The War at HomeSocials 11

Total war

Women took men’s places

Money provided by provincial governments for day care so that women could work

Urbanisation

Companies built dormitories next to factories

Women working in traditional male roles.

“Rosie the Riveter” became a nickname used to describe working women.

People had more money to spend, but there were fewer goods to buy

PM King wanted to avoid inflation and subsequent debt – appointed James Ilsley as minister of finance:

◦ Encouraged Canadians to buy Victory Bonds – people saving money while helping the cause

◦ Increased income taxes

Canada’s Wartime Economy

Inflation still increased, so wages and prices were frozen and King introduced food rationing in 1942 – Canadians were only allowed to buy a limited amount of certain goods per week.

Recycling programs brought in… not just for metal, nylon, silk, paper… but also bones and waste fats!

Restrictions were placed on the right to strike, but the shortage of labour meant that the unions had all the power

1944 – workers allowed to join unions and employers forced to recognize those unions

1940 – unemployment insurance 1945 – Family Allowance program covered

the cost of child maintenance Canada’s policy of “cradle to grave” social

security had begun

The Growing Demand for Social Change

The Economy Total War Economy: factories producing

more goods then ever before.

1939 produced goods worth $5.6 billion 1945 produced goods worth $11.8 billion

Increases in aluminum and paper production, Oil fields discovered in Alberta.

Agriculture overtaken by manufacturing as the largest sector of the economy.

Huge investments into economy meant a growth in many areas, and led to a massive wave of post war immigration.

In the decade 1939-1949 Canada became a modern industrial nation.

Security or Prejudice?

Japanese Internment in Canada during WW2

Internment

• Prior to World War II, 22,096 Japanese Canadians lived in British Colombia; ¾ were naturalized or native born Canadians.

• Dec 7, 1941 Japanese attack Pearl Harbour and Hong Kong falls by Dec 25th

Internment

• February 1942, under the War Measures Act, P.M. Mackenzie King evacuates all people of Japanese descent living within 62 km of BC’s coast.

• They were considered a threat and possibly saboteurs within Canada.

Internment• About 20000

Japanese were removed from their homes and sent to internment camps in BC’s interior.

Police confiscating a Japanese fisherman’s boat.

Community kitchen in Slocan City internment camp.

Internment• 8 internment camps in interior BC.

• They were in Kaslo, New Denver, Tashme, Roseberry, Slocan City, Lemon Creek, Sandon, and Greenwood.

• The war had caused a shortage of labor so interned Japanese used in beet farming camps or to do public works projects like road building.

In addition to being interned, all Japanese Canadians needed to carry identification at all times.

• Japanese fishing boats seized by the government and corralled on the Fraser River. Japanese fishermen were evacuated first in response to the rumors that they might actually be operating as spies.

Internment• All possessions and property was sold in

auctions.

• After the war, the Japanese were not allowed to return to the coast for several years

• Many returned to Japan or worked in agricultural camps on the prairies.

Apologies

• By 1988, the government apologized for the injustices and gave 21000 dollars to each Japanese Canadian who had been interned during WWII.

• Unfortunately most had passed away by this time.

Other groups interned…

• In 1940, an Order in Council was passed that defined enemy aliens as "all persons of German or Italian racial origin who have become naturalized British subjects since September 1, 1922".

• Many “enemy aliens” of German and Italian descent were also interned.

• 185 Japanese-Canadians enlisted in the CEF.

• Two, Tokutaro Iwamoto and Masumi Mitsui were awarded the Military Medal of Honor.

• Several Japanese Canadians who had fought in WW1 for Canada were interned along with their families.

WW1 Veterans Interned

Was the internment of Japanese Canadians justified?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAyW-pmiiK8

http://www3.nfb.ca/ww2/home-front/recruitment-and-conscription.htm?pext=1&view=693983&subtype=extraits#sec_extraits

The Conscription Crisis

Should PM Mackenzie King have used conscription in 1942?

Activity: DEBATE!!