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Spanish Flu
Suspected to have begun in Spain during the first world war, the Spanish flu spread worldwide and infected around 500 million people. An estimated 100 million people were killed due to the flu. Most often the flu was transported through returning soldiers. This epidemic was very similar to the recent epidemic of COVID 19 where many people stayed home and non-essential businesses were closed. For More Information Visit -https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/1918-spanish-flu-in-canada -
Prohabition
Prohibition was a law to ban the transportation and production of alcohol in Canada. This was because women at the time suggested that it would decrease violence at home. The government enlisted the law in 1918. Crime rate decreased, however, when Canada lifted the ban the United States did not follow. This caused the illegal transportation of liquor into the U.S. by bootleggers. For More Information Visit - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prohibition -
Winnipeg General Strike
The strike began when the working class of Winnipeg wanted a change in the current system. Immigrants especially wanted decent wages ( 85 cents an hour ), an 8-hour work day, and the right to bargain for better working conditions. The government refused because they thought the working class was attempting or will attempt to begin a revolution. For More Information Visit - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/1918-spanish-flu-in-canada -
Bloody Saturday
On June 21, violence erupted. Crowds gathers to watch while parade leaders were being arrested. The crowd overturned and set a car on fire out of anger. Then, shots were fired by the RCMP to attempt to calm or shut down the parade. Most of the mountain police shot up into the atmosphere, However a few shot into the crowd. This resulted in 1 death and 30 injuries. Five days later all citizens were forced to return to work and the parade was called off. -
Group Of Seven
The group of seven, also known as the Algonquin School was founded in 1920. The school was known for its group of self-proclaimed landscape painters. The group's rugged wind-swept forest panoramas were equated with Canada's strength and independence. The paintings by the group are still a memorable aspect of the 1920s. For More Information Visit - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/group-of-seven -
Residential Schools
The Residential schools were run through churches by the Canadian government. They were an attempt to assimilate the indigenous culture and ways of life. Children were taken from their families at young ages and physically, emotionally, and sexually abused. The saying was, "Kill the Indian, save the man". In total, there were 139 schools and 150 000 children. The system at the time was truly terrifying.
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Insulin
Diabetes before 1922 was a common deadly disease with no cure. With the discovery of insulin by Dr, Fredrick Banting, Charles Best, and J.J.R. Macleod at the University of Toronto, the death toll from diabetes was reduced dramatically. The creation of insulin allowed for diabetes to be controlled effectively and easily. It allowed millions of people to live worried free, happy lives. For More Information Visit - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-discovery-of-insulin -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to prevent the immigration of Chinese immigrants into Canada. However, students, diplomats, and merchants were excluded from this. This act was mainly passed due to the current search for jobs. Many Canadian citizens blamed discrimination and blamed the Chinese for not being able to get a job. Sadly, this split up many families leaving members on different continents. This shows the racism that once roamed Canada. -
Person's Case
The succession of the person's case was a pleasant time for women. The famous five; Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Edwards, Irene Parlby, and Louise McKinney fought for women to be considered persons under the law. This allowed them to run for the government. The Canadian senate decided they were not persons, so they took it to the supreme court. They fought for 11 years until the British Privy Council finally agreed that women should be considered people. -
Black Tuesday
Black Tuesday, was the day the stock market crashed 50%. This was devastating to many citizens because most people had a sum of money invested in the stock market. The drop caused many people to become broke or homeless causing them to sell anything of value, sometimes including children. Black Tuesday had a large effect on the beginning of the great depression. For More Information Visit - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-great-crash-feature -
Great Depression
The great depression was a horrific event in the history of Canada. It was a time of great economic for most countries around the world. It had many causes such as Black Tuesday, or tariffs add to international businesses. It caused many people to lose their lives over starvation due to food prices or to be arrested because of train hopping. The great depression truly had an impact on every citizen; bad or good.For More Info Visit http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression -
The Statue Of Westminister
The Statue of Westminster was a British law passed on December 11, 1931. It represented Canada's independence from Britain, Canada now had full legislation over its own signings and laws passed. One of the first times Canada used this law was the Chanak Affair; Britain asked for Canada to help them take back Chanak but Canada refused and the king stated clearly that Canada would make its own policies.
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Relief Camps
During the great depression, the federal government created unemployment relief camps to supply homeless men with work. Homeless men would complete hard labor such as building roads or breaking rocks in return for 3 meals a day, clothes, medical care, a bunkhouse, and 20 cents a day (1/10 of the average wage). However, the government was criticized for creating the camps rather than addressing the need for reasonable need for wages and work. -
Ottawa Trek
In April 1935, Around 1500 residents of unemployed relief camps went on strike. First, they traveled to Vancouver where they protested the condition of the relief camps. After 3 months they continued to Ottawa. On June 3 they began traveling to Regina. By the time they were there, that protest had grown to 2000 strong. However, they were stopped in Regina because of leaders being arrested by the RCMP. This led to the cause of the Regina Riot. -
New Deal
Before the federal election in 1935 R.B. Bennett began a series of live radio speeches promoting a "New Deal." This deal promised Canadians a more progressive taxation system, a minimum work week, a minimum wage, closer regulation of working conditions, unemployment insurance, a revised old-age pension, and agricultural support programs to help with the current economic state of the country. Although the plans were seen as too little and too late and the liberals won the election.