1920-1930 Flashcards
What was life like in the 1920-1930?
Economy: The economy was at its peak due to the uproar in manufacturing and factories. Many jobs were in demand and a lot of businesses were going very well.
Technology: People began creating new devices such as radios, telephones and electricity became more widespread.
Women: Women gained the right to vote and began to voice out more.
1920: Life was enjoyable and worry-free. People were able to afford many luxurious things and were at the peak of their lives. Many people lived in huge houses and businesses were thriving. New inventions boomed and fashion was developing every day.
1930: The stock market crashed and many people who were living wealthy lives were set to struggle. Some people were stripped away from their homes and everything they knew because they couldn’t afford things. Many families broke apart because they could not afford the care of their children.
Why was the economy in 1920 doing so well?
After the war was over, the economy was at its peak due to the uproar in manufacturing and factories. Many jobs were in demand and a lot of businesses were going very well. People began creating new devices such as radios, telephones and electricity became more widespread, generating more business and money.
What groups in Canada do not share in the economic prosperity at this time? Why?
Black Communities:
Africville and denying simple basic requests for life. EX: Clean Waters, Garbage Disposals.
Indigenous Communities: Rejection of Basic Rights and Residential Schools Discrimination towards their culture.
Two new political parties that emerge in the 1930s out of the Great Depression.
CCF (Co-operative Common Wealth Federation Party): SOCIALISM
-Founded in 1932 by JS Woodsworth (Was also the leader of the Winnipeg General Strike) and was one of the first successful socialist parties during the Great Depression.
-They advocated for nationally funded health-care, employment insurance and minimum wages; in a way financial help during the Great Depression.
-It is now the NDP.
Social Credit Party:
-Created and lead by William Aberhart
-Evangelical Minister who wanted the Albertan Government to give a 25$/Month credit to every Albertan in order to support basic life expenses.
-He believed the Depression would end if people had more money to spend.
The Social Credit Party governed Alberta from 1935 till 1992.
4 Causes of the Great Depression
Stock Market Crash:
Stock Prices fell sharply and many investors lost their savings.
Bank Failure:
Many banks failed during the Great Depression causing a loss of confidence in banks. There was a decrease in lending and in consumer spending.
Overproduction and Underconsumption:
Many factories overproduced goods which were not being sold. In turn, they lost money by manufacturing things that were not even being sold because people could not afford them. Factories were producing more goods than people could buy. EX: Loaf of bread.
High Tariffs:
By adding the law of high tariffs, this significantly limited the international exchange of goods, which deeply affected the economy since it cost more to export than it was making money.
Dust Bowl:
Extreme drought and sand storms causing a significant decrease in wheat production, affecting the marketplace.
Viola Desmond
Viola Desmond was a civil rights activist who spoke up about racism. In 1946, she visited a movie theatre in Nova Scotia, where she was arrested because she refused to leave the “whites section”. Her case inspired many people to speak up and challenge systemic racism.
Viola Desmond
Viola Desmond was a civil rights activist who spoke up about racism. In 1946, she visited a movie theatre in Nova Scotia, where she was arrested because she refused to leave the “whites section”. Her case inspired many people to speak up and challenge systemic racism.
Bennett Buggies
-Makeshift cars by attaching a one-cylinder gasoline engine to a Ford Model T chassis.
-They were used as a cheap alternative for vehicles at the time of the great depression because many people were unable to afford vehicles.
-Bennett Buggies were named after R.B Bennett who was the Prime Minister in Canada during the great depression.
Tariffs
-Taxis imposed by governments on imported/ exported products.
-Their purpose is to promote the sales of domestic products, so people buy things produced locally instead of abroad.
Residential Schools
-Schools under the power of catholic churched that hosted indigenous children with the hoped of killing the Indian in them.
-They had a devastating impact on indigenous communities and stemmed a lot of racism.
-The children were poorly treated and forced to be stripped away from their cultures.
Riding the Rails
-Term used in the Great Depression.
-Jumping onto a moving train in hopes of being transported to different areas to pursue work and support a life.
Africville
-Black Canadian town on the outskirts of Halifax Nova Scotia.
-Was formed around the 19th century by slaves who ran away for freedom.
-They ended up building a nic and welcoming community for each other with families that grew.
-They however still faced a lot of racism such as being denied basic services like clean water, garbage disposal etc…
-In 1960, Halifax decided to destroy Africvile, leaving many people homeless and no where to go.
Boom/Bust Cycle
Cycle that depicts economic growth.
Boom stands for increase and wellness in economy and Bust is when things start to go downhill. For example the Great Depression.
WINNIPEG STRIKE
On-to-Ottawa Trek
Large protest by trekkers in 1935 who wanted the government to change the policies and help more often during the Great Depression. The trekkers protested in front of the parliament with hopes of meeting with R.B Bennett in order to secure financial help in order to support their families, but they were denied. The trekkers all left their jobs to partake in the protests.
Stock Market
System where large companies sell part of their shares to people. Those people ether gain or lose money depending on how well that company is doing. However that can be very tricky and can sometimes be considered gambling since the stock market is always unexpected.
