1920s Test Review - History Flashcards
Winnipeg General Strike
The largest strike in Canadian History
What Started The WGS
Many people were laid off from their jobs when the war ended, leading to rising unemployment. Worker unions formed to negotiate wage increases and discuss working conditions with employers, but employers refused to discuss it
What Happened During The WGS
- During the Winnipeg General Strike, all union workers and many non-union workers went on strike, and within three days, 30,000 workers were striking.
- This strike lasted six weeks until the government intervened.
- Many strikers’ enthusiasm about this strike began to dissipate, and they turned against strike leaders and returned to work.
How Did The WGS End
The Winnipeg General Strike ended on June 17, 1919, when the government intervened, causing the death of two people and leading to Union Workers calling off the strike, afraid of more violence
WGS Legacy
The Winnipeg General became known as the biggest strike in Canadian History and a turning point in Labour Relations, helping the public become more aware of worker problems and concerns.
Radio
It was invented in 1920 by XMA in Montreal to allow people faster and inexpensive news, listen to music, talkshows, music and drama [soap operas, crime stories, comedies, dramas and mysteries]
- By the end of 1922 there was broadcasting in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Edmonton
The First Radio
They would contain a small piece of quartz crystal, and people would move a thin piece of wire over the surface of the crystal to find/pick a station
AC Radio Tube
Invented by Edward S Rogers in 1925, this allowed people to plug their radios into the wall using household electricity, giving them 24/7 access to listen in
Canadian Radio Stations
By 1928, there weren’t many Canadian Radio stations being listened to, 80% were US stations which used a powerful transmitter to carry programs across the border
Sir John Aird
Chair of Royal Commission.
He was responsible for making sure that Canadian content staying on radios and that the government was involved
CRBS
Canadian Radio Broadcasting System which created coast to coast radio systems (later to be known as CBC)
Movies in the 1920s
- They began as Silent Films, which usually had accompanying musicians. They were usually slapstick comedies meaning people got hurt.
- Next were the talkies so musicians were no longer required.
- During the films there were newsreels which informed Canadians of News around the world
Canadian Actors/Actress
- Buster Keaton
- Laurel and Hardy
- Charlie Chaplain
- Mary Pickford ‘American Sweetheart’
- Walter Huston
- Marie Dressler
Warner Brothers
Jack and his three brothers began Warner Brothers Studio in 1923. They released the first ‘talkie’ with synchronized sound, The Jazz Singer
Cartoons
Mickey Mouse [Steamboat Willie] became famous during the 1920s, along with short cartoons played during newsreels
Music in the 1920s
The Jazz Age was led by Louis Armstrong [trumpet] and Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington [Piano/Composer]. As Jazz evolved, Blues and Swing would become more popular in the coming decades.
Dance in the 1920s
The Jazz Age encouraged more energetic and daring dances. Some adults thought these dances inappropriate due to their suggestive movements.
- The Charleston [Most Popular]
- The Black Bottom
- The Fox Trot
Fashion in the 1920s
The clothing was more comfortable; women’s skirts were shortened to approx. knee length. Everyone wore hats
Prohibition
The process of banning alcohol
- Canada introduced this before/during the war [1918], and it lasted until 1921
Why did Prohibition not last in Canada?
Smuggling: People would smuggle alcohol from wet countries to dry ones
Moonshine: People would drink homemade alcohol which was a health hazard
Speakeasies: People would gather in the backrooms of bars to drink
Discontent: Police officers and law enforcement officials were not in support of the ban
Economy: The government lost the revenue from taxing alcohol
Criminals: Criminals became very wealthy because everyone wanted to purchase alcohol from them
Bootlegging
the illegal manufacture, distribution, or sale of alcohol
The US and Prohibition
Prohibition lasted in the states until 1933. Rum Runners would smuggle around 45 million litres of liquor from Canada - the US per year. This also created profit for Canada since Americans purchased alcohol from Canada
Women in Society
Before the war, women were only offered low-paying jobs with no chance of advancement. They were allowed to work during the war, but that was quickly revoked once the Soldiers came home. Now they wanted more rights and freedom, they wanted a choice
How many women had been able to become lawyers in Canada by 1919?
What year did the first female engineer graduate from U of T?
11
Elsie McGill1927
What was the name of the organization for women and what did they do?
the National Council of Women of Canada
improve public health, lives of female factory workers, immigrants and prisons were called
Women and Suffrage
- In the 1870s, under the leadership of Emily Stowe, women began the campaign for suffrage.
- Not only did they want to vote, but they also wanted to have roles in politics
Voting Timeline
1870s - Unmarried women who owned property and widows
1917 - Women with male relatives, soldiers or army nurses
1918 - some women could vote in provincial elections in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C, Ontario and Nova Scotia
1918 - President Borden extended suffrage to most women
1919 - Women are allowed to run for parliament
1921 - Agnes Macphail became the first female member of parliament
People’s Case
Emily Murphy was told she couldn’t run for senate because she was not a ‘qualified person’ [person being unidentified]. She brought this to court. The Supreme Court said Women aren’t persons. The Judicial Privy Council said they are. Cairine Wilson became the first female member of senate because Emily Murphy was too conservative
Wallace Turnbull
- Invented the variable pitch propeller
- Allows plane to fly in more than one gear
- It makes for a more efficient engine
Joseph-Armand Bombardier
- Invented the snow machine [snow mobile]
- Wanted to make winter travel safer and easier
- 2-year-old son needed to go to the hospital, but they couldn’t because of snow so he sadly died
- Treads instead of tires [original had skis and propeller]
William Stephenson
- Invented the wire photo
- Transmits photos through the air using telegraphs
- Allowed for more instant news photos
Edward S [Ted] Rogers
- Invented the Battery-less/AC Radio
- Radios needed batteries, which were expensive and required constant recharging
- A radio you could plug into the wall
- It was much more convenient, and you could listen 24/7
Frederick Banting
- Invented Insulin
- Used insulin from the pancreas of cattle fetuses
- First tested on Leonard Thompson and was successful
- Won Nobel prize, and Insulin was declared ‘The World’s Greatest Achievement in Modern Medicine’
- Sold their research to U of T for $1
Wage Increase
Due to Canada’s booming economy, people’s wages increased, leaving them with more money to spend after they paid for necessities. There was also a lot of colourful advertising encouraging people to spend
Buying On Credit
consumers could purchase goods and pay for them over time through installment plans
Buying Power
The money an investor has available to purchase securities
Inventions in the 1920s
Automatic washing machines
Hand-operated washing machines
electric irons
electric toaster
electric stoves
vacuum cleaners
sewing machines
Air Travel in the 1920s
During the war, people realized that planes could carry people, so they began building airports, runways and fuel stations. They began to fly commercial flights between communities. Most pilots were previously soldiers.
Cars/Roads in the 1920s
In 1919, they built 40,000 km of highway, which led to more people buying cars [1.62 million in the 1920s]. This led to the development of suburbs and cities. Within 10 years the number of cars on the road increased 300% from 1929
Communication in the 1920s
Alexander Graham Bell made the first phone call in 1876, and in 1916, the first trans-Canada phone call was made from Montreal to Vancouver. Phones originally came in two pieces: the dial phone, one-piece handset phone, and coast-coast phone calls. In 1927 13/100 Canadians had telephones
Chanak Affair
Britain and France were occupying Turkey, but a treaty was signed saying they should withdraw troops from a site near Chanak. Greece did not want to give up Turkey, so they went to war with Turkey and lost. Turkey began to advance on British troops near Chanak, and Canada refused to send soldiers. A peace treaty was signed making the start of Canada’s independence in making decisions about being involved with conflicts
Halibut Treaty
Canada realized that the halibut off the Pacific NorthWest of Canada was dangerously close to being overfished. They signed a treaty with America to control Halibut fishing. Britain assumed they would be co-signing the treaty but King refused as it did not involve Britain. Britain gave in marking the start of Canada ability to take independent diplomatic action
The Balfour Report
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa become self-governing countries, all equal in status and only connected to Britain through loyalty. Britain does not have control over them anymore because PM King finds out that Canada wants autonomy at an imperial conference
The King-Byng Affair
King’s Liberals won by a minority, so they needed opinions from the Progressive Party related to liquor smuggling. King didn’t want to debate this issue, so he asked Byng [Governor general] to get rid of parliament and hold an election, but Byng said no. The King restricted brings power by adding a Canadian High Commissioner in London. He also introduced an English and British ambassador for in Ottawa for greater communication with Britain
The State of Westminister
In 1931, Britain passed the Statute of Westminster, Canada and other British colonies’ complete power over their relations with other nations.
Britain could no longer make laws for its former colonies. There were still some political links between Canada and the British government. Some historians all it Canada’s Declaration of Independence as their journey to sovereignty
