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Prohibition
During the war, the Women's Christian Temperance Union's campaign gained momentum. It was pointed out that grain should used to feed soldiersand civilians, rather than to make alcohol. Also the production of liquor did nothing to support the war. Thus, in 1918, the federal government introduced Prohibition, banning the production, import, and transportation of liquor across the country. However, the law created a new crime, which was illegal liquor made and sold. -
First Commercial Radio Station
Radio was the great communication invention of the 1920s. Voices, news, and music could now be broadcast across the country using radio signals. It was the invention of the radio that helped shrink Canada's vast size. People living in isolated rural parts of the country were brought in touch with the cities of nation. Radio provided inexpensive entertainment in people's homes. In 1919, Guglielmo Marconi has set up the first radio station in Montreal. -
Spanish Flu
As the soldiers returned home from the war, the country was struck with a terruble epidemic - "Spanish Flu." Soldiers carried the virus with them from overseas. The epidemic ravaged countries around the world. The Spanish Flu of 1919 killed some 21 million people, including about 50 000 Canadians. The epidemic pressed the government into action. A federal Health Department was created in 1919. It signalled that Canadians were becoming more aware of public health concerns. -
League of Indians
In 1919, Frederick Loft, a Mohawk veteran from WW1, organized the League of Nations. The league was the first attempt at a united voice for Aboriginal nations. The league fought for the rights of Aboriginal people, such as the right to vote. The main success of the league was the right of hunting and fishing was improved. This shows the movement of aboriginal polities during 1918-1935. -
Wnnipeg General Strike
Many immigrant workers had settled in Winnipeg, where was a growing economic city. They wanted to improve working and living conditions. On 1 May, the Building and Matal Trades Councils in Winnipeg voted to go on strike.Fearing that the strike would spread to other cities, the Federal Government of Canada ordered Senator Gideon Decker Robertson to mediate the dispute. This strike is now considered the largest general strike in Canadian history and debated to be the largest in North America. -
Bloody Saturday
The general strike dragged on for 37 days. On 21 June, violence erupted. A huge crowd gathered to watch a parades protesting the arrest of the strike leaders. Parades has been baneed. The Mayor, fearing trouble, read the Riot Act and called in the Royal North-West Mounted Police. Not long afterward, the crowd set a car on fire. Shots were fired. One man was killed and 30 were injured.5 days later, the general strike was over, workers were ordered back to work. -
Group of Seven
The Group of Seven was a group of Canadian artists. The first exhibition of the paitings by the Group was held in May 1920 at the Art Gallery of Ontario. The Group were the first to create a Canadian national style in painting. Their influence and popularity spread steadily during their lifetime. -
Discovery of Insulin
The discovery of insulin saved the lives of millions of people. It remais a major landmark in the history of medical research in Canada. On the night of 20 October 1920, Frederick Banting woke up with an idea, he went to see Professor J.P.R. Macleod at the University of Toronto. In the sumer of 1921, they had managed to isolate insulin to test it on human patients. By late 1922, insulin was made available to treat diabetes. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
During the war many Canadians had become more suspicious and less tolerant of "foreigners" (non-British) and ethnic minorities. Thus, on 1 July, 1923, Canada passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. This Act banned all Chinese except students, merchants, and diplomats from entering Canada. From 1923 until the Act was repealed in 1947, only 8 Chinese people were admitted. -
Model T and Assembly Line
The 1920s also saw the growth of the automobile industry. Henry Ford dreamed of making an inexpensive car that almost anyone could buy it. Ford set up an assembly line that ran one end of a building to another. By the time a car reached the end of the line, it had been assembled and was ready to be driven. Also Ford was ablle to produce the famous practical "Model T" at a price that average North Americans could afford. It promted the quality of people's life. -
Black Tuesday
"Black Tuesday", the day the stock market crashed in 1929 was one of the most dramatic events signalling the Depression. In 1920s, many people played stock market, and they dreamed of getting rich overnight. Many people who invested in the stock market lost everything in the crash. -
Great Depression
Canada was plunged into the Great Depression - the worst economic downturn the country has ever faced. It was a sign that the economy of North America was very sick. The causes were: 1.over-production and over expansion, 2.Canada's dependence on a few primary products, 3.Canada's dependence on the United States, 4. High tariffs chocked off international trade, 5.too much credit buying, and 6.too much credit buying of stocks. -
Residential Schools
Residential Schools were funded by the government, but run by various churches. By 1931, there were 80 residential schools operating across the country. At first, it was voluntary. But in 1920, Aboriginal children were required to go to the schools. It was forced and children could not speak their own language and follow their traditional culture. The purpose of the school was the government wanted to assimilate the aboriginal people to the society. It shows the aboriginal polotical movevment. -
The Statute of Westminster
On 11 December 1931, the British Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster. The Statute made the recommendations of the Balfour Report Law. Canada was made completely self-governing, bound by no laws other than its own. Britain could no longer make any laws for Canada. This shows the independency of Canada after WW1. -
Relief Camps
In 1932, the government set up a number of relief camps across the country for the single unemployed men during the Great Depression. Men in the camps worked 8 hours per day for cutting brush, moving rocks, and building roads. In return, they were given food, shelter, clothing, and pay of 20 cents a day. The meant to provide drifters and unemployed men with usefel. Also the government hoped to keep any unrest and discontent in check. But the wage of 20cents a day was considered very bad.
