20s amd 30s

Inflation

A general rise in prices, while money becomes worth less.

Stock Market

A place where shares of companies are bought/sold; seen as a way to get rich in the 1920s.

Black Tuesday

October 29, 1929 — the stock market crashed, starting the Great Depression.

Laissez-Faire Capitalism

Economic system with minimal government interference in business.

Tariffs

Taxes on imported goods; used to protect Canadian products but hurt global trade.

Rationing

preserving, dividing, eating in small amounts. Giving up certain commodities

Relief Camps

Government work camps for unemployed single men during the Depression.

New Deal

A series of reforms (inspired by FDR) to combat the Depression; Bennett's version was unpopular.

R.B. Bennett

Canadian PM (1930-1935); criticized for poor handling of the Depression.

WLMK (William Lyon Mackenzie King)

PM before and after Bennett; known for his cautious leadership.

CCF & J.S. Woodsworth

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, a socialist party; Woodsworth was its founder.

Social Credit Party & Bible Bill Aberhart

A political movement promising to give citizens money to boost the economy.

Trekkers

Men who protested poor conditions in relief camps by joining the On-to-Ottawa Trek.

On-to-Ottawa Trek & Regina Riot

A 1935 protest that turned violent when RCMP cracked down on relief camp workers.

Spanish Flu

A deadly 1918-1919 influenza pandemic that killed millions globally.

Pandemic

An outbreak of disease that spreads worldwide.

Suffrage

The right to vote; Canadian women fought for and gained this right in the early 1900s.

Alberta Five

Women who challenged Canadian law in the Persons Case to be recognized as "persons."

Emily Murphy

One of the Alberta Five; first female magistrate in the British Empire.

W.C.T.U. (Women's Christian Temperance Union)

Advocated for prohibition and women's rights.

Prohibition

Laws banning alcohol production/sale; led to bootlegging.

Bootlegging

Illegal production or distribution of alcohol during prohibition.

Urbanization

Movement of people from rural to urban areas.

Consumerism

A culture focused on buying goods, booming in the 1920s.

Reserves

Designated lands where Indigenous peoples were forced to live.

Indian Act

Federal law controlling many aspects of Indigenous life in Canada.

Assimilation

Process of forcing Indigenous peoples to adopt European culture.

Residential Schools

Institutions aimed to assimilate Indigenous children, often abusive.

Duncan Scott

Key figure in enforcing residential schools; supported assimilation.

Push & Pull Factors

Reasons people emigrate (push = war, poverty; pull = jobs, peace).

The Charleston

A fast-paced 1920s dance.

The Black Bottom

Another energetic 1920s dance popular in clubs.

Flappers

Young women in the 1920s who defied traditional norms (short skirts, bobbed hair).

Drugstore Cowboys

Young men who loitered in stores and imitated movie stars.

Emily Carr

Canadian artist known for painting Indigenous culture and BC forests.

Group of Seven

Canadian painters famous for their landscapes and nationalist art.

Fad

A short-lived trend or craze.

Chanak Affair

Canada refused to support Britain in a Turkish conflict — showed independence.

Halibut Treaty

A 1923 agreement signed by Canada without British approval — a first.

King-Byng Crisis

A 1926 dispute between PM King and Governor General Byng over dissolving Parliament.

Statute of Westminster

1931 law giving Canada full control over its laws and foreign policy.

Ford, the Production Line & the Model T

Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing with the assembly line, making cars affordable.

Veterans returned to high unemployment, inflation, housing shortages, and few government supports. Many felt forgotten and angry.

What were the economic and social conditions for veterans after WWI?

Women gained the right to vote federally (except Indigenous and minority women), entered the workforce in new roles, and some became political figures (e.g., Alberta Five).

How did the role and status of women change in this period?

Prohibition (to reduce alcohol-related issues), immigration restrictions (fearing job competition), and tariffs (to protect Canadian industries).

What government policies were promoted and why?

Poorly. They faced forced assimilation via the Indian Act and residential schools, were confined to reserves, and denied the vote and many rights.

How were First Nations treated in Canada?

The Charleston, the Black Bottom, flappers, flagpole sitting, dance marathons, and slang. These reflected a new youth culture and rebellion.

What were major fads of the 1920s?

People could buy stocks on margin (borrowed money). Most saw it as an easy way to get rich — overly optimistic and risky investing became common.

How did the stock market work and how was it viewed in Canada during the 1920s?

Overproduction, dependence on U.S. trade, falling wheat prices, too much consumer debt, and the stock market crash.

What were the major causes of the Great Depression?

On October 29, 1929, the stock market collapsed — wiping out billions and triggering a worldwide depression.

What happened on Black Tuesday and why is it important?

Very little — believed in “laissez-faire” economics. Relief payments (vouchers for food/shelter) were minimal and hard to get.

What did the government initially do to help?

R.B. Bennett (1930–35); his government first resisted helping, then tried a “New Deal.” Citizens protested with marches and the On-to-Ottawa Trek.

Who was in power during the Depression and what was their approach?

The CCF (socialist), Social Credit Party (gave out money), and Union Nationale (in Quebec) — all grew from dissatisfaction with old parties.

What new political alternatives emerged?

Bennett introduced reforms (jobs, pensions, minimum wage) too late. F.D. Roosevelt had already done so in the U.S., so voters returned to WLMK in 1935.

What was the New Deal, and why did it matter in the next election?

Canada began asserting independence from Britain:

• Refused to support Britain in the Chanak Affair (1922)

• Signed the Halibut Treaty (1923) on its own

• The King-Byng Crisis (1926) challenged British control

• The Statute of Westminster (1931) gave Canada full legal independence

How did Canada's involvement in international affairs help shape its identity?

The Halibut Treaty, King-Byng Crisis, and finally the Statute of Westminster — these milestones built Canada’s sovereign identity in the world.

What events led to full independence from Britain?