Socials 11: Society and Identity Unit
The Great Depression questions
Part One:
The Desperate Years: Making ends Meet
Read pages 94-100 in your Counterpoints text to answer the following questions.
1. What part of Canada was hardest hit by the depression? Explain
2. What seemed to be the government’s attitude toward people who lost their jobs? Why do you
think this was the case? Do you think this attitude still exists today toward the unemployed?
3. What did people have to do to qualify for the “pogey”? Why do you think people were given
vouchers instead of cash?
4. How did minority groups fare during the Depression? Give an example or evidence from the
reading.
Part Two:
Responding to the Depression
Read pages 101- 104 and answer the following questions
5. What actions did governments’ take to deal with the Depression? Explain
6. What were the main complaints of relief camp workers?
7. Do you think the On-To-Ottawa Trek was a success or failure? Explain with evidence from the
reading
8. Which 3 of Bennett’s New Deal proposals do you think had the greatest impact on Canadians?
Support your choices.
Part 3: Politics of Protest:
Read pages 106-110 from your text
9. What difficulties did provincial governments encounter in dealing with the problems of the
Depression? Give examples from BC and Alberta
10. What were Mackenzie King’s views on government involvement in the economy?
11. What were the main recommendations of the Rowell-Sirois Report?
Part 4:
Mackenzie King and Bennett
Read pages 112- 113 and answer the following questions
1. Why was King a more successful politician than Bennett? Do you think his reputation as an
effective leader is justified? Explain
2. What were the strengths and weaknesses of each leader?
Strengths
Weaknesses
Mackenzie King
Bennett
3. How was Bennett perceived by Canadians during the Depression?
Part 5: Women during the 1930s
Read pages 98-99 and answer the following questions
1. What were the social attitudes toward women during the 19302? What were the objections to
women working during the Depression?
2. Who had it worse married women or single women? Explain