Immigration, Racism, and the KKK in the 1920s

Immigration• Between 1919 and 1931, 1.2 million

immigrants arrived in Canada• There was a decrease in the number

of immigrants to Canada after World War 1

• The decrease was due to the higher standards by the Canadian government

• Also, many people in war torn Europe did not have the resources or money to immigrate

• The Canadian government had a preference for potential farmers, domestic servants, and agricultural workers

Immigration• In 1923, Canada opened its

doors to British subjects, Americans, and citizens of “preferred countries”, this included: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, and France

• For all of the 1920s there was law called the “Order in Council” which did not allow for “any immigrant of any Asiatic race” to come into Canada

Racism

• Cleaning Product of the 1920s

Racism• In the 1920s, all British subjects had the right to vote• Discrimination for “reason of race” was allowed

• English-speaking Canadians began to believe that the British principles of government were the key to Canada’s greatness

• Discrimination began depend on a persons ability to obey the social rules of the ‘Canadian’ way of life, as well as their appearance

Aboriginal Peoples in Residential Schools• Native children in Canada were taken from their homes in order to be education in

residential schools which were run by the government or by a religious organization

• Anything connected to native language or heritage was excluded from school life• There was an effort to assimilate (make the same) the younger generation into

mainstream Canadian life• Many children were abused (physically and sexually)• Many did not learn their own native culture, language or customs from their

family members

Aboriginal Peoples• Natives living on reserves were NOT allowed to vote, lost their right

to have traditional forms of native government• Some groups banded together to defend their land and fishing and

hunting rights• Native peoples rights and culture were not considered important

Ku Klux Klan

KKK• In late 1926 Klan organizers came to Saskatchewan to preach its

message of racial and religious hatred and to sell expensive memberships to fund its activities

• By the fall of 1928 local Klans had been established in over 100 Saskatchewan towns, usually signaling themselves by a ritual burning of crosses

KKK

• The KKK had a membership of over 40,000

• Many belonged to the group because they did not accept the people who were not part of mainstream Canada –

• Usually these were immigrants from central and southeastern Europe