Unit - Boom and Bust: the 1920s and 1930s

THE INFLUENZA PANDEMIC OF 1918

=> Also known as the Spanish Flu

TUES, OCT 18, 2011

The Spanish Flu pandemic caused more deaths than World War Two and Worldwide AIDS, with
death counts ranging from 50-100 million.
Influenza Spreads
Started somewhere on the battlefields of Europe. Soldiers became infected and brought the
disease home with them when they returned from the War.
The name of the Spanish Flu came from the early affliction and large mortalities in Spain, but
it most likely did not originate there
The flu travels along the world through the path of human carriers (soldiers, trade routes,
shipping lines)
North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Brazil, and the South Pacific were infected, with
the Americas and Europe being hit the hardest
The disease affected everyone, with one quarter of Canada and one fifth of the world infected
with the influenza, it was impossible to escape the illness
The influenza virus had a mortality rate of 2.5%, compared to the previous epidemics, which
were less than 0.1%
Individuals between the ages of 20-40 years were at the greatest risk of death from the flu
Significance:
Youth at the time felt that following the status quo was meaningless and they should no
longer follow what was expected of them by their elders and society
The war and then the flu had made them realize that their lives could end any day and
they concluded that they should live their lives to the fullest
This led to an abrupt change in societal values because people were now fully
coming to be afraid of death
The idea of carpe diem or living life to the fullest was coming into view
There was also a significant population change and crisis

Public Health and Symptoms

Public health measures included:
Issuing masks to be worn in public
Limiting funerals to 15 minutes
Closing down public gathering places
Symptoms included:
Fever, nausea and coughing
Death occurred extremely quickly (within 12 hours of infection)
Patients would cough so much that they would tear internally and cough up
blood; blood would fill their lungs and they would drown
Or mucus would fill their lungs; patients would turn blue and suffocate in their
own mucus
WINNIPEG GENERAL STRIKE

THURS, OCT 20, 2011

Lasted 6 weeks
Unskilled workers from Asia and Europe lived in relative poverty
They were at the mercy of the employers - no union, no workplace standards
Winnipeg was the Gateway to the West and people thought that people settling there would
go on to settle and run the Prairies
However, extensive agricultural practices were needed to succeed in the Prairies and
most people werent farmers and couldnt run successful farms
Streetcars were a vital part of everyday life in Winnipeg at the time and in the early days of the
strike, rioters would often stone and damage streetcars during demonstrations
They demanded higher wages and better working conditions
Managers and owners refused to acknowledge the Unions
Women and immigrants took the places of men during the war
Women in Manitoba were granted the right to vote in 1916, and therefore became the first
women to be given the vote in Canada
This changed the face of Canadian society

 October 1917 - communist revolutionaries destroyed the Russian czar

Communism became a huge fear for the worlds democracies
People began talking about Communism in Canada after seeing the revolt from the workers
Veterans returned from war to find their jobs taken by women
Russian Revolution proved that workers had the power
The government outlawed ethnic papers, foreign language publications, and membership in
certain organizations
The Canadian government was scared of a communist revolution, as seen in Russia,
because of all the returning veterans angered by their lost jobs who had seen the
power that the average worker held in the Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution was denounced by governments all over the world, especially in
Canada, where talk of a second Communist takeover was becoming very widespread
A meeting sponsored by the Socialist Party denounced Ally Intervention in Russia
instead of promoting it

Once the General strike was officially declared, chaos ensued in Winnipeg
City completely shut down because nothing was running due to the lack of workers
The city suffered so greatly that at one point, the government decided that enough was
enough and certain drastic actions had to be taken
Certain strike leaders were arrested and taken directly to a federal jail, without being taken to
the local jail as was the norm
The day after the leaders were arrested, volunteers restarted the streetcar system in the city,
which made strikers absolutely furious
Friday, June 20 - Pro-strikers demanded the shutdown of the volunteer street cars, and
threatened to demonstrate in front of town hall if it wasnt done so
Mayor refused, and therefore had to ban demonstrations in the city
BLOODY SATURDAY

FRI, OCT 20, 2011

Pro-strikers gathered and demonstrated in front of town hall, as they had threatened to do
A streetcar ended up being turned over and set on fire by an angry crowd of people
Mayor read the riot act and called federals to intervene

 Royal Canadian Mounted Police charged through the crowd in town hall
Several injuries and a lot of violence started during the Mounty charges
Mounties were given the command to charge with their weapons
Sometime during the charge, the officers began firing at civilians
Crowd tried to disperse after the shootings began, however the special police had the
downtown area closed off and contained
Special police: A volunteer branch of the police created during the strike (mainly
university students and aged men) after regular police officers went on strike to
sympathize with the workers
Mayor called in the militia and they began to station themselves at strategic points all over
downtowns with weapons ready to fire
2 men killed, 30 injured
After Bloody Saturday, many officers and special police had to leave town for their own safety
to avoid strikers and workers that wanted revenge
Strike was eventually called off without the workers goals being achieved as a direct cause of
the strike
Leaders were arrested and charged with seditious conspiracy and seditious libel
However, they became heroes to the general public
The strike became the starting point for certain rights such as employment insurance,
pensions and collective bargaining being given to workers
After the strike, the Citizens League made sure a strike like that was never possible for
workers again by passing certain laws that made it impossible to hold a strike of that size
Unions => Instead of each worker having to negotiate for their individual rights, unions were
created to have a core group of people to negotiate for rights and benefits on behalf of everyone
The whole idea of unions was based on the idea that the working class had the power because
they vastly outnumbered the business class, and therefore had strength in numbers. This is the
same as the Power of the Worker principal created by Karl Marx, which was one of the base
ideas of communism. This similarity in principals between communism and the motivations of the
strikers in Winnipeg was one of the reasons why people began to fear a communist revolution in
Canada after the War.
One Big Union => There were many unions in that day, all representing different groups of people.
However, following the strength in numbers of workers idea, it was agreed that having one central
union aimed for everybody would be much more effective.
Workers in Winnipeg wanted: better living conditions, collective bargaining, and living wages.

Before the strike, Winnipeg was divided into 7 wards, with 4 given to the North Side (working class
immigrants) and 3 given to the South Side (business class). One representative from each ward
was part of the council that voted on several major decisions in the city. With four representatives
supporting immigrants and three representing the business class, votes were normally in favour of
rights for the working class.

After the strike, the citys map was redrawn, with the entire North Side being combined into one
ward, and the South Side being divided into just two wards. This meant that with three
representatives in general, and two supporting the business class, the business class interests
would always turn out victorious in votes.

THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN

MON, OCT 24, 2011

THURS, NOV 3, 2011

The War had an effect on womens role because:

Women began working
Women began working in jobs normally performed by men
Before the War, traditional jobs for women included:
Teachers
Maids/Domestic Servants
Nurses
Service
Seamstresses
Caregivers
Secretaries
POLITICS AND INDEPENDENCE 1920-30S

Canada is growing more independent from Britain at the end of the War, however were still not a
completely independent nations. It was during the inter-war decades that Canada gained its true
independence. Foreign affairs was the thing that we werent allowed control over as a country. This
lack of control had created problems for Canada in the past (Alaskan Border Dispute, Naval Issue,
South African War, etc.).
Chanak Crisis
Sept 1922, British troops in Chanak, near the Dardanelles, were threatened by Turkish
nationalists

 Dardanelles - traits that allow access between the Mediterranean

Hot spot in the world (conflict arises every few decades)
Britain + Greece vs. Turkey (former Ottoman Empire)
British Colonial Secretary, Winston Churchill, asked the dominions for help
PM King was informed by the press, before the telegram was decoded that Britain was asking
for Canadian support in Chanak
People in the Dominions were tired of fighting Britains wars, and they were starting to
think of Canada with a national identity
King
was
upset and flatly refused to be dragged into another European war

Canadians supported him

We were starting to see a change in Canada where, unlike in the past when English and
French Canadians usually were on opposing sides, all Canadians in the country generally
agreed with what the government decided in regards to Britain
Halibut Treaty
Treaties fall under foreign affairs and are made for various reasons (trade, alliances, etc.)
1923 - Canada and the US signed the Halibut Treaty (protected the Pacific Halibut fishery)
Fisheries were starting to dry up and become overfished due to lack of patrol in the
mid-1920s
The
treaty
was signed by Canadas fisheries minister, but without a counter signature from the

British ambassador in Washington

Britain protested, and King threatened to send a Canadian Ambassador to Washington (to look
after all Canadian affairs). This resulted in Britain backing off
This event set the precedent for independent treaty signing authority
New Political Party: Progressives
1920 - United Farm Groups in Ontario and Prairies form a new national party.
Wanted to support the rights of farmers and labour groups in parliament.
The Election of 1921
1919 - Laurier dies- William Lyon Mackenzie King leads Liberals
Borden resigned - Arthur Meighen new Conservative leader
Party solidarity: Everybody who is Liberal has to vote the way their party wants them to vote,
and everybody who is Conservative has to vote the way their party wants them to vote
Progressives were actually supposed to form the Opposition, but they turned down the offer
to avoid part solidarity
Election results:
Liberals 117
Progressives 64
Conservatives 50
Others 4
A technical majority, but it is considered a minority because it was so close. (By-elections & floor
crossings were a threat)
Prime Minister King
Longest serving PM (1921-1930; 1935-1948)

 King kept a very candid diary from 1893 until his death in 1950. One biographer called these
diaries as

the most important single political document in twentieth century Canadian history
Obsessed with the occult
Held seances where he communed with: Leonardo da Vinci, Sir Wilfred Laurier, his dead mother,
and several of his Irish Terrier dogs, all named Pat
His dead mother was his primary adviser as P.M.
King lacks support in the West & Quebec, (both regions have strong anti-militarism and
imperialism feelings)
King cut the defense budget & in 1923 announced Canada would sign its own treaties (this was
anti-militaristic and imperialistic)
1923 - Canada signs the Halibut Treaty with the U.S. (a major step in Canadian autonomy)
Election of 1925
Despite an improved economy, King hadnt done much and people were not very impressed
Election results:
Conservatives 116
Liberals 101
Progressives 24
Others 4
King
convinces
the Progressives to support the Liberals and refuses to step down

Liberals and Progressives formed a coalition government, and since Liberals had more
seats than the Progressives, King remained Prime Minister
King-Byng Crisis (The King-Byng Thing)
Early 1926 - evidence of corruption in the customs department (bribes)
King fires the minister, then appoints him to the Senate
The Progressives withdrew support from the Liberals
King would rather face a general election than face a vote of non-confidence
Non-confidence: Losing a vote in the House of Commons is seen as losing the
confidence of the Canadian population - A prime minister is seen as needing the full
support of all of Canada, and the members voting in the House of Commons have been
elected to represent all of Canada. Therefore, losing the support of the members of the
House of Commons would mean losing support of Canada. Due to this, when a Prime
Minister loses a vote in the House of Commons, he is forced to step down as Prime
Minister.
PM
King
asked Gov. Gen. Byng to dissolve Parliament

Byng said no!

There is a constitutional crisis
King said, Can the Gov. Gen. say no to an elected Prime Minister? Whats more important some guy elected by the King or our elected Canadian representatives
Byng insists King allows Meighens Conservatives to form government
Meighen becomes PM, but he cant get the support of the Progressives because the two partys
goals and objectives are simply too different
1926 Election
King campaigns on the issue of autonomy, claiming the Gov. Gen. (appointed & British) should
always follow the advice of the PM (elected by Canadians
Election Results:

 Liberal 125
Conservatives 91
Progressives 24
Others 5
Sept
14,
1926
- King won a majority government

Byngs refusal actually backfired and helped King, who ends up better off!
Significance of the King-Byng Crisis

Focused attention on the constitutional role of the Governor General

Increased Canadian Nationalism
The Gov. Gen. has never refused the P.M. since then
Strengthened the role of Prime Minister; weakened the role of the Governor General

Imperial Conference 1926

Independence was sought by South Africa
King, seeking autonomy, helped draft the Balfour Report, declaring dominions to be
autonomous communities, ...equal in status. ...members of the British Commonwealth
The term Commonwealth soon replaced Empire
The report also changed the role of the Gov. Gen., to represent the Queen, NOT the British govt
1931 Statute of Westminister
1930- Bennett (an imperialist), replaced King as PM
Bennett was more focused on economics than constitutional matters
He didnt fight the passage of the Statute of Westminster in 1931
It made matters of the Imperial Conference of 1926 the law
Canadian autonomy became a matter of British law
EXEPT - power to change the constitution resided in Britain (until 1982)

THE GREAT DEPRESSION OF THE 1930S

SUN, NOV 13, 2011

History In Action - Pg. 145

1. Many of the economic terms used in this section are still used today. Review the meanings of
exports, imports and stock market in a dictionary.

Export - A commodity, article or service sold abroad

Import - A commodity, article or service brought in from abroad for sale

Stock market - A market in which securities are bought and sold

2. Look at Fig. 5.1.f. Explain the meaning of business cycle. Why is the image of a cycle a good
one for understanding the meaning of the term?
The business cycle is the period of time in which measures of prosperity (e.g., wages, sales,
employment, production, profits) are calculated and compared. This particular image of the
business cycle is a good one for understanding the meaning of the term because it effectively
portrays the rise and fall of the measures of prosperity of a period of several years.
3. What is an economic depression? List two or three key signs that indicate that a country is in a
depression.
An economic depression is a long-term downturn in economic activity in one or more economies. It
is a more severe downturn than a recession, which is viewed as a part of the normal business
cycle. It is a period marked by low production sales, high rates of business failure, and
unemployment.
4. What were the main causes of the Great Depression in Canada? Which causes were short
term? Which were long term?
There were several main causes for the Great Depression in Canada including how dependant
Canada was on a staple-based economy, the large amounts of wheat that had been grown in
1928 and were being left unsold, Canadas newly found ties to the United States economy, and
the fact that the boom of the 1920s lead many investors to buy shares on margin, leaving them in
debt.
5. Why did some business and political leaders not realize a serious economic depression had
started in 1929-30?
Some business and political leaders didnt realize a serious economic depression had started in
1929-30 because they were confident that the sudden boom that had been occurring in the
markets for the past decade would continue to happen, and that international trade would
continue to rise.
6. Canadas economy was heavily based on staple products. How did that dependence make
Canada more vulnerable to the Great Depression?
The dependence on staple products made Canada more vulnerable to the Great Depression
because the Great Depression targeted the prices and values of those very staple products.
Wheat, in particular, was an export that Canada relied on heavily, and when its value plummeted,
so did Canadas economy, therefore making in more vulnerable to the Great Depression.
7. Refer to Fig. 5.1.j. How do these graphs

a. support the view that the economic downturn started before 1929?

These graphs support the view that the economic downturn started before 1929 because they
clearly show employment rates starting to fall before 1929, which is when the Great Depression
was said to have officially started.

b. show the effects of the stock market crash?

These graphs show the effect of the stock market crash because they show the sudden and
extreme drop in unemployment rates during and after 1929, which is when the stock market
crashed the worst.

c. visually emphasize the impact of the Great Depression?

These graphs visually emphasize the impact of the Great Depression because they show the
extreme and sudden drop of employment during the Great Depression.
8. Refer to Fig.5.1.i. In which province did incomes decline the most? The least? What might
explain these difference?
Incomes declined the most in Saskatchewan, while they declined the least in New Brunswick. This
difference is most likely explained by the heavy production of wheat in the Prairies, where peoples
incomes relied strongly on the sales of wheat, while the almost non-existent production of wheat in
the Prairies, where peoples incomes didnt rely on it as much and therefore, their incomes didnt
decline as much.
THE GREAT BULL MARKET

Great American stock exchange boom of 1928-1929

Huge bubble where there were high speculations
People made many investments to make big money

THURS, NOV 17, 2011