THE RESPONSE TO
THE DEPRESSION
ENTRY SLIP
On the sticky note provided, respond to the
activity we ended with last day. Consider the
following:
- In the situation you were given, do you think
your family would have had enough money for
their monthly expenses.
- If yes, did you have to cut out any expenses to
make your monthly income last?
TODAY’S PLAN
-
Go through PowerPoint and fill in notes
Answer some discussion questions together
Watch a short video on the On-to-Ottawa Trek
Write a short critical response
THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE
TO THE DEPRESSION
THE INITIAL RESPONSE:
MACKENZIE KING
- When the stock market crashed, Mackenzie
King was in Power
- It was though to be a short-term economic
downturn
- Refusal from the federal government to help
- The 5 Cents Speech
BENNETT COMES TO POWER
- King’s response to the Depression did not make
him very popular
- Bennett was elected as Prime Minister in a majority
conservative government in the 1930 election
- From and indecisive, cautious leader, to a ‘one man
show’
- Discussion Question: Who would you have
preferred as a leader during the Depression? What
characteristics would you look for in a leader during
the Depression? (pg 112)
UNEMPLOYMENT AND
FARM RELIEF ACT
- Passed and funded by the federal government, but the
responsibility fell to the municipal and federal
governments
- Enabled the implementation of public works projects
at Canadian Parks and for road building
- Meant to create jobs
- Even as taxes fell, people were unable to pay them
and the government had to cut these projects
PRAIRIE FARM
REHABILITATION ACT
- An act that was passed in 1935 to provide
rehabilitation to areas experiencing drought
- Research was done and new farming techniques were
used
- Result: 80 000 cattle grazed on 800 000 hectares of
grassland that was formerly that was formerly a dust
bowl
- Trees were planted and irrigation projects took place
- The problem: it was implemented too late to help
many people and many Canadians were unaware of it
WORK CAMPS
- These were camps where single men could go to find
work
- They were created to keep an eye on people who were
seen as menaces and those who may be interested in the
spread of communism
- The government encouraged men to join by cutting off
relief to single men
- The conditions in the camps were not great, but were
better than they had been living with
- Camps were unpopular. Men were given 20 cents a day
and the camps lacked culture and recreation
ROOSEVELT’S ‘NEW DEAL’
- created public work programs
- introduction of the Social Security Act: provided
old-age pension, unemployment insurance and
financial assistance for mothers
- Result: did not pull the USA out of debt, but
helped millions survive
BENNETT’S ‘NEW DEAL’
-
Based off of Roosevelt’s New Deal
Initially reluctant to spend government’s money
Fairer taxation
Insurance for workers
Workplace regulations: hours, wages, working conditions
Revised old-age pensions
Agricultural support programs
Problems: too little too late and seen as a way to sway
votes
THE PEOPLE’S
RESPONSE TO THE
DEPRESSION
THE ON-TO-OTTAWA TREK
‘RED SCARE’
- Communism was a novel and was seen as a
threat to Canadian democracy
- The government thought that communist
organizers were responsible for the Regina
Riots and the on-to-Ottawa trek
- They also believed they may be spreading
communism through those who rode the rails
THE REGINA RIOT
- An evening meeting at Market Square turned into a
riot
- Men used stones, sticks and scrap metal to fight police
- Police took out their guns and the rioters fled
- One police died, 50+ police were injured and 50+
rioters and spectators were injured
- What was the cause? Communism? The federal
government and police? People objecting to proper
police duty?
VANCOUVER SIT-INS
- Response to the closing of relief camps in
1936
- Protested by sitting in different buildings and
refusing to leave until the government listened
to their complaints
- In one incident in the post-office, men were
tear-gassed
EXIT SLIP
Choose one of the methods of protest and
respond critically to it in at least 5 sentences
Things to consider in your answer:
- Why did you choose this means of protest
- Would you be involved in this protest if you
lived in the 30s?
- What do you think workers expected would
happen in response to their actions?