Canada in the 20th Century

The Roaring 20s

1920 - 1930

High unemployment throughout the nation as factories switched from war time to peace time production

Canadians began to identify more with Americans than with Britain – Britain was identified with WW I that Canadians wanted to forget and get on with their lives

Canada in the Roaring 20sThe Beginning of the Decade

First Nations Peoples had their cultural and traditional identity attacked by the policies of the Federal Government

Crowfoot – a Canadian “Indian” in the 1920s

Canada in the Roaring 20sNative Peoples Issues

Women were not considered equal to men for employment opportunities

Women’s fashions began to reflect some new freedoms

Canada in the Roaring 20sGender Issues

Canada in the Roaring 20sGender Issues : Fashions Compared

1900 - 1920 1920 - 1930

New machines changed the daily lives of all Canadians

New inventions and gadgets made housework easier and less time consuming

People had more leisure time for entertainment and fun

Canada in the Roaring 20sNew Inventions

Canada in the Roaring 20sPrime Ministers

Arthur Meighen 1920-21Conservative Party

William Lyon Mackenzie KingLiberal Party 1921- 1930

Canada in the Roaring 20The New Progressive Party Emerges

Thomas A. CrerarLeader of the Progressive Party

The Progressive Party stands second in 1921

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Liberal

Progressive

Cons

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Labour

Election of 1921

Seats in House of Commons

Polit

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art

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Agnes Macphail was the first woman to be elected to the House of Commons in 1921 as a member of the New Progressive Party.

She would later become a member of Alberta’s Famous Five.

Canada in the Roaring 20sThe New Progressive Party Emerges

Canada in the Roaring 20sMinority vs. Majority Governments

Minority Government Majority Government

The political party in control of the government has less than 50% of the seats in the House of Commons

The governing party must make an alliance with another party to do business effectively.

A vote of non-confidence by the combined opposition parties means the governing party must resign and call an election.

The political party in control of the government has more than 50% of the seats in the House of Commons.

The governing party can do business without the support of the opposition parties

The Progressive Conservative Government of run by Prime Minister Harper is a minority government.

Prime Minister King’s 1921 government was a minority government.

Canada in the Roaring 20sPrime Ministers