Chapter 3: Canada and the Post-War Years: The Roaring Twenties

Canada was involved in 3 things…

the paris peace conference, the treaty of versailles, the league of nations

Why was U.S. President, Woodrow Wilson, opposed Canada’s participation in the Peace conference?

He thought that Britain should vote for the entirety of the British Empire and that a separate vote for Canada was just another vote for Britain.

What is the treaty of versailles?

• laid the terms between Germany and the Allies

• different ethnic and cultural groups were combined to create new nations

When was the treaty of versailles signed?

June 28, 1919

What are the 5 major things the treaty of versailles imposed on germany?

• Germany had to agree to a War Guilt Clause

  • an article that made Germany entirely responsible for starting the World War 1

• Germany’s territory would be reduced

  • return Alsace-Lorraine to France

  • give some land to Poland (so it would have corridor to the sea)

  • give up control of its colonies

• Germany had to pay war reparations totalling approximately $30 billion

• Controlling Germany’s Military

  • German army was to be restricted to 100 000 men.

  • surrender its navy (including its U-boats and much of its merchant fleet)

  • It was not allowed to have an air force

  • Rhineland (on the west bank of rhine river) would be demilitarized

• Austria and Germany were forbidden to unite

What was the goal of the league of nations?

International cooperation and collective security were the most important elements in Wood Wilson’s 14-point plan for lasting peace.

• It suggested, if one member was under attack, all members would fight against the aggressor (similar to the alliances formed at the brewing of World War 1)

britain and frances pov on the league of nations

At first, they had doubts and wanted to pursue their imperialist ambitions but their leaders saw that Wilson’s proposal had propaganda value so they agreed

smaller countries pov on the league of nations

smaller countries were constantly concerned about becoming victims so they, eagerly looked forward to a new era of peace

united states pov on the league of nations

Ironically, the United States refused to join the league. Wilson had oppositions who rejected the principle of collective security which would involved the United States in global affairs

How many nations founded the league of nations?

42

when was the league of nations first meeting?

irst met in Paris in January 16, 1920

What are 4 reasons for why the league was ineffective?

The League of nations were an idealistic vision more than a practical solution to world problems.

This is due to several factors:

• United States refusal to join the league greatly undermines its effectiveness to resolve disputes in the post-war years

• heavily required the cooperation of nations, something that does not always work

• could punish an aggressive nation by imposing economic sanctions against it, restricting trade with the nation→BUT it was difficult to impose sanctions

• did not have its own military force to impose its decisions on aggressor nations

What did Canadian soldiers come back to?

After 4 long years of fighting, in 1919 Canadian soldiers come home to find that there were no pensions for veterans, no special medical service for those wounded in the war, and few jobs available. To make matters worse, many employers had grown rich. While veterans made their sacrifice other obtained their rewards

what did indigenous soldiers arrive to?

hey thought their efforts would be finally acknowledged but nothing changed. They still faced prejudice and indigenous and soldiers received even less support and fewer opportunities.

→ denied veteran benefits, settlement packages (which included land and money) and lost voting rights

when did spanish flu pandemic occur

winter of 1918-1919

How many deaths were caused do to spanish flu?

21 million deaths worldwide

How many Candians died in the spanish flu?

50 000 canadians died during the epidemic. Many indigenous communities were wiped out.

How did canadians feel about the economy after the war?

Additionally, many Canadian workers were also dissatisfied. During the war, workers had reluctantly agreed to lower wages as part of their patriotic duty. After the war, inflation made life difficult for many people because wages no longer cover the costs of living. So, workers demanded for more money, and confrontation with employers was inevitable.

How did the Bolsheviks influence Canadians?

Communism was not widespread in Canada, but these revolutionaries inspired Canadian workers in to try improve working conditions.

what is the Winnipeg general strike?

Post war tensions between labour and business boiled in Winnipeg. At the time it was the financial center of Western Canada and its largest city.

How many people walked off the job in the winnipeg general strike?

Up to 30 000 people walked off the job → strike closed many factories and retail stores

What was the first red scare?

hey worried that the formation of trade unions might lead to the same violent uprisings that happened in Russia. The red scare contributed to an anti-communist sentiment that made people and businesses nervous.

how did businesses and provincial gov. respond to the winnipeg general strike? (4)

• formed the Citizens Committee of 1000

• saw union leaders apart of communist conspiracy to overthrow the gov.

• the mayor also had may leaders and civic workers arrested

• special police division was created to contain the strike

how did the federal government respond to the winnipeg general strike? (2)

• changed the criminal code of conduct so that foreign born union leaders and people they believed could start a revolution could be arrested or deported without trial

• sent troops to Winnipeg to restore order

What happened on Bloody Saturday?

On June 21, strikers held a parade to protest the mayor’s actions. It turned violent when Royal North-West Mounted Police and city special forces armed with clubs and pistols charged the crowed resulting in in a clash.

How many strikers died and how many were injured during the winnipeg general strike?

one striker died, 30 injured

after…days the strikers went back to work?

43 day

What are 4 things that happened after the winnipeg general strike?

• 7 union leaders were convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the government and served 2 months to 2 years in prison

• many strikers were not rehired

• others were taken back only if they signed contracts vowing not to join a union

• distrust and division between the working class and businesses grew deeper

Who is J.S.Woodsworth and what he do?

J.S Woodsworth (a well known social reformer who was arrested during the strike) went on found the co-operative Commonwealth federation which later became the New Democratic Party (NDP).

Name all of the 3 improved technology?

automobiles, aviation, improved communication

Name 4 significant canadian inventions

snow blower, sown designed vehicles, adapting radios

name 4 of the new forms of entertainment

moving pictures, new art (group of seven), new words, sports

2 social reforms

• 1921 - first maternity leave legislation → only applied to women in British Columbia and only permitted 6 weeks of leave

• 1925 - federal divorce law changed → allow women to obtain a divorce on the same grounds as men

who is Agnes Macphail?

only woman in the House of Commons until 1935

women were not allowed to become…and why?

senators, because to be one you had to be a “person” under the law

the persons case

Emily Murphy, a suffragist, was appointed a magistrate in Alberta. This challenged law that only “persons” could hold this office under the BNA Act, and women were not “persons”. The Supreme Court of Alberta ruled that Murphy have the right to be a judge.

What was banned from indigenous communities and when?

potlatches, potlatch ceremonies were forbidden in 1884 - gov. saw it as an obstacle to assimilation

Who is Fredrick Onodeyoh Loft?

Fredrick Onodeyoh Loft, a Mohawk from Six Nations, was determined to fight for the injustices of thousands of First Nations. Metis, and Inuit men and women who served in World War 1.

What did Fredrick Onodeyoh Loft fight for?

• Indigenous veterans did not receiving benefits

• They did not qualify for loans to start farming their reserve land