FINAL EXAM REVIEW

Unit 4: Decades of Change

The 1920’s Prosperity

43. What were the 1920’s known for? What caused this to happen?

The 1920’s were known for Prosperity!!!

The prosperity was caused by a boom in:

1. agricultural production in the Prairies2. mining in BC, MB and Central Canada3. US trade for pulp and paper4. US car manufacturing, factories built here5. Changing technology: electricity, factories

with assembly lines, new inventions for the home...

The 1920’s Prosperity

44. Who was not included with the typical movement of the 1920’s? Why?

The 1920’s were known for Prosperity, but this was not the case for the working poor, women, First Nations people or the Maritimes.

1. Working poor- little $$, no electricity (rural families, Chinese/African Canadians...)

2. Women- WW1 soldiers returned and took back their jobs, usually gr. 8 education, did not work once married, paid less than men

3. First Nations- forced by government into residential schools to assimilate, forbidden to assemble politically or to hire lawyers

4. Maritimes- less demand for shipbuilding, ports not modernized, little $$ invested in electricity and factories, too expensive to transport our products

The 1920’s Prosperity

45. What were some new technologies or inventions of the 1920’s?

1. Credit- pay by instalments, buy what you could not otherwise afford!!

2. Cars- mass produced, now more affordable

3. Telephones- went from ¼ of families to ¾ had one

4. Electric appliances- sewing machines, irons, washing machines, toasters...

The 1920’s Prosperity

46. How did the 1920’s create industries out of fashion, sports and entertainment?

1. With new machines to make work easier, there was more time for leisure and entertainment.

2. Night clubs were very popular, and they influenced music, dance and clothing, popularized drinking and smoking.

3. Inventions of radio and motion pictures popularized music, especially jazz.

4. Canada’s Golden Age of Sports, more $$ and time to enjoy, hockey games on radio, women could compete

The 1920’s Prosperity

47. What is the date of the stock market crash? What do we call this day?

On October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed. We call this day Black Tuesday.

The 1920’s Prosperity

48. What is the difference between victory bonds and stocks?

The government encouraged people to buy victory bonds to support the war (WW1), with the promise that they could cash them in after the war and be guaranteed a higher return.

When companies began to sell shares or stocks, people thought of it as victory bonds and even used up credit to buy them took the risk, but this time the investment was not guaranteed and many people lost everything.

The 1920’s Prosperity

49. Why did the stock market crash? During the good times, stock prices kept rising and

people kept buying them. On October 29th, stocks fell and people rushed to sell them all at once. No one would buy them, and they fell even more.

When times were good, many people had

purchased stocks and much more on credit and now could not repay their debt. Companies went into debt to manufacture far too many goods and stock piled them. When no one was buying, they could not repay their debts, causing banks to close.

The 1930’s Depression 50. What were the 1930’s known for? The 1930’s were known as the time of The Great Depression- world-

wide economic slump, few jobs, very little $$ to be had, and difficult times.

51. What do we call the 30’s, and why?

We refer to the ’30’s as The Dirty Thirties- a drought hit the Prairies and, between huge dust storms and clouds of grasshoppers, crops were destroyed. The Prairies were known as The Dust Bowl.

The 1930’s Depression52. Who was the Prime Minister at the time of the stock market crash, and who came next after him?

At the time of the crash, 1929, the Prime Minister was William Lyon Mackenzie King.

In 1930, there was an election and the next Prime Minister was R.B. Bennett.

The 1930’s Depression53. What did the Prime Minister do to help alleviate the crisis?

R.B. Bennett’s government gave $20 million in aid to the provinces, but then focused on a balanced budget thereafter. Some people felt he could have spent more government $$ to boost the economy. Personally, he responded to countless letters and sent people money from his own pocket to help them.

The 1930’s Depression54. What was life like for the common Canadian person during the 1930’s?

Unemployment ruined lives and everyone suffered, but the poor were even poorer. Minority ethnic groups and very poor people were discriminated against when looking for work. People went without extras, and without essentials: homeless, hungry, malnourished, diseased. ‘Relief camps’ were set up for men needing work.

The 1930’s Depression55. What did people do to make their lives better?

People living on mixed farms fared better, since they at least had food. Those living in cities found it hard to survive.

People found joy in simple things, and turned to radio and movies to make the hard times better. (CBC radio, comedies, westerns, love stories and horror…)

People looked to political parties to bring solutions to the crisis.

The 1930’s Depression56. What political changes did the 1930’s bring on? Name 3 new parties formed.

New parties had new ideas for solving Canada’s problems.

1. The Communist Party- gained popularity, shared prosperity, govt. assistance

2. The CCF- Co-op Commonwealth Federation, farmers, labour leaders and professors, public utilities, govt. programs

3. The Social Credit Party- each person should get gov. $$ to buy necessities and stimulate the economy

4. The Union Nationale Party of Quebec- alliance of Liberals, Conservatives and QC nationalists united for change

The 1930’s Depression57. What feelings did people have in Canada and around the world during the 1930’s?

North American and European countries all felt the economic hardship of the Depression. Jobs were scarce, poverty was rampant, and people were looking for governments to step in and bring change.

Political parties with new ideas were gaining popularity and the people were looking for leaders who could make a difference.

The 1940’s: World War Two58. What was the Treaty of Versailles, and how

did it contribute as a cause of WW2?

The Treaty of Versailles ended WW1 by blaming Germany for starting the war and imposing penalties for the damages caused. Germany had to pay $$ to repair cities, had to give up land, and had to keep a very small army.

As a result of the Depression, $$ was scarce and Germany was broke under the payments they were making. The people were frustrated and looking for a way out. Hitler gained popularity as a leader that could reject the Treaty and restore Germany to power.

The 1940’s: World War Two59. Who emerged as a leader to solve

Germany’s problems, but then became a dictator?

Adolf Hitler was a bold leader and charismatic speaker who rose up in politics. His Nazi party gained more and more voters, until Hitler came into power.

Once a leader, Hitler became a dictator, taking all the power and decision-making for himself. Other political parties were outlawed, and Hitler ruled the country himself.

The 1940’s: World War Two60. Who did this person blame for the lack of

jobs and prosperity? Who else was targeted as undesirable members of society?

Adolf Hitler blamed the Jews for taking jobs that could have belonged to Germans. His Nazi party was prejudiced against the Jews and also oppressed other members of society: Gypsies, Slavs, homosexuals, the mentally and physically handicapped…

From their first days in power, the Nazi’s began passing discriminatory laws and encouraging riots against Jewish people. They began establishing concentration camps.

The 1940’s: World War Two61. Describe the ‘Final Solution’ designed to rid

society of unwanted people? What is the term for this time of mass execution of millions of people?

Hitler’s concentration camps were divided between work camps and extermination camps. The Nazi’s were committed to the Final Solution, a plan to murder all of Europe’s Jews and anyone else thought to be undesirable.

The mass execution of people in order to wipe out an ethnic group is called genocide.

The 1940’s: World War Two62. What is the term used to refer to the policy of

turning a blind eye in order to keep the peace? What did this policy allow to happen?

Hitler began to violate the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, invading border towns and reclaiming lost territory.

In order to keep the peace, Britain, France and the US did not react in any way to Hitler’s violations. This policy of turning a blind eye is known as appeasement.

Giving Germany what it wanted just made them demand more and more. They invaded Poland on Sept.1, 1939, and 2 days later, Britain and France declared war.

The 1940’s: World War Two63. Name the 2 groups of countries who went to

war with each other.

The Allies- France, Britain and the Commonwealth

The Axis- Germany, Italy and Japan (non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union)

The 1940’s: World War Two64. Hitler used blitzkrieg to break through the

Maginot Line (trench warfare) in France. What does this word mean?

Blitzkrieg- ‘lightning war’, a tactic which combines tanks, aircraft and troops, striking in fast-moving, powerful units.

This was a new and unexpected form of attack that allowed Hitler to break through the Maginot Line and invade France.

The 1940’s: World War Two65. How many ships were in Canada’s merchant

marine, and what were they used for? Why were they a remarkable contribution to the war?

In 1939, Canada had a merchant marine of only 38 ships for transporting war supplies. They were sailed by regular fishermen and the first ones sent were sunk by the Germans.

The merchant marine fleet grew to 403 ships, the 4th largest in the world, making 25 000 voyages waging naval war in what was called The Battle of the Atlantic.

The 1940’s: World War Two66. How was the National Resources

Mobilization Act an example of conscription? Why did it work better than it did in WW1?

The NRMA moved Canadians to a total commitment to the war, with home defense soldiers enlisted, as well as volunteer armies. The government sent home defense soldiers into battle later on when they were needed.

In WW1, conscription caused a crisis because the only language in the army was English. By WW2, there were Francophone regiments and so Francophones wanted to enlist.

The 1940’s: World War Two67. What event occurred on Dec.7th, 1941, and

why was it considered a grave mistake during the war?

This date marks Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour. It was a grave mistake because it caused the US to join with the Allies, thus strengthening the opposing side.

The US would later turn on Japan and bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing huge devastation and atomic radiation.

The 1940’s: World War Two68. What was another serious mistake made

during the war? What was the consequence?

The other mistake was that Germany broke their non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, and attacked them.

The Germans were defeated and the Soviet Union was no longer neutral.

The 1940’s: World War Two69. Who was Tommy Prince, what is he famous for

and what difference did he make? Tommy Prince was Canada’s most decorated First Nations war

hero. Originating from Winnipeg, Tommy Prince was rejected when he first tried to enlist in the army, because of his race. He persisted and was accepted into a unique combat unit called ‘The Devil’s Brigade’.

In Italy, Prince volunteered to run a communication line to an abandoned farmhouse only 200m from the German troops. He lived in the farmhouse 3 days and reported on German activities, until German fire broke the cable. Prince pretended he was a farmer weeding in the field, then stooped to tie his shoe, where he actually repaired the communication line. The Germans took no notice of him, and he was able to report on German tanks.

Prince was awarded 8 medals for bravery and the Silver Star from the US. A Hollywood movie was made about his exploit. Now Tommy Prince is a war hero and a role model for his people.

The 1940’s: World War Two70. Hitler had defeated and taken over Poland

and France, until the Allies invaded to reclaim Europe. What was their plan called? What was their landing on the beaches of Normandy called?

Their plan was called Operation Overlord, and their landings on the beaches of Normandy, part of this plan, were called the D-Day landings.

The 1940’s: World War Two71. When did the war start and end? World War Two= Sept.1939 - Sept. 1945

72. After Germany was defeated, the Allies turned on Japan, which is referred to as…?

The Allies vs. Japan was referred to as the ‘War in the Pacific’.

73. What was the ‘Manhattan Project’?

This was the code name for the development of the atomic bomb by US scientists, used for the first time against Japan.

The 1940’s: World War Two74. What was unusual about the bombing of

Hiroshima and 3 days later, Nagasaki?

The amount of devastation was unusual, far surpassing what scientists expected. Nearly 140 000 died from the explosion, and the same from exposure to radiation afterward.

75. Could we have been said to use weapons of mass destruction in an act of terrorism?

Yes, the very things we say about other countries could be said about us.

The 1940’s: World War Two76. What effect does a war have on the

economy? Why?

A war causes the economy to rebound, or to boom again, since there are people needed to fight and war supplies to produce and transport.

77. Who was not allowed by the Canadian government to enlist in the war, and why?

Farmers and miners were not allowed to enlist in the war, because their help was needed at home to produce food and metals for ammunition to support the war.

The 1940’s: World War Two78. How did the war impact the lives of

Canadian women?  

There were over 46 000 women who served overseas during the war. With many men sent away as soldiers, women worked in the factories and did other jobs considered to be men’s work. Daycares were created so mothers could work. Women gained self-confidence and independence from their work.

 

The 1940’s: World War Two79. What changes did the government make to

help Canadians live better during this time?  

The government imposed rationing during the war, controlling the distribution of products in short supply, such as coffee, tea and sugar, gas, rubber and certain metals.

This helped us not to suffer shortages, malnutrition and even starvation, as other people did.

Government assistance programs to families were developed, such as family allowance and unemployment insurance.

 

The 1940’s: World War Two80. What was life like for people during the war?

Very few consumer goods were produced, such as watches, pens, cars, tires, home appliances, etc… There was not much in stores to buy, so even though more Canadians were working and had a little $$, there wasn’t much to spend it on.

Many people bought victory bonds again, and cashed them in after the war, which brought about an economic boom after the war. 

The 1940’s: World War Two81. Who was Tommy Douglas and what

difference did he make in Canada’s social policies?

Tommy Douglas was the leader of Canada’s first Socialist party, the CCF (Co-op Commonwealth Federation).

He was a social activist who fought for social programs from the government. He is the one who proposed the family allowance and unemployment insurance benefits that the government later offered.

The 1940’s: World War Two82. What province became part of Confederation

after the war?

Newfoundland was a self-governing British colony before the war, and voted to join Canadian Confederation after the war. In 1948, they became our last province to join.

The 1940’s: World War Two84. How was the war a turning point in Canadian

Identity? Canada used to be a prejudiced and racist country who

used discriminating immigration policies to keep out people who were not of Western European, white, Christian backgrounds.

Once Allied troops invaded Europe to fight Hitler’s plan for world domination, they saw the true brutality of his concentration camps, and the mass extermination of disadvantaged people.

Canada had refused to accept Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler’s invasions, and had not helped people in need. After the war ended, Canada instituted policies to accept a certain number of people in need each year. We have become famous for acceptance and multi-culturalism !!!