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Drought Devastates Farmers in Prairies
At around 1930, a devastating drought ruined many farms in the Prairies. This, combined with overfarming during WWI turned the rich farmlands into a "dust bowl'. This ruined Canada's farming for the next 10 years, with crop yield and prices dropping significantly. The drought lightened by the end of the '30s and farming began increasing again right before Canada joined the war effort. -
Change
During this time, conditions changed for the worse for farmers of the Prairies. The soil once ideal for wheat production now resembled a desert. The dried topsoil was getting blown in massive dust clouds around the area, and insects ran rampant. This was a drastic change from the roaring twenties, a time of prosperity and abundance. 250,000 farmers abandoned the farms they have lived on all their lives to try and find another way to sustain themself. This change was a major decline for farmers. -
Workers are Provided Relief Camps
In October 1932, with the great depression leaving many unemployed and homeless, the government provided labour camps all over the country. Single men can voluntarily enter these camps to participate in hard labour in return for shelter, three meals daily and minimal pay. These camps are formed with the intention of providing those who are struggling in the depression with basic human needs but received backlash due to the poor conditions and heavy labour. -
Change
Compared to times before the Great Depression took over Canada, workers' conditions and pay were much worse. This was somewhat because these camps were only established as a consolation for those that can't sustain themselves. While some highly skilled workers retained their jobs, many had to go from a job they had been doing for years to heavy labour, being stuck in a camp with poor conditions. This sudden decline in conditions and compensation made many unhappy and pushed them to go on strike. -
Continuity
These Jewish individuals faced the same anti-semitism in Canada as they did in Germany. They came to Canada in hopes for a change from the oppression they experienced from Germany, but only experienced continuous discrimination here. The was a continued decline for the Jewish community, as they were being oppressed and killed in their own country and no other country would accept them. -
Turning Away Jews on MS St. Louis
On June 7th, 1939, the MS St. Louis arrived in Canada carrying 900 Jewish refugees attempting to escape the holocaust. Upon arrival at Halifax, they requested entry into Canada. However, many higher-ups within the government, including the Prime Minister were anti-semitic. As a result, this ship was sent back to Germany, where the Jewish on board were taken to concentration camps, where some were killed. -
Employment for Workers during WWII
As Canada joined the war in September of 1939, employment went up with the demand for supplies on the homefront. The same workers that went unemployed and relied on government relief had their jobs back in factories. A new major demand was for ships, as Canada provided Britain with a large supply of merchant ships and battleships. More than 120000 men were employed in shipyards at this time. Some men also enlisted as soldiers to fight overseas or were conscripted when it was put into effect. -
Continuity
During this time, conditions for white men were similar to times during WWI. Many men who have been unemployed throughout the depression were eager to enlist in the army for the guarantee of a job. Those at home worked in the now high-demand factories, and similarly to WWI, there with lots of women that worked in place of the men overseas. This was continuous of the events of WWI and definitely was progress compared to the times of the great depression. -
Change
During this time, it was a negative change for Canadians of German/Japanese/Italian origin, as they went from regular citizens of Canada to being treated like prisoners. They did nothing wrong, so many upstanding Canadians had their rights and belongings stripped away on not even suspicion, but fear. This was a massive decline for these communities in Canada, as they lost their belongings and businesses. -
Internment of "Enemy Aliens"
In July of 1940, internment camps were established across Canada. Those of German, Japanese and/or Italian descent were sent to those camps where they were under constant surveillance and had to perform heavy labour with poor conditions. This was done in fear of spies from those opposing countries, but instead of just placing them under heavy surveillance, inhabitants of the camps were treated awfully and forced into labour for the fear that one may be a spy. -
WWII Brings Increased Production in Farms
At the end of the '30s, the drought plaguing the Prairies has slowly lifted, and the farmers began production. Once Canada entered WWII, farmers were encouraged to increase their production to support those on the frontlines. Women, students, and sometimes those in internment camps were sent to work on the farms, and farm production grew steadily. With the soil being workable once again and increasing demand for crops, farmers across Canada began to recover from the Dust Bowl. -
Change
As the drought lifted and the war began, things began changing for the better for Canadian farmers. Demand for wheat and other crops grew steadily, and their ability to produce it grew as well. They were provided farmhands in the form of interned Canadians or women who joined the war effort. Efficiency was also increased in farmers getting new equipment like tractors. Overall, this was a very positive change for Canadian farmers, compared to the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. -
Bibliography Part 1
“Great Depression in Canada.” Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression_in_Canada.
Howard, Victor. “Unemployment Relief Camps.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 22 Feb. 2009, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/unemployment-relief-camps.
Jenish, D'Arcy. “The Farmers' War.” Legion Magazine, 28 July 2011, legionmagazine.com/en/2011/07/the-farmers-war/. -
Bibliography Part 3
Rogers, Tim. “Dusting off the History of Drought on the Canadian Prairies in the 1930s.” Active History, 28 Nov. 2016, activehistory.ca/2016/11/dusting-off-the-history-of-drought-on-the-canadian-prairies-in-the-1930s/.
“The War Economy and Controls: Agriculture.” WarMuseum.ca, www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/canadawar/agriculture_e.html.
“The War Economy and Controls: Shipping and Shipbuilding.” WarMuseum.ca, www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/canadawar/shipping_e.html. -
Bibliography Part 2
Neill, Elaine. "The Great Depression" History XCHC2P2D. February 2021. Bluevale Collegiate Institute. Google presentation
Neill, Elaine. “The Roaring Twenties" History XCHC2P2D. February 2021. Bluevale Collegiate Institute. Google presentation
Neill, Elaine. "Canadian Controversies" History XCHC2P2D. February 2021. Bluevale Collegiate Institute. Google presentation
Neill, Elaine. "Canadians at Home" History XCHC2P2D. February 2021. Bluevale Collegiate Institute. Google presentation
