Grade 10 Canadian History: The Great Depression, Interwar Period, and World War II

Comprehensive review flashcards covering Grade 10 Canadian History topics: the causes and effects of the Great Depression, the Prairie Dust Bowl, 1930s Canadian home front, European rise of totalitarianism, Hitler's expansion, Canadian WWII military campaigns and key figures, wartime industry and social changes, the Holocaust, and the Manhattan Project.

What was the Great Depression, and when did it occur?

A period of severe economic hardship that started in 1929 and lasted through much of the 1930s, characterized by widespread business closures, mass unemployment, poverty, and crop failures.

What were the four major causes of the Great Depression in Canada?

1. The stock market crash of October 1929
2. Overproduction by factories and farms
3. Unemployment and reduced spending
4. Heavy dependence on exports and falling world trade

Which Canadian provinces were affected by the Prairie drought during the 1930s?

The Prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

What was the "Dust Bowl"?

Areas severely damaged by drought, parched soil, and massive dust storms, particularly throughout the southern Canadian Prairies and the United States.

What was Fairway wheatgrass, and how did it help Prairie farmers?

A variety of crested wheatgrass developed through agricultural research at the University of Saskatchewan (selected from Siberian grass) whose extensive roots held dry topsoil together to combat soil erosion.

What was the Pass System in Canada?

A discriminatory policy used by Canadian Indian Affairs officials where Indian agents controlled and restricted First Nations people's freedom of movement by requiring written permission to leave their reserves.

What positive developments occurred in Canada during the 1930s despite the economic crisis?

1. Technology: Radios became common in households for news and entertainment.
2. Nutrition: Increased public awareness of healthy eating and balanced nutrients.
3. Art: Canadian artists created landscape paintings that strengthened Canadian identity.
4. Sports: Radio broadcasting popularized hockey and other sporting events.

How does the study guide define fascism?

A political system in which a dictator and powerful government rule the country, suppress political opposition, and champion extreme nationalism (e.g., Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany).

What is disarmament, and why was it pursued after World War I?

The reduction of a country's military forces and stockpiles of weapons, pursued in hopes of preventing future wars.

What is appeasement, and what key historical example occurred in 1938?

Conceding to the demands of an aggressive nation to prevent war; exemplified in 1938 when Britain and France allowed Adolf Hitler to annex Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland.

What four obligations were placed on Germany under the 1919 Treaty of Versailles?

1. Accept sole blame for the war under the war-guilt clause
2. Pay financial reparations for war damages
3. Surrender territory
4. Substantially reduce the size of its military

Why was the League of Nations ineffective at preventing aggression in the 1930s?

It had no independent military force of its own and depended on powerful nations that frequently refused to cooperate.

Which aggressive foreign military actions challenged the League of Nations in the 1930s?

Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and Italy's invasion of Ethiopia in 1935.

What occurred during the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923?

Adolf Hitler attempted an armed overthrow of the German government, which failed and resulted in his arrest and imprisonment.

What was Mein Kampf?

A book written by Adolf Hitler in 1924 while in prison that detailed his political ideology, including extreme racism, antisemitism, and territorial expansion for Germany.

In what year did Adolf Hitler become chancellor of Germany before dismantling democracy?

$$1933$$

What was the Anschluss in 1938?

Nazi Germany's forced annexation and incorporation of Austria into the German state.

What event on September 1, 1939, officially sparked World War II in Europe?

Germany's military invasion of Poland, prompting Britain and France to declare war.

On what date did Canada declare war on Germany in World War II?

September 10, 1939 (one week after Britain and France).

Which major nations fought as the Allies during World War II?

Canada, Britain, France, China, the Soviet Union (joined in 1941 after Germany invaded), and the United States (joined in 1941 following the attack on Pearl Harbor).

Which three nations formed the primary Axis Powers in World War II?

Germany, Italy (which changed sides in 1943 after Mussolini's government collapsed), and Japan.

Who was the Canadian Prime Minister throughout World War II?

Mackenzie King

What was Canada's role in the Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945)?

The Canadian Navy escorted and guarded merchant convoys transporting food, weapons, and essential supplies across the Atlantic against German submarine attacks.

What happened to Canadian soldiers during the Battle of Hong Kong in December 1941?

Canadian troops fought attacking Japanese forces until Allied surrender, after which many Canadian soldiers were held as prisoners of war.

What was the outcome and significance of the Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942?

Canadian troops launched a frontal assault on the German-occupied port of Dieppe; the raid failed with heavy casualties, wounded, and captured troops, but provided vital operational lessons for subsequent amphibious landings.

What was the Italian Campaign (1943–1945)?

An Allied military campaign in which Canadian soldiers fought alongside other Allied forces to drive German forces north out of Italy.

What occurred on D-Day (June 6, 1944)?

Allied forces mounted an amphibious invasion of Normandy, France, with Canadian troops landing at Juno Beach to establish an Allied foothold in Western Europe.

What role did Canadian troops play in the Liberation of the Netherlands (1944–1945)?

Canadian forces liberated Dutch towns and cities from German occupation, a contribution for which Canada is still remembered.

Why was Canadian military chaplain John Weir Foote awarded the Victoria Cross?

For showing extraordinary courage and bravery while aiding and tending to wounded soldiers under fire during the Dieppe Raid.

Who was Tommy Prince?

A celebrated Indigenous Canadian soldier renowned for his exceptional bravery and distinguished service in both World War II and the Korean War.

Who was George "Buzz" Beurling?

A Canadian fighter pilot renowned for his exceptional flying skills and aerial combat success during the Battle of Malta.

How many Canadian military personnel lost their lives in World War II?

More than $45,000$ military personnel died.

How did World War II transform the roles of women in Canada?

Women stepped into essential roles outside the home by working in factories (manufacturing munitions, aircraft, and ships), laboring on farms and in offices, and serving in the military as drivers, mechanics, codebreakers, and nurses.

What was an "enemy alien" in wartime Canada, and how were Japanese Canadians affected?

A Canadian resident holding citizenship or nationality of an enemy country. Japanese Canadians faced severe civil rights abuses, including forced removal from their homes, internment, and the confiscation and auction of their property.

What caused post-war inflation in Canada after World War II?

High consumer demand for housing, automobiles, and everyday goods met with limited supplies, driving prices up and reducing the purchasing power of money.

What was the Nazi "Final Solution"?

The deliberate, systematic Nazi plan to murder the entire Jewish population of Europe.

What were the four stages of the Holocaust?

1. Discrimination and persecution (stripping civil rights, promoting antisemitism)
2. Isolation and ghettos (confinement to overcrowded, disease-ridden quarters)
3. Mass shootings and deportations (killings by death squads and transport to camps)
4. Systematic mass murder (industrialized extermination camps such as Auschwitz-Birkenau)

What was the Manhattan Project?

A top-secret American-led research and development project organized in 1942, with contributions from Britain and Canada, to build the first atomic weapons.

Who were J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves in the Manhattan Project?

J. Robert Oppenheimer served as the scientific director of the Los Alamos laboratory, while General Leslie Groves was the military leader responsible for overall project management.

On what dates in August 1945 were atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

August 6, 1945 (Hiroshima) and August 9, 1945 (Nagasaki).

On what date did Japan formally sign its surrender, officially ending World War II?

September 2, 1945

According to the test prep guide, what distinguishes a closed-ended test question?

A question that requires a short, specific factual answer, such as a single word, date, or number (e.g., asking what year World War II began).