Unit 3: The Great Depression

Question 1

Business Cycle

Answer 1

Covers periods of alternating economic growth and recession, measured mainly by GDP changes.
One period lasts usu. 6-8 years

Question 2

Stock market

Answer 2

Place where businesses raise money by selling shares/where securities are traded.
Ex. NYSE, Bay Street TSX

Question 3

Palliser Triangle

Answer 3

Area of marginal land in the Praries that suffered from soil exhaustion in GD

Question 4

Stock Market Crash

Answer 4

• The direct cause of the Great Depression.
• It was on October 29, 1929 (NY, Toronto, and Montreal Exchanges)
• On Oct 24, 1929, the Winnipeg Grain Exchange collapsed

Question 5

Underlying/Indirect Causes of the Great Depression

Answer 5

1. Relying heavily on export profits
2. Weakness of European economies (due to WW1)
3. Overdependence on the US economy (had investments all over the world and its high growth collapsed)
4. Overproduction (especially of wheat) since WW1 (prices down, profit down)
5. Over-reliance on staple products (not enough diversification)

Question 6

Relief/Dole

Answer 6

Welfare for those suffering during the Great Depression

Question 7

Types of relief

Answer 7

1. Public charity - government-provided aid (ex. vouchers)
2. Private - from charity organizations (think: soup kitchens)

Question 8

Escapism

Answer 8

Avoiding negative situations, physically or mentally by seeking alternating realities.
Ex. through distractions/entertainment

Question 9

Escapism Examples in the GD

Answer 9

-Movies
-Newspapers/Magazines
-Radio
-Fairs, Exhibitions/Revival Meetings

Question 10

Riding the rails vs Riding the rods

Answer 10

Rails: generally riding in a freight train illegally (ex. by getting inside the cars)

Rods: Riding on a freight train by clinging to the metal rods below the cars

Question 11

Examples of Minorities’ Intolerance

Answer 11

-Discrimination against minorities who needed relief (ex. Blacks, Asians, Indigenous, Jews)
-Indigenous believed to be able live off the land without help
-In 1930s, segregation laws + KKK groups rising
-Selected immigration (no non-farmer immigrants except from U.S. & U.K.

Question 12

Examples of ‘Mainstream’ Intolerance

Answer 12

-Women, unmarried, did not receive aid as immediately as others
-Single men, as the government believed they could fend for themselves & that relief money should go to families 1st

Question 13

What is and why was deportation used?

Answer 13

Deportation: exiling people (believed immigrants) from the country back to their previous
-Gov’t wanted to help as few people as possible, as it was expensive

Question 14

Signs of economy depression

Answer 14

-prolonged recessions, business is slow
-More inflation, poverty, crime, suicide
-Less leisure (spending), happiness, immigration, importing

Question 15

Why did the Depression heighten intolerance?

Answer 15

-Many believed ‘outsiders’ were taking their jobs/income (humanity often looks for scapegoats)
-Government/charities exhaustion from providing relief to too many

Question 16

Single Men Initial Treatment & Response During the Depression

Answer 16

• Employers first laid off single-men (easier, believed to have no dependents)
• crossed the country to search for a better life, but people believed they were drifters, criminal, or relief-stealers

Question 17

Unemployment Relief Camps - The Start & Experience

Answer 17

• Authorities recognized single men were desperate & demand federal action
• Camps, run by military, set up in remote areas to get the drifters off the roads & cities
• Men felt they were in prison: harsh rules, poor living conditions, low wages, long hours

Question 18

Single Men Beginning the On-To-Ottawa Trek

Answer 18

• In April & May of 1935, 1500-2000 from Relief camps in B.C. went on strike, marching to Ottawa to complain to PM Bennett
• Rode the rails, demanded changes

Question 19

PM Bennett Response to the On-to-Ottawa Trek

Answer 19

• Ordered the RCMP to halt the trek in Regina, resulting in a riot, one killed, many injured, and an end to the movement
• Did allow leaders in Ottawa, tried unsuccessfully to make a deal in improving the relief camps
• Shut down all camps within a year