Immigration, Racism, and the KKK in the 1920s

1. Immigration, Racism, and the KKK in the 1920s

2. Immigration • Between 1919 and 1931, 1.2 million immigrants arrived in Canada • There was a decrease in the number of immigrants to Canada after World War 1 • The decrease was due to the higher standards by the Canadian government • Also, many people in war torn Europe did not have the resources or money to immigrate • The Canadian government had a preference for potential farmers, domestic servants, and agricultural workers

3. Immigration • In 1923, Canada opened its doors to British subjects, Americans, and citizens of “preferred countries”, this included: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, and France • For all of the 1920s there was law called the “Order in Council” which did not allow for “any immigrant of any Asiatic race” to come into Canada

4. Racism • Cleaning Product of the 1920s

5. Racism • In the 1920s, all British subjects had the right to vote • Discrimination for “reason of race” was allowed

6. English-speaking Canadians began to believe that the British principles of government were the key to Canada’s greatness • Discrimination began depend on a persons ability to obey the social rules of the ‘Canadian’ way of life, as well as their appearance

7. Aboriginal Peoples in Residential Schools • Native children in Canada were taken from their homes in order to be education in residential schools which were run by the government or by a religious organization • Anything connected to native language or heritage was excluded from school life • There was an effort to assimilate (make the same) the younger generation into mainstream Canadian life • Many children were abused (physically and sexually) • Many did not learn their own native culture, language or customs from their family members

8. Aboriginal Peoples • Natives living on reserves were NOT allowed to vote, lost their right to have traditional forms of native government • Some groups banded together to defend their land and fishing and hunting rights • Native peoples rights and culture were not considered important

9. Ku Klux Klan

10. KKK • In late 1926 Klan organizers came to Saskatchewan to preach its message of racial and religious hatred and to sell expensive memberships to fund its activities • By the fall of 1928 local Klans had been established in over 100 Saskatchewan towns, usually signaling themselves by a ritual burning of crosses

11. KKK • The KKK had a membership of over 40,000 • Many belonged to the group because they did not accept the people who were not part of mainstream Canada – • Usually these were immigrants from central and southeastern Europe