Canada and the Twenties

1. Canada and the Twenties

2. The Jazz Age – prosperity, fun and wild living Also known as: The Roaring Twenties

3. An Uneasy Adjustment • There was relief after the end of war, as evidenced by the “wild” fashions, music, dance, and fads • There was also a downside: recession, no pension or medical help for veterans, no jobs, inflation

4. Entertainment….Mickey Mouse, Charlie Chaplin’s tramp, Rudolph Valentino

5. The war was over, and the soldiers had come home…to very few jobs, (wartime industries had shut down) and the economy was bad….there were many strikes….general UNREST

6. Jobs were scarce – munitions plants (and other wartime industries shut down) • Veterans returned from war – 350,000 • Labour unrest – new ideas from the Russian Revolution…..One Big Union (OBU)….ideas came from more radical labour leaders

7. ……3 main groups were unhappy… • Veterans – had poor pensions, there were few jobs, and there was little medical support • Labour – reduced pay could not keep up with inflation • Farmers – less demand for wheat

8. Inflation was a problem as Canada adjusted to a peacetime economy….there was a recession • Strikes became long and there were bitter disputes, which eventually led to the Winnipeg General Strike • Workers demanded: • higher wages • A shorter work week • Collective bargaining Division grew between business and the working class

9. Conflict was over wages and working conditions. The government was fearful of communism and socialism. In 1919, Canadian union leaders created the ONE BIG UNION to represent all Canadian workers.

10. The goal was to represent workers through peaceful means, with the main weapon being the GENERAL STRIKE. A general strike occurred in Winnipeg in 1919: 30,000 workers walked off the job to support metal and building workers.

11. Some were opposed to the workers: they feared a communist conspiracy. Police, on 21 June, 1919, charged a crowd of workers, and it became violent, resulting in what is called BLOODY SATURDAY.

13. In the short run, not much was achieved, but in the long term, workers would gradually gain some rights.

14. New Challenges to Federalism • Regionalism was a new development in Canada - where different regions became more concerned with their own issues

15. The Maritimes: • The Maritime provinces, with a smaller population, had less influence in government (fewer MP’s) • Many businesses and banks moved to Ontario and Québec • Oil replaced coal, as a source of heat and light, which affected the economy terribly

16. The Prairies • The Prairies were concerned about the National Policy, (implemented in 1878) • Farmers felt the policy benefited Eastern interests, and wanted free trade, so they could access lower priced US farm machinery • They also wanted lower freight rates and storage fees • New political parties emerged – the United Farmer’s Party, and the Progressive Party, which supported free trade

17. Federal Election 1921 Liberal Conservative William Lyon Mackenzie King Arthur Meighen Highly principled, no compromise, no matter who might be offended Conciliatory, a compromiser, took the middle path

18. Federal Election 1921 - Results: Liberals: 117 (6 seats Western Canada) Conservatives: 50 (no seats in Western Canada) Progressives: 64 (new party) (mostly seats in Western Canada) others: 4 Therefore…it was a MINORITY government. The Liberals would require outside support to pass legislation. (The Progressives would not last long, but did bring in the Old Age Pension Act in 1927)

19. Canada’s Growing Independence • 1922 - refusal to support Britain in war against Turkey • 1923 – Halibut Treaty – Canada could sign its own international trade agreements/treaties • 1925 – King-Byng Crisis • 1926 – Imperial Conference • 1931 – Statute of Westminster

20. King – Byng Crisis Election 1925 – • Liberals – 100 • Conservatives – 115 • Progressives – 22 • The Liberals stayed in power with Progressive support

21. After a liquor-smuggling scandal, the Liberals lost the support of the Progressives • King anticipated the government would fall, so asked Governor-General Byng, (of Vimy Ridge fame,) to call an election • Byng refused, as the Conservatives should have been in power anyway, and a vote was needed • King resigned, and Byng ultimately called for an election • In 1926, King won with a majority government

22. Why was this a crisis? “King claimed it was undemocratic for an official appointed by Britain to refuse to take the advice of the prime Minister, who was elected by Canadians.” (Counterpoints, p. 55) The crisis was watched closely by both the Canadian and British governments, and came to redefine the role of Governor General not only in Canada but throughout the Dominions. It was also a major impetus in negotiations at Imperial Conferences held in the late 1920s that led to the Statute of Westminster, 1931. According to British Empire constitutional convention, the Governor General once represented both the Sovereign and the British government, but the convention had evolved with Lord Byng's predecessors, and the Canadian government, as well as the Canadian people, into a tradition of non-interference in Canadian political affairs. (Wikipedia) NO GOVERNOR-GENERAL SINCE HAS ACTED AGAINST THE WISHES OF AN ELECTED PRIME MINISTER. The King-Byng Affair is occasionally called the "King Byng Thing" or "King Byng Wing-Ding" by Canadian political scientists and historians in casual conversation or informal writing.

23. The Balfour Report At the Imperial Conference of 1926, the Dominions of the British Empire asked for formal recognition of their autonomy. Lord Balfour considered their request. It was accepted and passed as the Balfour Report. It became law in 1931 as The Statute of Westminster The British Empire became the British Commonwealth. Canada could now make its own laws and determine its own foreign policy. Our constitution, however, remained in Britain, and the Judicial Court of Appeal also remained there.

24. Canadian delegates attending the Imperial Conference October 1926

25. The Economy Improves • We started the Twenties in recession and depression • By 1925, the economy began to improve • Wheat, natural resources, manufacturing, pulp and paper • Mining, forestry, hydroelectric power

26. US Investment in Canada • Britain was deeply in debt after WW I, and the US was not, so it could afford to invest in Canada • We exported resources such as pulp and paper to the US • The Americans opened BRANCH PLANTS to avoid tariffs • It provided jobs for Canadians, but the PROFITS WENT SOUTH

27. US products began to dominate the Canadian market: oil, automobiles, machinery, chemical industry, rubber and electric companies • Canada benefited at the PRIMARY INDUSTRY level, but lost out when it came to the SECONDARY INDUSTRY – the processing and manufacturing jobs went to the US • Who got the best deal???? • New US technology affected culture :radio, movies, comics

28. “It would seem that Canadians are determined to be both a North American and a British nation, but above all, a nation with a distinctive personality.”

29. Bootlegging Across the Border

30. Prohibition • Prohibition began during WW I. It banned the manufacture and sale of liquor in Canada. • Liquor could only be bought as a tonic, or illegally as bootleg liquor • Bootleggers made illegal liquor, and some made “bathtub gin” themselves. In Canada, Prohibition was repealed by 1921. In the US, however, it continued until 1933, so Canadian bootleggers had a great opportunity to smuggle alcohol – rum running.

32. Americans had two choices in the 1920’s….“They could drink bathtub gin, which could make you go blind, or they could turn to their northern neighbours.”

34. Results of Prohibition • _ • Some did not like government control • Laws varied • Difficult to enforce • Medicinal alternatives for some • More speakeasies • Organized crime – gangsters • Gangland murders • Poor resorted to cheaper alcohols – rubbing alcohol and anti-freeze – many died • + • Drop in crime • Drop in poverty • Increase in business

37. Al Capone

38. Speakeasies

39. Canada was able to carry out “rum running” legally. Why? It was legal to export alcohol from Canada, but illegal to import in the US.

40. Urbanization Cities grew; fewer people lived in the country on farms, as mechanization required fewer people. The city centre had become undesirable, as industry was located there. Slums grew, populated with poor and working-class people. The slums were unsanitary and crowded. More affluent citizens moved out to the new suburbs, where the air was clean and it was less crowded.

41. Slums in Toronto

42. The Role of Women

43. In 1921, 5 women ran for seats in Parliament. Only one won…Agnes MacPhail

44. …most women were wives and mothers….new inventions made their lives a bit easier Married women were expected to stay home

45. Single women had limited opportunities, and, in general, were paid poorly

48. The Persons Case • 1928, the Supreme Court of Canada declared women were NOT legally “persons” under the constitution • when appointed as a magistrate in Alberta, Emily Murphy was informed that only a “person” could hold this office • In 1929, The privy Council in Britain asked “ to those who ask why the word “person” should apply to females the obvious answer is why should it not?”

49. A New Prosperity There was an upswing in the economy, and people had more income to spend….