The 1920s From Bust to Boom to Bust

The 1920’s From Bust to Boom to Bust Again!

Winnipeg General Strike, 1919 n After WWI, returning soldiers found it difficult to find good jobs. n Employers used the war to keep wages low and exploited labour by not keeping work places safe.

n 1916 168 strikes 26, 971 strikers 1917 222 strikes 50, 327 strikers 1918 305 strikes 82, 573 strikers 1919 428 strikes 149, 309 strikers 1920 459 strikes 76, 624 strikers

n Women were paid ½ the salary as a male. n In Winnipeg, phone companies hired women to be telephone operators. n It was a tedious job, few breaks, low pay and long hours.

n Labour unions all over Winnipeg decided to fight back and win the right to negotiate a fair contract with the employers. n When the operators and other workers walked off the job, it started a massive general strike that threatened to take over all of Canada.

n The workers organized a committee of citizens to make decisions during the strike. n They were called the Central Strike Committee.

One Big Union n One of the goals of the workers was to create a power organization to look after workers rights, fair and equal pay and safe work conditions. n The name being used for this organization was “One Big Union” or, OBU.

n The labour strike was also on the verge of spreading to other big Canadian cities… n The government and the business leaders were very worried about the power workers had discovered by sticking together…

n The strike grew and grew…more workers quit working and the city was shut down completely. n Business asked government to intervene and force the workers back to their jobs. n The RCMP was called in to end the chaos

Bloody Saturday n On this day, the RCMP turned loose on the crowds that had gathered to protest. n They rode their horses into the crowds, beat strikers with clubs, fired shots and arrested hundreds that day.

n After Bloody Saturday, and the arrests, the workers dispersed and began to return to work. n After their trials, hundreds of union workers were banished from Canada under the Enemy Alien Act. n “They were a threat to Canada’s peace and security” said the government officials.

n The Winnipeg General Strike may seem to have been a failure in the short term, but it did show the workers the power of uniting and joining unions. n The strike also created new labour leaders like J. S. Woodsworth, who would begin a whole new political party for workers called the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation ( which evolves into today’s NDP party).

Women’s Rights n During the 1920’s, women wanted to rebel against the old-fashioned roles society had for females. n A new, daring fad for women began in the 1920’s…they had a name…flappers!

n Flappers cut their hair in a short bob-cut, wore low cut dresses, smoked in public, drank in bars and danced to the new jazz music with men…. shocking!

The Person’s Case n Emily Murphy was denied a seat in the Senate because as a female SHE WAS NOT CONSIDERED A PERSON! n 4 other women joined Emily in a Supreme Court challenge against this unequal treatment. n Fortunately for women all over Canada, the ruling ended in favour of the women and the verdict was that yes, women are indeed people!

The Birth of Jazz n A music form that originated in the US African- American communities became popular all over North America in the 1920’s. n The music form is called “Jazz” n The new music was seen as “negro music” and caused white women to dance in a provactive manner…quite scandalous!

Bootlegging & Rum Runners n The US was trying a social experiment of outlawing the: making, selling, drinking or transporting alcohol. n This time period was called Prohibition. n Canadians also tried this in WWI…( to preserve grain for food rather than for alcohol. )

n Many Canadians began making lots of money by smuggling illegal whiskey over the Canada/US border. n One popular way of doing this in BC, was to get a boat…put an airplane engine in it, and zoom over to Washington state to unload the cargo.

n These boats were called “rum-runners”. n Sydney Harbour was an isolated favourite place to do this. n Before the US Coast Guard could catch on, the Canadian rum-runners had already left in their fast boats.

Criminal Gangs & Bootlegging n Criminal gangs quickly took over the illegal alcohol trade…lots of $$$ n Gangster like Al Capone began to corner the illegal market and used violence to keep control.

The Roaring 20’s n After WWI, the Canadian economy had a tough time adjusting to a peace-time economy. n By the mid 1920’s, the economy began to recover in a huge surge of growth. n This economic growth period was also called the “Roaring 20’s”

n The reasons for the growth were: - demand for Canadian raw resources like pulp for newspapers, mining ores for metals, growth of factories due to cheap hydro-electric power - Investment from the USA

Mass Production/Consumerism n During the 1920’s factory production grew quickly. n The order of the day was to buy, buy! n Advertising began as its own industry…their goal? Convince the citizens to buy things they really don’t need.

Henry Ford & Assembly Line n Henry Ford created a whole new way to mass produce automobiles. n Ford’s goal was to put a car within reach of all people. n Ford created the “assembly line” to make cars cheaper.

n Cars moved along a moving assembly line and workers would install the one part they were in charge of eg…tires, seats, engines. . n For workers, it meant boring repetition and monotony… n Ford it meant incredible profits!

n Ford also hated labour unions, as he thought that they gave too much power to workers. n Later on, Ford also becomes a big supporter of Adolph Hitler! n Cars are now part of our society…and causing massive environmental problems!

US Growth in Canadian Economy n After WWI, US investors began to pump large amounts of $$$ into Canadian companies. n There was a tax advantage for opening these foreign owned “Branch Plants”.

n Branch plants hurt Canada and help Canada n Help = they hire Canadian labour n Hurt = Most of the profits go to headquarters not based in Canada

n Profits soared, jobs were plentiful, the war was over…people felt positive about the future! n Not EVERYBODY shared in the roaring 20’s however….

Regionalism

Group of Seven n In the early nineteen hundreds there were a group of Canadian painters that began noticing similar style in one another’s works. n The artists traveled all over Canada and sketched and painted what they saw using bold colors and strong decorative brushstrokes and style.

n The Group of Seven contributed how Canadians saw their own country and the created a new Canadian expression. n In 1920 the To Group of Seven had their first exhibition, and became popular as the first artists to capture the feel of the Arctic on canvas.

Those Who Missed The Roar n Immigrants - recent immigrants to Canada were exploited for their cheap labour - they lived in horrible conditions in slums in every big city

African -Canadians n Due to racism, African-Canadians worked harder, were paid less money, lived in substandard housing, had segregated movie houses, schools, hotels etc… n The Ku Klux Klan began Canadian chapters during the 1920’s

The KKK Comes to CANADA

n During the entire 1920’s in the USA, a black man was lynched EVERY DAY by racist groups like the KKK

Postcard depicting the lynching of Lige Daniels, Center, Texas, USA, August 3, 1920. The back reads, "This was made in the court yard in Center, Texas. He is a 16 year old Black boy. He killed Earl's grandma. She was Florence's mother. Give this to Bud. From Aunt Myrtle. "

n n A postcard showing the burned body of Jesse Washington, Waco, Texas, 1916. Washington was a 17 -year-old retarded farmhand who was accused of raping and killing a white woman. He was castrated, mutilated, and burned alive by a cheering mob that included the mayor and the chief of police. An observer wrote that "Washington was beaten with shovels and bricks. . . [he] was castrated, and his ears were cut off. A tree supported the iron chain that lifted him above the fire. . . Wailing, the boy attempted to climb up the skillet hot chain. For this, the men cut off his fingers. " This image is from a postcard, which said on the back, "This is the barbeque we had last night. My picture is to the left with a cross over it. Your son, Joe. "

First Nations n Since colonization of Canada in the 1600’s, the First Nations were under attack… n Most of their land was taken away in a questionable manner… n Reserves were created as a “ghetto” for First Nations.

n Racism created less opportunity for First Nations. n The Indian Act prevented any chance to do anything economic on a reserve without government permission.

n The Indian Act also discriminated against First Nations by passing 2 levels of laws…one for whites and one for First Nations. n Examples: whites could buy fishing licenses, First Nations couldn’t

Assimilation n The Canadian government’s goal has always been to assimilate First Nations to be more European…as long as First Nations wanted to live in the traditional ways of hunting and gathering they were pushed off to the side ( marginalized) and ignored.

n First Nations could not go back to old, traditional lifestyles…nor were they accepted in white society.

Residential Schools n The Canadian government passed a law making it mandatory to send all First Nations children aged 6 -18 to residential schools run by Christian churches. n If the parents refused to send their children, they could be arrested or heavily fined or both.

n The goal of these schools was NOT education…but assimilation! n Make the First Nations more European! n These schools were quite damaging to these children.

n Physical, mental and sexual abuses towards the children were common. n The children were told that everything they were was “savage” or “primitive”. n First Nations languages were forbidden in school…punishment was harsh if caught.

Canadian Autonomy = The power for a nation to make decisions without interference by another nation. n Independence in the matters of law-making, and entering into relationships with other nations.

n Ever since Canada became independent from Britain in 1867, Canada had to struggle to get away from the mother country’s “apron strings”. n At the Versaille Peace Treaty, Canada successfully fought for an seat independent of Britain.

n Halibut Treaty = On March 2, 1923, Canada entered into a treaty to protect the halibut from being overfished. Canada’s Prime Minster, Mackenzie King, refused to allow a British official to countersign this treaty. For the first time, Canada made an international agreement without English approval

King-Byng Affair n Prime Minster King asked Governor General Byng to dissolve Parliament and call an election in 1925. n King had a minority government and was hoping to gain more seats if a new election were called.

n Governor General Byng refused to dissolve Parliament…as he saw a new election as unethical…King was only trying to gain more seats!

n The big question was: “ Who has more power in Canadian politics? A Governor General who was British…not Canadian…appointed…not elected…or…the Prime Minister…A Canadian…elected by the people? ”

n The King-Byng Affair ended with King having to resign as PM. n The new government collapsed quickly and a new election was held. n King’s Liberal party easily won the next election and King was re-elected.

n The importance of this event was that it settled the question once and for all…PM’s have more power than Governor Generals… n Governor Generals must dissolve Parliament if the PM calls for an election.

n This decision strengthened Canada’s autonomy in that British Governor Generals could no longer interfere with Canadian elected Prime Ministers. * Up to this time, all of Canada’s Governor Generals were from England…not Canada.

The Balfour Report n Canada joined all the other Commonwealth nations in a meeting chaired by a Lord Balfour from England. n The Commonwealth nations were not happy that Mother England still had powers over them…like signing treaties

n In this meeting, Canada, as well as all the others, were pushing England to step down from the colonial mother role and treat all Commonwealth nations as equals. n This was agreed upon…Canada gained more autonomy.

“Ready, Aye, Ready”…No! n In the 1920’s, England was threatening war with Turkey. n England, as they had in WWI, asked all her ex- colonies for help. n Canada said “No, we’re not sending Canadian troops to die for a war we have nothing to do with. ”

Rise Of US Influence n All throughout the 1920’s, US influence in Canada began to grow tremendously. n More and more, US media like newspapers, magazines and radio shows began to flood into Canada.

n More US tourists began to flood into Canada in their new cars. n To accommodate the US drivers, BC changed the side of the road we drove on! ( we used to drive on the left like England does!)

n During this time, Canada and the US began to become each others biggest trade partners. n Canada began to have closer relations with the US while distancing ourselves from England.

Love/Hate Relationship n Our relations with the US have been up and down…we love them and we hate them. n Canada is worried that Canadian culture will be taken over by the US giant.

The Bubble Bursts n The 1920’s boom will end in an economic tragedy. n In October 1929, the New York Stock Exchange collapsed.

n Too many investors were desperately trying to sell, sell their overpriced stocks. n At the same time, NOBODY WAS BUYING stocks. n The stock market lost all value and collapsed.

n Overnight, people lost their life savings. n Banks shut down. n The New York stock collapse spreads all over the planet.

n From 1929 to 1939, the world undergoes the largest, longest-lasting economic disaster ever experienced…. n It will be called the Great Depression.