After the War

After the WarAfter the War

Canadian Identity Canadian Identity Freedom at Last Freedom at Last

Prime Minister Borden demonstrated the new sense of Prime Minister Borden demonstrated the new sense of Canadian sovereignty at the Imperial War Conference Canadian sovereignty at the Imperial War Conference of 1917. of 1917.

He drafted a resolution stating that Canada and the He drafted a resolution stating that Canada and the other Dominions, were completely autonomous nations other Dominions, were completely autonomous nations

within an Imperial Commonwealth.within an Imperial Commonwealth.

BordenBorden

League of Nations League of Nations

Canada also became a member of the Canada also became a member of the League of Nations League of Nations

Effects of the War at Effects of the War at HomeHome

When the war ended the economy took a When the war ended the economy took a downturndownturn

Economists were optimistic that this was simply Economists were optimistic that this was simply a fluctuation in the market an would right itself a fluctuation in the market an would right itself with timewith time

The economists were rightThe economists were right Canadians increasingly looked to the United Canadians increasingly looked to the United

States to establish political and economic links. States to establish political and economic links.

Pick a Side Pick a Side

The war weakened the attachment of many The war weakened the attachment of many Canadians towards Britain and Europe. Canadians towards Britain and Europe.

Many Canadians wanted Canada to follow the Many Canadians wanted Canada to follow the U.S. foreign policy of isolationism and to avoid U.S. foreign policy of isolationism and to avoid becoming involved in European intrigues.becoming involved in European intrigues.

Canadians increasingly looked to the United Canadians increasingly looked to the United States to establish political and economic links. States to establish political and economic links.

American Influence American Influence

Canada became increasingly dependent Canada became increasingly dependent on American investment and markets to on American investment and markets to drive the Canadian economy. drive the Canadian economy.

By 1922, American investment in Canada By 1922, American investment in Canada exceeded British investment, and by exceeded British investment, and by 1923, Canadians were exporting more to 1923, Canadians were exporting more to the United States than to Britain.the United States than to Britain.

Classical Liberalism: Classical Liberalism: Laissez-faire EconomyLaissez-faire Economy

After the War, the government became After the War, the government became less involved in the economy and allowed less involved in the economy and allowed business to flourishbusiness to flourish

By practicing Laissez-faire economics the By practicing Laissez-faire economics the business interest of the Canadian east business interest of the Canadian east grewgrew

The market was left relatively The market was left relatively unregulated. unregulated.

Classical Liberalism Classical Liberalism

Social issues such as poverty and Social issues such as poverty and unemployment were deemed to be the unemployment were deemed to be the concerns of private charities and concerns of private charities and churches, not government churches, not government

Discontent on the Discontent on the Prairies Prairies

This led to some unrest among prairie framersThis led to some unrest among prairie framers High tariffs that protected the eastern High tariffs that protected the eastern

industrialists served to limit markets for industrialists served to limit markets for Canadian grain and increase the cost of Canadian grain and increase the cost of machinerymachinery

These policies led to United Farmer Parties These policies led to United Farmer Parties becoming popular throughout the countrybecoming popular throughout the country

Discontent on the Discontent on the PrairiesPrairies

Many in the West felt that they were Many in the West felt that they were victims of an unholy alliance of national victims of an unholy alliance of national governments reflecting the interests of governments reflecting the interests of Central Canada, the C.P.R. and the grain Central Canada, the C.P.R. and the grain trading companies. trading companies.

The Commies are coming The Commies are coming

LabourLabour movements also gained support movements also gained support Because of the Bolshevik Revolution in Because of the Bolshevik Revolution in

Russia many people distrusted the Russia many people distrusted the labourlabour movement in Canadamovement in Canada

This was known as a “Red Scare”This was known as a “Red Scare”

The Winnipeg General The Winnipeg General StrikeStrike

In fact the OBU (One Big Union) did In fact the OBU (One Big Union) did follow a Marxist doctrine and promised a follow a Marxist doctrine and promised a revolution in Canadarevolution in Canada

The OBU called for General Strikes The OBU called for General Strikes across Canadaacross Canada

On May 15, 1919 the first and only On May 15, 1919 the first and only General Strike took began in WinnipegGeneral Strike took began in Winnipeg

Metal workers demanded better pay and Metal workers demanded better pay and a shorter work weeka shorter work week


To support the metal workers 30 000 To support the metal workers 30 000 other men left their jobsother men left their jobs

Only the railway workers remained on the Only the railway workers remained on the jobjob

The leaders of the strike were R.B. The leaders of the strike were R.B. Russell, Ernest Robinson, and William Russell, Ernest Robinson, and William IvensIvens

They became known as the “Winnipeg They became known as the “Winnipeg Soviet”Soviet”


The strike included hydro workers, The strike included hydro workers, firemen, and milk menfiremen, and milk men

Some essential public service workers Some essential public service workers did return to their jobs eventuallydid return to their jobs eventually

Strike Breakers Strike Breakers

Aftermath of the StrikeAftermath of the Strike The Strike was motivated by high prices The Strike was motivated by high prices

and low wages after the warand low wages after the war The Soviet Revolution was still a recent The Soviet Revolution was still a recent

event and no one realized the difficulties event and no one realized the difficulties involved with itinvolved with it

The Strike was the start of a shift in The Strike was the start of a shift in political and social thinkingpolitical and social thinking

Discussion Discussion

What are some strikes that you have What are some strikes that you have heard of? heard of?

What was the cause of these strikes? What was the cause of these strikes? What was the outcome of these strikes? What was the outcome of these strikes?

Debate Activity Debate Activity

I want you to get into partnersI want you to get into partners Then find another group and get into groups of Then find another group and get into groups of

four four One group will represent the Workers and the One group will represent the Workers and the

other group will represent the Employersother group will represent the Employers Viewpoint A will argue: Viewpoint A will argue:

Workers should have the right to higher pay and safer Workers should have the right to higher pay and safer working conditions, things need to changeworking conditions, things need to change

Viewpoint B will argue: Viewpoint B will argue: The workers do not have rights and to keep the economy The workers do not have rights and to keep the economy

booming things must stay the samebooming things must stay the same

Class Discussion Class Discussion

To what extent should employers be To what extent should employers be concerned with the well being of their concerned with the well being of their employees? employees?

Should the government play a part in Should the government play a part in controlling the economy? controlling the economy?

What effects does this have on our What effects does this have on our Canadian Identity? Canadian Identity?

Documents

After the War