Canada

During the war, Canada conducted itself with honor

After the war, Canada was invited to the peace table as an independent nation – not a British colonyCanada also became a member of the

League of Nations

Effects of the War at Home During the War

The Canadian economy was booming due to the war

Wheat prices were high and Canada was the leading wheat exporter of the world

After the WarEconomy took a downturnFew factory jobs for men and women

○ Soldiers had nothing to return toEuropean countries began producing their own

wheat – closing a major market for Canadian farmers

Labour Unrest

The government became less involved in the economy and allowed business to flourish

This led to unhappy prairie farmersHigh tariffs protected the eastern

industrialists but limited the grain markets and increased the cost of machinery

United Farmers Parties became popular throughout the country

The Winnipeg General Strike Western Canada

In March 1919, labour groups combined to form a branch of the One Big Union (OBU)

The OBU called for General Strikes across Canada

On May 15, 1919 the first and only General Strike began in Winnipeg

The Times, May 20, 1919 (Toronto)

Winnipeg is a warning to the rest of Canada. The object of the One Big Union is plain. It is the aim of the Reds who dominate that organization to use mass-power, in defiance of agreements, for the overturning of organized society.

The Times agrees with Major-General McRae that there should be a "clean-up" of the revolutionary agitators and foreign undesirables who infest the country.

The Gazette, May 17, 1919 (Montreal)

The strike which is in progress in Winnipeg presents features which merit serious consideration. The trouble, which was confined previously to the metal and building trades, has become general. From fifteen to twenty-five thousand employees have left their work, and all branches of commercial and industrial activities of the city are affected.

The Winnipeg General Strike Metal workers demanded more moola

and a shorter work week30 000 other men left their jobs to support

the metal workersOnly railway workers remained on the jobThe leaders of the strike were R.B. Russell,

Ernest Robinson and William Ivens○ They became known as the Winnipeg Soviet

During the six week General Strike, the city remained peaceful for the most part

The End of the Strike

Sunday, June 21, 1919One of the last days of the strike and saw a

violent clash between RCMP and strikers○ Two men were killed by police and eight

labour leaders were arrested

The strike ended June 29, 1919

Aftermath of the Strike Some strikers in Winnipeg were arrested and

deported after the strike The Federal Government passed Section 98

of the Criminal CodeOutlawing organizations who wanted to obtain

“governmental, industrial or economic change” by force

Although the strike was a defeat for the workers, it drew attention to economic and social conditions for workers and encouraged the development of new political parties that could address these concerns