- Soldiers
returning home from World War I expected to find good jobs instead they were
faced with unemployment, rising prices and strikes. Significant changes were
also taking place such as the new role of women, prohibition (the ban on
liquor) and urbanization.
-In the
mid-1920's the economy turned around and gradually more people could afford new
luxuries such as automobiles and radios. People enjoyed the excitement of
investing in the stock market. It seemed as though prosperity would last
forever.
I.
Prohibition:
- The 1920's
were called the "Roaring Twenties" for a variety of reasons as it was
a time of glamour and prosperity for many. It appeared that
people were making up for the misery of the war by enjoying many new forms of entertainment:
1. "Hot" jazz
2. Dance halls
3. Moves
4. Radio
5. Cars
- The 1920's
were also a time of crime, corruption and extreme poverty for some. Much of the
crime centered around Prohibition. 
-Prohibition
was introduced for a couple of reasons:
1. The grain used to make alcohol could be used to feed
people
2. Money spent on alcohol could be
used to feed families.
-Despite
prohibition alcohol was easy to get because of bootleggers such as Rocco Perri and Bessie Starkman. Some
Canadians made fortunes smuggling liquor into the -
Prohibition had some positive social effects:
1. The crime rate dropped
2. Arrests for drunkenness decreased
3. Workers took paychecks home
4. Industrial efficiency improved
However it
became obvious during the 1920's that prohibition was impossible to enforce,
plus governments were losing millions in potential taxes on liquor sales.
II.
Postwar Problems:
When World War
I ended many wartime industries closed down laying off
many workers; women were pressured to return to household duties so men could
have jobs.
- Thousands of
veterans returned to unemployment, they were bitter wondering why there were no
jobs for them in a country they had fought to defend. They also resented that
business people had made millions while they risked their lives.
-- Thousands
of veterans returned to unemployment, they were bitter wondering why there were
no jobs for them in a country they had fought to defend. They also resented
that business people had made millions while they risked their lives.
III.
The Winnipeg General Strike:
The city of
* In May building and metal workers voted to strike
* 30,000 other workers in key industries and services
walked off the job in support.
*
* On June 21, Bloody Saturday,
violence erupted when the police charged the demonstrators, shots were fired
and one striker was killed
Aftermath of
the strike:
* strike leaders arrested and
sentenced to jail terms
* workers ordered to return to
their jobs
* some workers lost their jobs
* some
workers had to promise not to join the union
* The strike did not draw attention to the social and
economic conditions faced by many people (Royal Commission)
* Many labor leaders were elected to all levels of govt. In
1920's
* The strike did not draw attention to the social and
economic conditions faced by many people (Royal Commission)
* Many labor leaders were elected to all levels of govt. In
1920's
IV.
Economy on the Upswing:
Though the
early 1920's were difficult conditions did improve by the mid 1920's. Foreign
investors gained confidence in
- Wheat on the Prairies: Countries in
-Pulp and Paper: The U.S. had used up much of its
sources of pulpwood as a result Canadian pulp exports equaled the total exports
of the rest of the world providing many jobs. The boom had a down side as
forests were destroyed, the Canadian economy became dependent on raw materials
and Canadians follow these jobs to the
- Hydro Electric Power: New industries and people in
their homes made increased demands on hydro power and
- Oil and Gas: Factories and the increased use of
the car put a huge demand on oil and gas. The discovery of oil in
* The increased use of hydro and
oil and gas hurt the Maritimes which was a producer of coal, the energy source
that was being replaced by hydro and oil and gas.
Mining: New mining discoveries
near-Mining: New mining discoveries near the