Bk 2 Grade 10 Canadian History

Chanak Affair

Britain expected Canada to automatically send troops to a conflict in Turkey, but Prime Minister King refused immediate commitment without parliamentary debate, showing Canada was moving away from automatically following Britain and could make independent military decisions in foreign affairs.

Halibut Treaty

Canada independently signed a fishing agreement with the United States without British involvement due to concerns about overfishing, marking the first international treaty signed without British oversight and showing growing Canadian autonomy.

King-Byng Crisis

The Governor General refused Prime Minister King’s request to dissolve Parliament during a political scandal, highlighting lingering British influence and accelerating Canada’s push toward full political independence.

Balfour Report

An imperial agreement declared Britain and its dominions equal in status, reflecting growing independence movements and formally ending the idea of colonial subordination.

Statute of Westminster

Britain granted Canada full legislative independence, formalizing earlier agreements and making Canada a fully self-governing nation equal to Britain.

The Persons Case

Women were legally recognized as “persons” after a court battle sparked by the refusal to appoint a woman to the Senate, opening the door for women’s full participation in federal politics.

Refugee Advocacy of Cairine Wilson

Canada’s first female senator pushed for refugee support during Nazi persecution, challenging restrictive immigration policies and later becoming Canada’s first female UN delegate.

Establishing New Canadian Embassies

Canada created its own diplomatic services and appointed ambassadors abroad, reflecting its need to independently manage foreign relations as it gained sovereignty.

Stock Market Crash

A massive collapse in stock prices wiped out savings due to speculation and risky borrowing, acting as the trigger for the Great Depression.

Industrial Overproduction

Factories and farms produced more goods than people could afford to buy due to overexpansion and falling wages, leading to layoffs and business closures.

Credit and Bank Failures

Widespread bank collapses caused people to lose savings and businesses to lose funding due to excessive borrowing and unpaid debt, freezing the flow of money.

High Tariffs and Trade Reduction

Countries raised import taxes to protect domestic industries, which severely reduced global trade and hurt export-dependent economies like Canada.

Primary Resource Dependence

Canada’s reliance on raw material exports like wheat and timber made its economy collapse when global demand dropped, worsening the Depression.

Transient Hobos

Large numbers of unemployed men traveled illegally on freight trains and lived in shantytowns due to joblessness and limited government relief, becoming a symbol of economic collapse.

On-to-Ottawa Trek

Striking workers traveled across Canada to demand better relief conditions and workers’ rights, forcing national attention on unemployment issues.

Regina Riot

Police violently broke up protesting workers after the government refused negotiations, leading to deaths, injuries, and widespread public outrage.

Rise of the CCF Party

A socialist political movement emerged in response to economic collapse, promoting government intervention and later influencing modern social welfare programs.

Rise of the Social Credit Party

A political party in Alberta proposed direct cash payments to citizens as a solution to economic hardship, reflecting desperation during the Depression.

Rise of the Union Nationale

A Quebec nationalist party gained power by promoting cultural protection and opposing outside economic control, strengthening provincial nationalism.

Mackenzie King’s “Five-Cent Piece” Speech

The Prime Minister refused federal aid to provinces led by political opponents, worsening public anger during the Depression and contributing to his electoral defeat.

Bennett’s Tariffs

High import taxes were introduced to protect Canadian industry but triggered retaliation from other countries, further reducing trade.

Bennett’s New Deal

Last-minute reforms like minimum wage laws and unemployment insurance were introduced in response to public pressure but were largely seen as ineffective.

Nationalization of the Bank of Canada

The federal government took control of the central bank to stabilize the economy and centralize monetary policy.

Winnipeg General Strike

Tens of thousands of workers shut down the city over wages and poor conditions, marking a major turning point for labour rights and unions.

Bloody Saturday

Police violently suppressed striking workers, deepening tensions between labour movements and the government.

The Indian Act

Federal laws stripped Indigenous peoples of rights and enforced assimilation policies, placing them under strict government control.

Residential Schools

Indigenous children were forcibly removed from families and placed in institutions designed to eliminate their culture and language, causing lasting trauma.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Canada banned nearly all immigration from China due to racism and economic fear, separating families and institutionalizing discrimination.

Hitler’s Rise to Power

Economic crisis and political instability allowed a dictator to dismantle democracy and establish a totalitarian regime.

Failure of the League of Nations

The international organization failed to stop aggression due to lack of enforcement power, encouraging expansionist dictators.

Policy of Appeasement

Western powers allowed territorial expansion by dictators to avoid war, which ultimately encouraged further aggression.

Munich Agreement

Britain and France allowed Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia, believing it would prevent war, but it quickly failed.

SS St. Louis Rejection

Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany were denied entry by multiple countries, forcing them back to Europe and highlighting global anti-Semitism.

Blitzkrieg

Germany used fast, coordinated military attacks with tanks and aircraft to quickly overpower enemy forces and avoid trench warfare.

Battle of Britain

A major air battle over Britain prevented German invasion and marked Germany’s first major defeat.

The Blitz

Germany bombed British cities to break civilian morale, but resistance remained strong.

Battle of Hong Kong

Canadian and Allied forces were overwhelmed by Japanese troops, marking Canada’s first major land battle of WWII.

Internment of Japanese Canadians

The Canadian government forcibly removed and imprisoned Japanese Canadians during WWII due to wartime fear and racism.

Elsie MacGill’s Production Leadership

Canada’s first female aeronautical engineer led aircraft production efforts, breaking gender barriers in industry during WWII.

Dieppe Raid

A failed Allied assault on occupied France resulted in heavy Canadian casualties but provided lessons for future invasions.

Battle of Ortona

Canadian soldiers fought intense urban combat in Italy, developing new tactics and gaining a reputation as elite fighters.

D-Day Landing

Allied forces launched a massive invasion of Normandy, marking a turning point in the liberation of Europe.

Liberation of the Netherlands

Canadian troops helped free the Netherlands from occupation and delivered food aid during a famine, creating a lasting bond between the two nations.

The Holocaust

The Nazi regime systematically murdered six million Jews and millions of others, leading to global recognition of human rights protections.

Nuremberg Laws

Nazi laws stripped Jews of citizenship and legal rights, laying the foundation for systematic persecution.

Kristallnacht

Organized attacks destroyed Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues, marking a major escalation in Nazi persecution.

Forced Ghettos

Jewish populations were confined to overcrowded, sealed urban areas under harsh conditions, leading to mass starvation and disease.

The Final Solution

Nazi leaders organized an industrial system of extermination camps to carry out mass murder of Jews and other targeted groups.

V-E Day

Germany’s surrender ended the war in Europe and sparked celebrations worldwide.

Use of the Atomic Bomb

The United States dropped nuclear bombs on Japan, ending WWII but introducing the nuclear age and massive civilian destruction.

Poem “And I Said Nothing”

A reflective poem warning about the consequences of remaining silent in the face of injustice and persecution.