The 1920s…. Political Social/Cultural Economic

The 1920s….

Political

Social/Cultural

Economic

The 1920s….Political

•Birth of Progressive Party

•Rights movements

•Commonwealth replaces Empire

•King-Byng Affair

Progressive Party• Western Party• Farmer’s rights• Don’t believe in hierarchy• Free votes in Commons• Ended up splitting – one part with Liberals –

the other part became the Progressive Conservatives:

The 1920s….Political

Rights Movements• Suffrage– Women’s right to vote– Aboriginal right to vote

• Labour– Winnipeg General Strike

The 1920s….Political

Statute of Westminster 1931 -Equality• Formal independence for colonies• British Parliament can no longer pass an act that

has effect in the dominions without consent - disallowance

• Canada has its own Supreme Court (1949)• Last major change until 1982

The 1920s….Political

King-Byng Affair

The 1920s….PoliticalWhy is K-B Historically Significant? •Revealing (enduring /emerging issues)•Remembered•Consequences

The 1920s….Political

The 1920s….Political

A conversation about the role of Governor General is really a conversation about….

•Elected vs. unelected power• GG• Senate

•Constitutional monarchy vs. Republic• If not Queen/King of England as Head of State,

then what?

The 1920s….Social/Cultural

•Art and Religion

•French Canada

•Social Safety Net- Pensions

Religion• Presbyterians, Methodists, Congregationalists

become the United Church of Canada• Religion and Immigration• Religion and Prohibition• Protestantism vs. Catholicism • Loss of faith

The 1920s….Social/Cultural

• Canadian Art flourishing: - Group of Seven in Toronto, some were war artists – celebrated Canadian wilderness

• Emily Carr in B.C.

The 1920s….Social/Cultural

Art

Group of Seven

Emily Carr

French Canada• Dominated by English Business• Les Canadiens isolated and rural - kept this

way by church and politicians to protect culture

The 1920s….Social/Cultural

The 1920s….Social/Cultural

Pensions•Improvements in health care and living standards mean population is living longer, but, living longer without income.•1924- Committee produces draft bill and a legal opinion that this issue was ultra vires for the Federal Government (property and civil rights)•1925- Mixed results election- power of opposition in minority/coalition governments•Labour, Progressives and Liberals draft bill, passes easily in HOC•Senate resists, refuses to pass.•1926 election- Pension a ballot box question, Liberals win, Pension Plan passes HOC and Senate.

The 1920s….Social/Cultural

Pensions•Qualifications (1920s):

• British Subjects• Over age of 70• Lived in Canada for 20 years• Lived in applicant province for past 5 years• Means test (<$365/year)• Title transferred to Pension Authority• Women- only if a widow• Aboriginals- none

•Modern Canada Pension Plan

Economics• Mass consumption– Credit/advertising

• Mass production– Assembly Line (Henry Ford)– War industry producing commercial goods

• Mass credit– Buying on margin in the stock market

• Mass media• Urbanization • Tariffs

The 1920s….Economic

• Closed Empire• British investment dries up because of

wartime debt• American Branch Plant set up in Canada to sell

to Empire

New Zealand

Britain

Australia

South Africa

Canada

India

United States

The 1920s….Economic