LIFE AND RELIEF IN THE GREAT DEPRESSIONMs. Maharaj CHC2P/A

Assumptions at the beginning of the Depression

Young men didn’t have families to support so they were “let go” from jobs first Why were older men allowed to stay over the

young? The men were assumed to be the supporter of families,

more “important” Women were also fired from jobs- what was the

assumption? They would be taken care of by their families, it wasn’t as

serious if “the man of the house” didn’t have a job.

Help was needed!

-People were afraid that all the young men would unite and fight against Ottawa demanding help.

Fear was at play, they were afraid of a Revolution like Russia

Canadian Levels of Government Municipal (City- Toronto) Provincial (Ontario) Federal (all of Canada)

Help or Aide was needed to assist regular citizens, they demanded help from the Federal government

This demand for the federal government to help was called “The On to Ottawa Trek”

Option 1 for help: Relief Camps

Department of National Defense devised a plan with the support of the Canadian Government (Fed.) Set up camps in the rural areas away from streets

Why? Move the crowds of homeless people (drifters) off the streets and in

a restricted place where they could be monitored/controlled

Camps were run like a bit of a prison The men built roads, dig ditches (holes on the side of the road for

water to escape) and planted trees They in turn got a bed, food and 20cents a day It felt very prison like, nothing to do, men shared beds (lack of

space)

The British Columbia Protest-April 1935, 1500 men from BC went on “strike”-Marched to Vancouver and took over the library and Hudson’s Bay Company demanding change

The men demanded to be helped in Vancouver, but no money was available

They were encouraged to take their “fight” to Ottawa to get their message across The On to Ottawa

Trek

When they got to Regina (2000 of them), Mr. Bennett was the PM of Canada at that time, he demanded that the train companies STOP allowing the men to use the top of the boxed cars as their own personal transport. Only a few were allowed to continue to speak to Bennett in Ottawa

The trekkers had no money so they “rode the rails”

The Result of Bennett’s Demand…..

The Regina Riots

Bennett’s unfairness…

Bennett didn’t listen to the hardships of the trekkers, he believed that if he gave in they would start a REVOLUTION

(oppose gov’t and make radical /big changes)

The Regina Riots occurred on July 1st Trekkers held a meeting to support each

other against Bennett’s harsh dismissal of their needs

Government was worried that things would get out of hand Planning was already in place to arrest

trek leaders Large vans of RCMP troops were

stationed in furniture vans The trekkers and RCMP clashed

130 were arrested Relief camps would shut down all over

Canada within a year of this event.

William Lyon McKenzie and Richard Bennett King was PM at the

beginning of the depression King was biased to Liberals Refused to help Provinces

with conservatives People lost faith in their

government

Bennett was from New Brunswick, was a teacher

Was wealthy and a hard worker toward his own success

Leader of Conservative party in 1929

Was looked at as the answer to the Depression

Bennett’s plan To protect factory jobs in Canada, he

placed high taxes on imported goods to make Canadians buy local products keeping the factories open

Plan continued…

The Unemployment Relief Act 20 million in relief to the provinces Increase trade with Britain and its “friends”

In theory this was all good, but the results were too slow to trickle down to Canadians

-Still poor and unemployed

-As President Roosevelt (US) increased spending to create the jobs to keep the people happy, Bennett copied this model

Genius?

Proposed a 8 hour workday, minimum wages, unemployment insurance and price controls on goods (so people could afford it)

Thought it took too long to act (5 years)

Felt that Bennett only did something right before the election to get votes

Canadians voted the Liberals back in, they were tired of Bennett.

Bennett’s Deal King’s reaction

King’s Plan

-Set up the Royal Commission in 1937 (2 years after he was elected)

-Purpose: to help provinces be equal with $$$$$

While King thought his plan was full proof neither his or Bennett’s plan helped end the Depression

WW2 did. On Sept. 10th 1939 Canada declared

war on (Nazi) Germany The unemployed Canadians went to work

– they went to war This would create an economic boom/good

time for Canada Factories were back up creating arms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcbCTbC8otY

Video: The Great Depression in Canada

Read the accounts on p. 108 on the Great Depression– complete the Placemat Activity– use chart paper and markers to complete

What did Canada look like in the Great Depression?What did it feel like?

What emotion is being experienced here?