 20s

Canada After the WarWar propelled Canada into independence.The war had changed the perception of war for so many people.Canada lost 46,000 dead and wounded from the war. This led to the emergence of a lost generation

A Generation Lost

The League of NationsCanada was a founding member of the newly created League of NationsAmericans objected to the formation of the League but once again they conceded. American Senate rejected the states from becoming members of the League. The League pledged every member to defend the boundaries established at Versailles

Influenza PandemicWorld wide influenza pandemic broke out in 1918 originating (they suspect in an American Army base)Response from Ottawa and provinces was slow (being occupied with the war)Claimed 30,000 to 50,000 lives in Canada and around 50 million worldwide!Rumor of peace helped to calm people down

Civilian and Combat Casualties

Trouble for CanadaAt the end of the war Munitions factories were shut downOver a quarter million workers were suddenly out of jobsCanadian government had to pay 250 million in back pay to soldiers returning from front

Trouble for Canada continuedMembership in unions increased during the war from 143,000 in 1915 to 378,000 by 1919.Many workers talked of a revolution like the one in RussiaThe government became scared of threat of Communism (Red Scare)

Winnipeg General StrikeA general strike began in Winnipeg on May 15, 1919.30,000 metal and building workers walked off the job togetherThe general strike spread across CanadaMost employees wanted to bargain with employer not a revolution

Winnipeg General Strike, 1919

Striker DemandsThe strikers had stiff demands.Strikers wanted the usual higher wages and a shorter work week.They also wanted Collective Bargaining, which meant the companies had to negotiate with the workers as a whole.

Winnipeg General Strike

Business BacklashBusiness leaders, politicians and industrialists wanted to protect their own interests.They formed the Citizens Committee of One Thousand to attack the strike in the press.The committee had the support of the government.

Winnipeg Strike ContinuedParliament made it illegal to even talk about a revolution.Government ordered the leaders of the strike arrested June 17th.Protestors organized a mass rally.On June 21, 1919, mounted police charged the crowds on Main Street Winnipeg, in a Confrontation that became known as Bloody Saturday.

Bloody Saturday

Bloody SaturdayContinuedThe mayor read the Riot Act (a law declaring a grouping of more than 12 people to be unlawfully assembled) and the RCMP charged the crowd.People were killed, over thirty injured.

Questions To AnswerWrite out a five sentence chronological timeline of the Winnipeg General Strike.What is collective bargaining? What do you think are some of the advantages and disadvantages of this system today.

Take 15 minutes to answer these, be prepared to share with the class.

A 20 Minute DEBATE!The Question:Should the government have been allowed to use force to stop the Winnipeg General Strike?

The Sides:Austin-Mackay: No they should not.McClymont-Waterman: Yes they should.

You are encouraged to bring in information and examples from the present. Hypothetical situations are excellent as well!

Disgruntled Canadian FarmersFarmers were very unhappyThe price of wheat was determined by government Wheat BoardWhy do you think there was a wheat board?In 1919 the board set the price at $2.15 per bushel just when world price rose to $3.15 per bushelThe next year the government dissolved the board just as a bumper crop in Europe dropped the prices to $1.11 per bushel, forcing many farmers who had borrowed money on the original price into bankruptcy

Even DisgruntledFarmers Want To Dance! - The FlapperFlappers!

The Election of 1921Borden didnt run in the election.The leader of the Liberal party was William Lyon Mackenzie King.The election brought the emergence of a new party representing the needs of farmers known as the ProgressivesArthur Meighen was the Conservative leaderMr. King

The Election 1921 ContinuedFor the first time, Canadians had three choices.The election brought in the creation of Regionalism as a result of different parts of the country having such different needs.King won with a minority government and led Canada into a time of economic boom.

Using your textbook (page 54) you need to interpret the cartoon being shown. Do you think it accurately describes the political situation in 1921? Why or why not?

Government and CrisisThe progressives did not last long but they were influential in creating pensions.In 1922 when Britain announced its planned invasion of Turkey, PM Mackenzie King said Canada would not support Britain.We had officially challenged Britains stranglehold on Canadian international affairs.

King-Byng AffairPM Kings minority government needed the support of the Progressives to hold power. When they lost it he rushed to the Governor General for an election but was denied.Under pressure Byng finally called the election. The appointed governor general, however, had gone against the elected leader of the country.

Burning Questions!Under what circumstances, if any, do you think the Governor General should be allowed to step in and interfere with the policies of the Prime Minister.What do you think are some of the problems with minority governments? What are some of the advantages? What do we have now?

The Improving EconomyThe 1920s started in depression.Then the US started investing in Canada and our economy grew.US Companies set up Branch Plants which operated here but for American business men.With the increase in employment and economic prosperity few Canadians questioned the long term effects of American involvement.

Bootlegging the BorderThe Womens Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) pushed prohibition into legislation in Canada and the US.By 1921 provincial governments were overturning the decision because of its unpopularity.The US, however, enforced it until 1933. Canadians sold illegal alcohol over the border for about 10 years.

Prosperous TimesWith the new booming economy Canadians were afforded more opportunities to enjoy the luxuries of life.Motor cars were becoming affordable and popular.Telephone lines were becoming commonplace for all houses in cities.Professional sports were also increasing in popularity.

Acrostic PoetryAs a way to take a break from writing so many notes you will now be given time to use the more creative part of your brain!

See the handout for details.

The Group of SevenThe group was made of painters from the 1920s (Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackson, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J. E. H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley).They were influenced by European Impressionism had bright colours, unique brush styles, interesting view angles, and a large inclusion of nature.

Group of Seven

Other Examplesof Impressionism

Emily CarrEmily Carr was from Victoria and is considered one of Canadas most important painters ever.She was impressed by the Group of 7 and took this style to her paintings of the west coast lifestyle.

Emily Carr, a local success

Work byEmily Carr

The Forgotten OnesAboriginal peoplesEven after serving in WWI Aboriginal people were still not people.Reserve conditions were poor.Aboriginal peoples were split on whether they should accept a British style of living.The Potlatch, an important Aboriginal celebration, was banned and people were thrown in jail.The government had been taking land from Aboriginal people as they saw fit.

The Forgotten OnesThe Allied TribesFormed in 1916 to protect Aboriginal land and protest the racist decisions they faced from the government.They wanted to seek a resolution to land claims in BC through negotiations with the federal and provincial governments.In 1927 they were made illegal by the federal government who changed the Indian Act.For more extensive information, see Native Issues power point, in a file folder near you.

The Forgotten OnesAfrican CanadiansAfrican immigrants were discouraged but never blocked from immigrating.Some provinces set up a separate school system and many public areas excluded coloured minorities.

The Forgotten OnesOther ImmigrantsEmployers often welcomed new immigrants to Canada because it was assumed they would work cheaper.For this reason unions hated immigrants. They cut down the wages.

Cheap Child Labor Workforce

And Then It CrashedBy 1927 the price of wheat was dropping and the world market showed weakness.People still believed that the post-war world had infinite economic possibilities and that things would keep getting better.

Stock Market Crashof 1929Then, on Black Tuesday, a flurry of stocks suddenly plummeted.People lost billions and rushed to protect the money they had.

The great depression was on

Questions for Thought Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper.

Why is art important in history? What does it tell us?Why was the stock market crash felt so heavily? Was the world prepared?Who was Emily Carr? What do you think her art can do for Victoria and western Canada more generally.

THEEND

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