History Unit 2 Flashcards
What was the problem of soldiers returning home from the war?
That there were more soldiers than ships, forcing soldiers to have to wait their turn and causing much frustration.
What happened when all the soldiers did come home?
They were welcomed as heroes, celebrated with parades and victory speeches, and eager to resume their civilian lives.
What is the Spanish Flu and what happened when the flu was brought home?
The Spanish Flu was an influenza virus that they contracted in the trenches. The disease could kill anyone in a matter of days. The epidemic killed 20 million people, 50,000 of which were Canadian.
What are the symptoms of the Spanish Flu?
Symptoms include aches, pains, high fever, coughing, stuffy nose, and fatigue.
What happened when it came to economic woes?
Soldiers noticed that the price of goods doubled and that the value of the Canadian dollar didn’t buy as much as it used to. Canada’s industry slowed down and factories closed down as a result of the end of World War 1 as companies had to adjust to peacetime. Women were the first to lose their jobs as factories for reformatting. There was a drastic rise in the cost of living and increased unemployment. Soldiers, who were now war veterans, wanted their pre-war jobs back, but there was little work available. They demanded to be compensated for their role in the war with good jobs and higher wages.
What is communism?
A political Philosophy that states that private property and personal wealth are harmful to people. It states that all power in society should belong to the “workers” and that violent revolution should be used to overthrow the rich. Also, communism is about complete inequality between people.
How did communism came to be?
Many soldiers felt “empowered” after the war and wanted better rights and wages. The success of the Russian Revolution and the ideas of communism inspired many low-paid workers. Labour Unions began to form across Canada. Wealthy Canadians became paranoid about the threat of a communist revolt (The Red Scare).
Why was communism a threat?
The wealthy and powerful were terrified of communism as a communist revolution would mean the loss of their property and power; perhaps even death. In reality, communism also features nationwide poverty, mass executions, and complete lack of personal freedoms.
Explain the first radio broadcast in North America?
The first radio broadcast in North American was in Montreal on May 20, 1920. The first broadcast of Canadian content was listened to Foster Hewitt’s Hockey Night in Canada on March 22, 1923. In 1924-1925, Ted Rogers, a Canadian electronics engineer, thought about the idea of creating a radio that could plug into an electric outlet. The first radio was “battery-less” and was very crude with poor sound quality. As a result of the “Americanization” of the airwaves, the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) was created in 1936.
Explain the history of the telephone.
Alexander Graham Bell, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, came to Canada at 23 years old, where he invented the telephone. The first telephones were noisy and were difficult to use.
Explain the history of the airplane.
On December 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers perfromed the first successsful flight of an airplane at Kitty Hawk, NC, USA. After World War 1, many of the fighter pilots from the war took on careers as “bush pilots”. This eventually led to the first commercial flights across Canada. Many bush pilots flew to very remote sections of Canada’s northern territories in difficult weather carrying much needed supplies, like medicine, food, and tools. With the growth of the commercial airline industry, Canadians were no longer isolated from one another.
Explain the history of the automobile.
In 1893, Henry Ford built his first car. By 1908, he built his first “production car”; the “Model T”, also known as the “Tin Lizzie”, which was very expensive to buy. This caused the “assembly line” to be invented as it allowed the car to be mass produced quickly and efficiently, dramatically decreasing its cost. Canada and the United States reacted to the invention of the car by building roads, gas stations, parking lots and drive in motels. Demand for the car was so high that Ford had a very difficult time in keeping up with the production.
Explain the history of fashion.
Fashion changed for women in the 1920s. Women had the right to vote and were trying to indicate that they were equal to men through their dress. Some women lived as “non-conformists”; that is, if they did not behave like traditional women, they were known as “flappers”, who were portrayed as women who wore too much makeup and perfume, used bad language, smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol, and wore revealing clothing.
Explain the history of medicine.
Before the 1920s, millions of people around the world had died from diabetes. In 1921, Banting produced insulin that successfully controlled diabetes in dogs, but after testing it on a human, insulin ended up being the thing that controls diabetes and does not completely cure a person of it.
Explain the history of entertainment?
In the 1920s, many people wanted to forget the war and have some fun. Some call these years the “age of wonderful nonsense”. They did so thanks to dancing, music and films.
Explain the history of famous people playing sports.
Howie Morenz of the Montreal Canadians was one of the dominant offensive forces in the NHL in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Lionel Conacher was considered to be the greatest all-round athlete ever turned out by Canada in hockey, baseball, rugby, boxing, and more. Percy William won many track races at the Canadian Championships. Edmonton Grads had nearly 500 wins in participation of women’s basketball.
What is conscription?
The compulsory enlistment or call-up of citizens for military service.
Why was Borden so determined to enact conscription?
Because the outcome of the war involved many injured and killed Canadians led to very few volunteers. Borden knew that the war effort required more soldiers.
What groups supported conscription?
English-speaking Canadians, older Canadians, British immigrants, and the families of soldiers.
What groups did not support conscription?
French Canadians, factory workers, farmers, unionized workers, non-British immigrants, and other Canadians.
What three laws did Borden pass to ensure conscription became law in Canada?
The Military Service Act, the Wartime Elections Act, and the War Measures Act.
Explain the Winnipeg General Strike.
Due to workers receiving minimum wage, forced to work in bad working conditions, and others demanding jobs but not getting any, millions of workers went on strike. This caused everything from factories to stores to restaurants to offices. The strike leaders ended up getting arrested because they were planning to take down the government. Winnipeg stopped working because no one was doing their jobs due to the strike. It was a bloody and brutal battle as six British-born strike leaders and a few strikers born in other European countries (who were later deported) were arrested. The strike failed because the workers gained nothing and lost their jobs, but it also succeeded because in the years that followed, many of the strikers’ demands became law, and many of the strike leaders were elected to the provincial and federal governments.
Explain the story of Johnny Smith.
Johnny Smith, who was 23 years old, survived after returning from war within the trenches. He was so happy about the armistice on November 11, 1918, until he was taken to a camp in England because of government officials. However, as spring approached in 1919, he was finally taken home. Smith’s life seemed like an emotional rollercoaster because he experienced the joy of armistice, the anger of waiting in England, and the exhilaration of the welcome home. Smith had to get a new job because his old job in the factory had not been kept for him. Smith got a new job, in which he joined the army, but it seemed like after 1917, that the army doesn’t need Smith anymore. It’s no fun for him to go down to Gore Park and sit on the benches trading war stories with other unemployed veterans. Smith wants to apply for a job as the government is going to set up training programs and help everyone get back into civilian life and learn new skills to get a job.
How does an assembly line work?
An assembly line is when there are the frames of the cars at one end of the line. The lined moved itself like a conveyor belt. Each car moved along the belt at 15 cm a minute and each worker only added one part. By the time the car reached the end of the line, it had been assembled and was ready to drive.
How many Canadians were killed in World War 1?
About 60,000.
Where did thousands of Canadian soldiers had to wait before returning to Canada by boat?
Camps in France and England.
What happened when some soldiers were sent to Siberia?
They took part in the Russian Revolution.
What was the penalty for possessing communist literatue?
Jail.
Which three cities did workers and unionists held strikes in?
Toronto, Vancouver, and Saskatoon.
What happened when the largest strike and biggest disturbance occurred in the city of Winnipeg?
Over 30,000 workers including firefighters and police officers left their jobs. All city operations stopped in this “general strike”. City officials armed citizen groups and the RCMP was called in to quell the strike. A riot occurred and one striker was killed.
What did war veterans want when they returned to Canada?
Government assistance with housing, training, and pensions.
What was the Prince of Wales’ nickname?
The Sunshine Prince.
What year did Canada’s first French Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier die?
1919.
Who was the next Prime Minister?
MacKenzie Kane, who would dominate Canadian politics for over a quarter of a century.
What happened during the 1920s?
More and more people left the country and moved into cities.
How much would an “office girl” and a man working in a factory earn?
An “office girl” could earn about $15 per week. A man working in a factory could earn between $20 and $25 each week.
What was the speed limit for automobiles on the open road and in towns?
25 miles per hour for the open road and 12 miles per hour for towns.
What are two of the most popular destinations?
Niagara Falls and St. Lawrence River.
Throughout the 1920s, Canadians were becoming more like what and less like what?
Canadians were becoming more like American and less like the British.
What was this period the age of?
Daredevils, stunt men, and exhibitionists.
What were two of the greatest scientific wonders?
Radios and airplanes.
What was happening by 1927?
Industrial activity had expanded in fields, such as mining and manufacturing, There seemed to be a loss of jobs and money for all Canadians.
Who did not share in the prosperity of the 1920s and why?
Because there were no laws protecting working conditions or wages.
What benefits did “buy now, pay later” have on families?
Wanting more leisure time and new products as it gave families more time to relax and had more chores done easier.
What dangers exist with the credit policy of “buy now, pay later”?
Immigrants being unable to speak English and have very few job skills, employers paying them little as possible, women being paid less than men for the same work, and the wages for factory workers staying low.
Explain the era of the catalogue.
Back in Central Canada, Quebec and Ontario manufacturers like HBC, Simpson’s, Canadian Tire, Eatons, and others, were enjoying immense profits.
What year did French-Canadian retailer Dupuis Freres create its mail order service?
1922.
What year did Canadian Tire send out its first catalogue?
1928.
When did Hudson’s Bay, Morgan’s and Woodward’s all have a mail order service?
By the 1920s.
Why was it necessary for producers to embrace women as consumers?
In order to capture almost all market sales.
What was the percentage of women who spent all consumer dollars?
85 percent.
What was the nickname for the 1920s?
The Roaring Twenties.
What were the aspects of the “old” culture?
Scarcity, character, emphasized production, religion, idealized the past, local culture, and substance.
What were the aspects of the “new” culture?
Abundance, personality, emphasized consumption, science, looking into the future, mass culture, and image.
What were the causes of the Great Depression?
Over-production and over-expansion, Canada’s dependence on a few primary products, Canada’s dependence on the United States, high tariffs that choked off international trade, too much credit buying, and too much credit buying of stocks.
How many Canadians were out of work in 1933?
Almost a third of Canadian workers.
Was there a lot of government support available for families suffering during the early years of the Great Depression? Explain.
No, there wasn’t as families didn’t gain any allowance and the government didn’t have any sponsored medical care by the government.
What was life like for the wealthy during the Depression?
Without any income from jobs, there was no money for food, clothing, and other necessities. Several people suffered from starvation and malnutrition. There was no unemployment insurance, no family allowance, and no government sponsored medical care.
What is relief?
Emergency financial assistance given to some of the unemployed to keep them from starving.
Who provided relief prior to the Depression?
City governments and private charities.
Who provided relief when the Depression hit?
Federal and provincial people.
What was Prime Minister William Lyon MacKenzie King’s immediate solution to the Depression?
His solution wasn’t to deal with the Depression by waiting it out, but rather believing it would be short-lived and that better economic times were not far off.
What was said during King’s “five-cent piece” speech?
King insisted that social warfare, which included provided belief, was the responsibility of the provinces.
Why do some believe this speech was the “biggest political mistake of King’s career”?
Because he believed that social warfare was the responsibility of the provinces and declared that he would not give a “five-cent piece” speech.
Who won the election of 1930 and what new policies did this new prime minister offer for dealing with the Depression?
Richard Bedford Bennett won and declared that he would find work for all who are willing to work or perish in the attempt. He also promised to give the provinces $20 million in emergency funds for relief payments.
Why were relief camps created?
To provide drifters and unemployed men with useful work.
Who set up relief camps?
The Department of National Defence.
Describe briefly what life was like in a relief camp.
Single men 18 years of age and older worked eight hours a day in the camps cutting brush, moving rocks, and building roads. In return, they were given food, shelter, clothing, and a pay of 20 cents a day.
What was the On-to-Ottawa Trek?
A journey where thousands of men boarded freight trains to protest to the government due to growing tired of the British Columbia relief camps.
What was the purpose of the On-to-Ottawa Trek?
To clear economic reforms, such as minimum wages and a genuine system of social and unemployment.
Was the On-to-Ottawa Trek successful? Why or why not?
The trek was unsuccessful because the trekkers were disobeying the law and were part of a plot to overthrow the government. A riot broke out, in which there were dozens of people injured and a killed police officer.
What is a Bennett Buggy? Could you think of how people still follow this practice to save money when times are tight?
A Bennett Buggy is a car that doesn’t work due to a lack of gas and is used for farm animals. I think a way that people could still follow this practice to save money is by getting jobs and gaining even more money.
Why were relief vouchers for food and rent given out during the Depression instead of cash?
It was due to one study showing that unemployed men in Toronto waited 10 months after becoming unemployed.
Do you think these vouchers were a good or bad idea? Explain.
I think that vouchers were a bad idea because of how they barely provided enough to live on and how payments were kept low to discourage people from applying for them.
Why were the western provinces hardest hit by the Depression?
Because a severe drought and plagues of grasshoppers destroyed the crops and there was too much wheat that no one could afford to buy.
What areas of the economy suffered the most in Central Canada? Why?
Small businesses and those that depended on world markets because they had to cut back on production and lay off workers?
Why was the economic decline not as severe in the Maritimes?
Because they had not benefited as much from the boom of the late 1920s.
Why were things in Newfoundland so desperate?
Because Newfoundland was not yet part of Canada and was an independent dominion within the British Commonwealth.
What were the six demands of the Ottawa Trekkers?
- That work with wages be provided at a minimum rate of 50 cents an hour for unskilled labor; union rates for all skilled labor. Such work to be on the basis of a five-day week, six hour working day, and minimum of 20 days work per month.
- All workers in relief camps and government projects be covered by the Compensation Act. Adequate first aid supplies on all relief jobs.
- That a democratically elected committee of relief workers be recognized by the authorities.
- Relief camps be taken out of the control of the department of national defence.
- A genuine system of social and unemployment insurance in accordance with the provisions of the Workers Social and Unemployment Insurance Bill (be provided).
- That all workers be guaranteed their democratic right to vote.
How much did a movie ticket cost in 1930? Why was going to the movies a great way to escape from the depression?
A movie ticket cost 25 cents in 1930. It was so people could forget about the dust storms and relief vouchers, and enter the make-believe world of the Hollywood stars.
What were some popular films of the day?
“Gone with the Wind” and Walt Disney’s “Mickey Mouse”.
What other form of entertainment was popular in the 1930s?
The radio.
What were some of the most popular radio show during the era? Where did they come from?
“Jack Benny”, “George Burns and Gracie Allen”, “The Lone Ranger”, and “The Inner Sanctum”, which came from the United States.
Why did Bennett set up a royal commission in 1928?
To look into the broadcasting situation of Canada?
What problems were uncovered by the Commission? What recommendations were made to solve these problems?
That advertising was becoming hard-hitting and large parts of the country were not receiving the benefits of radio broadcasting. The recommendations were that a national, government-owned company should own and operate all radio stations in Canada.
What was the CRBC?
The Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission.
What was the CRBC’s purpose?
To counteract American domination of the airwaves and to encourage the development of Canadian programs.
What current Corporation did it evolve into?
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
How did it establish a sense of national unity?
The CBC covered the royal tour to Canada by the new king, George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
When was the NFB established? What was its goal?
The National Film Board was established in 1939. Its goal was “to promote the production and distribution of films in the nation and in particular… to interpret Canada and Canadians to other countries.”
When was the Governor General’s Awards established and what was their purpose?
It was established in 1937. Their purpose was to promote Canadian writing.
How do these cultural organizations both help and hinder Canadian culture? Explain.
These cultural organizations help protect Canadian arts from Canadian arts from America domination and foster the development of Canadian talent. These culture organizations also hinder the arts by sheltering them from the richness of outside creative differences.
Who is a flapper?
A young woman who had bobbed hair, wore short skirts, and smoked and drank in public.
What is Black Tuesday?
When shared prices on the New York Stock Exchange completely collapsed and became a pivotal factor in the emergence of the Great Depression on October 29, 1929.
What is a dustbowl?
The drought that happened in the region of the United States as the aftermath of the horrific dust storms.
What is a bootlegger/rumrunner?
Someone who sells liquor.
What is on credit?
When you buy something to pay for it later or pay an interest.
What is a speakeasy?
A bar selling illegal liquor?
What are talkies?
Any film that contained any sound, like dialogue.
What is prohibition?
When the production of alcohol wasn’t allowed on Canada?
What is prosperity?
New patterns of consumption or purchasing consumer goods, such as radios, cars, or clothing.
Who are the Famous Five?
Five important Canadian suffragists who prescribed for women and children.
What is jazz?
The symbolism of the decade’s spirit of liberation.
What is mass media?
It united the nation and created an economic boom in new areas of entertainment or leisure.
Who were some of the famous celebrities of the time? Why were they so popular?
Charlie Chaplin, Henry Ford, and Howie Morenz. They were so popular because Chaplin was a movie star part of the silent film industry, Ford invented the famous Model T automobile, and Morenz was one of the dominant offensive forces in the National Hockey League (NHL).
What were some of the most popular dances of the 1920s? Why did older generations consider them vulgar and inappropriate?
The shimmy, waltz, strut, and tango. These dances were considered vulgar and inappropriate by older generations because the male and female dance partners were moving quickly and touching one another in ways deemed inappropriate.
How were Flappers different from previous generations of women?
Because they smoked in public, drank alcohol, danced at jazz clubs, and practiced sexual freedom.
Why was the art of the Group of Seven so important to Canadian society?
Because of how it was inspired by people like Tom Thomson and Emily Carr. It inspired other Canadians to appreciate the beauty of Canada’s landscapes and Canadian artistic interpretation.
Who were the Edmonton Grads and why were their achievements so significant to Canadian sports?
The Edmonton Grads were a Canadian women basketball team. Their achievements were so significant to Canadian sports because of how they were national and world champions, often defeating their opponents by lopsided scores.
Why was slang so popular amongst the younger generation in the 1920s? Give three examples of slang that was used in the 1920s.
Slang was so popular amongst the younger generation in the 1920s because it was to emphasize youth culture over the old generations. Three examples of slang used in the 1920s are baloney (nonsense), spiffy (fashionable), and ciggy (cigarette).
List three new inventions of the 1920s? Explain how they changed lives.
The dishwasher, the refrigerator, and the windmill. They changed lives because the dishwasher gave people an easier way to clean dishes, the refrigerator gave people a place to store their food, and the windmill gave us a way to produce electricity without causing pollution.
Why was the invention of the radio so important?
Because of how it connected people in ways that were never possible before.
What dangers exist when buying on credit?
The significant increase in household debt and how excessive credit use led to significant debt risks and financial instability.
Who was Emily Murphy?
The leader/judge of the Famous Five. She was the woman behind the successful campaign to have women declared persons in the eyes of British law.
Who were the five women in the Famous Five?
Emily Murphy, Louis McKinney, Irene Parlby, Neille McClung, and Henrietta Edwards.
What did the Famous Five do for women in Canada?
The Famous Five established the right of women to serve in the Senate.
What was the ruling of the Privy Council in October 1929? Why was it significant?
That “the word ‘persons’ in sec. 24 does include women, and that women are eligible to be summoned to and become members of the Senate of Canada”. It was significant because it gave some women the right to be appointed to the Senate of Canada and paved the way for women’s increased participation in public and political life.
Who was affected by the stock market crash?
Inventors and consumers. Men and women lost all of their lie savings, feared for their jobs, and worried whether they would be able to pay their bills.
Explain what life was like for most families after the stock market crash.
After the stock market crash, many families did not have the money to buy things and consumer demand for manufactured goods fell off. Fewer families were buying new cars or household appliances and people learned to do without new clothing.
Explain the drought and dustbowl situation that Canada experienced in the 1930s.
As the 1930s began, farmers experienced prolonged drought, which caused repeated devastation to annual harvests. Farmers struggled to maintain their farmers and governments were slow to respond to the crisis. Banks began repossessing farms and other farms were abandoned. Several farms were lost in Canada between 1930 and 1935. Families left their farms to relocate to either Ontario or western United States, move to bigger urban centres, like Regina and Edmonton, or move to the northern part of the provinces.
What types of things did people forget to do in the 1930s?
Watch entertainment, like movies and musicals.
Outline the causes of the On-to-Ottawa Trek. Was it successful? Explain.
The causes of the On-to-Ottawa Trek were because of the 20 cents that men received each day and the slave labour. The On-to-Ottawa Trek was both successful and unsuccessful because even though many people joined the trek, it ended with a riot of death, injuries, and people getting arrested.
List the three political parties to come out of the Depression.
The three political parties to come out of the Depression are social credit (led by William Aberhart), Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) (led by James S. Woodsworth), and Union Nationale (led by Maurice Duplessis).
Outline the political platform of each party.
Social Credit: To give every citizen social credit or cash payment, people would spend more and the economy would improve with this extra cash, and give a social credit of $25 per month to every adult in Alberta.
Cooperative Commonwealth Federation: Slums clearance, extension of electricity services to rural areas, provides jobs, and be a permanent benefit to Canadians.
Union Nationale: To defend the French language, Roman catholic, and culture against English-speaking business people and secure more provincial power for Quebec.
What was the critique of the Social Credit party?
It remained in power in Alberta for 35 years, came to power in British Columbia, became a federal party, and won some seats in Alberta and Quebec in a number of federal elections.
What was the critique of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation party?
Reforms had not yet taken ahold and political solutions were not enough to end the Depression.
What was the critique of the Union Nationale party?
Duplessis and the Union Nationale went to power in the provincial election, Duplessis’ government passed anti-strike laws to put down labor unions, and there were Jewish people and Jewish witnesses.
When people could not afford to fix their cars during the Depression, what did the call the car to horses they hitched?
A Bennett Buggy.
Why did they call it a Bennett Buggy?
Due to the lack of financial help from the Prime Minister.
The Cooperative Commonwealth Federation evolved into the New Democratic Party. True or False?
True.
