RESPONSES TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION THE 1930S: A DECADE OF DESPAIR

Transcription

1 RESPONSES TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION THE 1930S: A DECADE OF DESPAIR

2 THE GOVERNMENT S RESPONSE As we know, Mackenzie King was not prepared to deal with the economic crisis of the Great Depression he pushed the responsibility onto provincial and municipal governments. This led to a Conservative Majority government, led by R.B. Bennett Bennett, like King was not in favour of government relief, and once said one of the greatest assets a man can have on entering life s struggle is poverty However, Bennett s Conservative government introduced several measures to help Canadians through the Depression

3 R.B. BENNETT Bennett became a target for peoples frustrations during the Great Depression Newspapers were nicknamed Bennett Blankets Deserted farms were called Bennett Barnyards Bennett feared that jobless Canadians would become Communists Red Scare In 1931, Bennett banned Communist propaganda and had the party leader Tim Buck, arrested. Bennett was secretly very generous. He sent thousands of people in need his own money.

4 RELIEF CAMPS Bennett s government introduced the Unemployment Relief Act, which gave the provinces $20 million for workcreation programs. Camps were located in the woods isolation Built roads, drainage ditches, and cleared land They were paid $0.20 a day + room and board Living conditions were terrible food was bad, and the bunks were often bug-infested. More than 170,000 men spent time in these camps

5 RELIEF CAMP - ALBERTA

6 TEMPORARY HOUSING

7 INSIDE THE BARRACKS

8 INSIDE THE BARRACKS

9 REVIEW OF RESPONSES Use of tariffs to blast a way into world markets and out of the Depression. Resulted in trade barriers against Canada. The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act to help farmers build irrigation systems and reservoirs.

10 THE ON-TO-OTTAWA TREK 1935 more than 1000 men left relief camps in the interior of B.C. to protest conditions and demand higher pay. Gathered in Vancouver, held rallies and collected money for food. Under the leadership of the Relief Camp Workers Union, the men decided to take their issues directly to the Prime Minister. This protest became known as the On-to-Ottawa Trek.

11 THE ON-TO-OTTAWA TREK The men crowded into and on top of freight cars and rode through the Prairies. People supported them by donating food and supplies. By the time they reached Saskatchewan, there were more than 2000 trekkers, and the protest gained national attention. The trekkers were stopped in Regina by the RCMP, and were confined to a local stadium. Only the leaders could continue to Ottawa.

12 THE ON-TO-OTTAWA TREK

13 THE ON-TO-OTTAWA TREK The Union leaders had great hopes of being heard by Prime Minister Bennett, but Bennett attacked the leaders as communist radicals and troublemakers. Back in Regina, the RCMP was ordered to clear trekkers from the stadium. The trekkers resisted, and battled the RCMP and local police for hours. This incident became known as the Regina Riot. One officer was killed, many were injured, and 130 men were arrested.

14 TROUBLE IN VANCOUVER In 1936 the Federal government closed relief camps. The Provincial government also reduced relief payments. In April of 1936, 1600 protestors occupied the Vancouver Art Gallery, the main post office and the Georgia Hotel. Men at the post office refused to leave, until they were forced to, with the help of tear gas. These protests were known as sit-ins.

15 MEANWHILE IN THE UNITED STATES President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced a New Deal in 1933 that created public work programs for the unemployed farmers. The New Deal also introduced the Social Security Act, which included Old Age Pension, Unemployment Insurance, and financial assistance for dependent mothers and children. The US government spent billions of dollars to get the economy working again. The New Deal helped millions to survive and gave hope in a time of despair.

16 BENNETT S NEW DEAL Bennett introduced his own version of Roosevelt s New Deal in 1935, it included: Fairer taxation Insurance to protect workers (illness/injury/ unemployment) Regulated work hours, minimum wages and better working conditions Revised old-age pensions to help those over 65 Agricultural support programs to help farmers and regulate wheat prices.

17 POLITICAL CHANGES The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was founded in the Prairie provinces in 1932 Canada s first socialist party. The CCF believed that capitalism (system with privately owned corporations, investing their money to make a profit) breeds inequality and greed and had caused the Depression. The CCF wanted a socialist system where the government would control the economy and all Canadians would benefit equally.

18 POLITICAL CHANGES The CCF drew in support from farmers, laborers, socialists and intellectuals. Their party platform is known as the Regina Manifesto. Focused on public ownership, social programs to help those in need, and urged the government to spend money on public works to create employment.

19 CCF PROMOTION 1930S

20 1935 SOCIAL CREDIT PARTY Founded in Western Canada opposed to capitalism. Led by William Aberhart nicknamed Bible Bill. He was a charismatic preacher, and high school teacher. Believed capitalism was a wasteful economic system and that banks hoarded money that should be released by the government to help people in need. The Social Credit Party won 17 seats in the 1935 Federal election with nearly 50% of Alberta s votes. Aberhart had promised $25 to each citizen for basic needs, but the Federal government did not allow this. Even with this setback, they remained in power in Alberta until 1971.

21 UNION NATIONALE In Quebec, Maurice Duplessis came to power as the leader of the Union Nationale. Relied on Roman Catholic and rural voters. Blamed the English for Quebec s social and economic problems. His platform was based on improving working conditions, social insurance programs and benefits for farmers. He did little to improve Quebec s social and economic problems but remained premier until 1959, with the exception of one term ( ).

22 HE S BACK! After Bennett s five year term, voters were frustrated by his inability to deal with the crisis of the Depression. As a result, Mackenzie King was voted into power again. King established a National Employment Commission to advise on how to deal with the Depression, but didn t follow their recommendations. King believed that in time, the economy would improve on its own, and that it didn t make economic sense for the government to spend money on social programs.

23 TENSIONS BETWEEN FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS The unemployment crisis of the Depression caused a lot of tension between Federal and Provincial governments. There were disagreements on who had the right to collect tax money and which government should pay for social and unemployment assistance. King created a Commission to examine the issue. The findings are referred to as the Rowell-Sirois Report. The report recommended that the federal government give the poorer provinces equalization payments, to ensure that each province could offer the same level of services. The commission also recommended that the federal government take responsibility for unemployment insurance and social benefits.

24 WHAT ELSE WAS HAPPENING IN CANADA? Movies, magazines, and radio were popular Canadians enjoyed US programming CBC was introduced in 1936 and has been boring teenagers every since (creators of Canada, A People s History) CBC programming was offered in both French and English

25 DIONNE QUINTUPLETS 1934 born in Ontario First quintuplets to survive infancy Parents were judged as unable to raise children Taken into government care Put on display Ontario made millions and never gave any to the girls Ontario Premier Mitchell Hepburn with the Dionne Quintuplets