Canada in the Roaring Twenties

Soldiers have come home from Europe and 1919 has been a year of great social upheaval. Canada’s economy now begins to recover. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ begin to gain confidence again in the Canadian economy. They invest in ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________, primarily: wheat, pulp and paper, and hydro electricity.


Factories

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ goods prospered. This lead to the growth of manufacturing in the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ Repealed

During the war, the federal government imposed made the sale and consumption of alcohol illegal. The laws were largely ignored and even gave rise to many social “ills”. Rise of ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________. Rise of “underground bars” called ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________. Rise of gangsters such as Al Capone. By 1924, most provinces had repealed these laws and began to regulate the sale of alcohol.

Benefits of Technology

Technological advances made living ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________. There were developments in technologies such as radios, record players, toasters, washing machines, and electric irons. Electrical appliances reduced chore times and allowed for more ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­__________.

Empowerment for Women

Many young women known as “­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________” challenged traditional female roles and ideas about how women should behave. They cut their hair, went to jazz clubs, drank alcohol and wore shorter dresses. Women continued their struggle for ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ into the twenties. They took greater part in business and industry, but still met with much prejudice.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ (Canada’s first female judge) and activist Nellie McClung teamed up with 3 other women. They challenged an out-of-date definition that stated that women were not “persons”. The women became known as The ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________. In 1927, the British Privy Council ruled in their favour. Women were declared “persons” and given the same rights and privileges as men. In 1930, PM ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ appointed Cairine Wilson as Canada’s first female senator.

Science

Canadian science gets international recognition in the 1920s. Canadian scientist, Frederick Banting discovered ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________, which helps control diabetes.

Radio

Radio grew enormously. The 1920s were the first time music and voices could be broadcasted. There were only 10,000 radios in 1923, but by 1929 there were ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________.

Movies

“­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ” began in 1927. Canada was producing movies before the 1920s but could not compete with the American studios. Many Canadians left for Hollywood. Hollywood films began to influence how Canadians saw themselves. Hollywood depicted Canada in a misleading and stereotypical fashion. The ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ (CBC) was created in 1936 in response to concerns that too much American content was heard on Canadian radio.

Sports

Baseball became THE sport to listen to on the radio and to go and watch in the summer.

Hockey Night in Canada with ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ began in 1923. Olympics in 1928 - Won 7 medals – contributed to the Golden age of Canadian Sport.

Olympians

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ was one of our top athletes, winning Gold in the 100 metre dash and Silver in the 4 x 100 relay. Percy Williams won Gold in the 100 metre and 200 metre dash.

Not so “Roaring”

Fear of communism was growing. In 1917, a group called the Bolsheviks, led by ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________, staged a revolution and overthrew the Russian Tsar, Nicholas II.

Established a new form of government called communism. Under communism, all property and business would be owned by the state. All profits were supposed to be shared by the people of the country (USSR). In actuality, this was rarely the case as there was much ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ and oppression. People in the West began to fear that communism would take over here. There was mounting mistrust of ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ and their leaders.

There were limits on immigration in Canada. Laws encouraged white immigrants from Europe but discouraged others. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ – No Chinese immigrants from1923-1947.

First Nations

Attempts made to “­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ” many non-white members of Canadian communities.

Aboriginal children were taken from their communities and brought to ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ where expression of their language and culture were forbidden. Many encountered physical and sexual abuse from the people who were entrusted to take care of them.

Stock Market

Prices were based on ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ and ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________. The excitement of buying and selling was intense, and shares were bought and sold at ever-increasing, unrealistic prices.

In 1929, the bottom dropped out of the stock market. The value of stocks dropped rapidly and people lost money. Some people had taken out loans to buy stocks and could no longer afford to pay their debts. “Run” on the banks.

Great Depression

The ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________ had begun. It would last until 1939, when the Second World War began.