Canada Between The Wars: The Interwar Years 1919-1939

1. Social Studies 11 Canada Between The Wars: The Interwar Years 1919-1939

2. The League of Nations • At the Paris Peace Conference, USA President Woodrow Wilson persuaded those in attendance to adopt a notion of establishing a collective security through a community of nations – all in the name of a new world order – known as the League of Nations • Wilson felt that achievement of world security would come as a result of this “community of nations” which would “guarantee one another’s safety” • Attack one country, would be seen as anattack on many…

3. Expansion of Wilson’s 14 points • Last of Wilson’s 14 points stated that: • “a general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike…” • This was needed to gain collective security • Wilson, regarded as the founder of the League of Nations, insisted that the inclusion of the Covenant of the League of Nations be in all peace treaties

4. Formation and Structure • Main objective for L.O.N. was to preserve the peace of the world, this was to be achieved by: • International Cooperation • Members committed to promoting international cooperation through international association • Arbitration • Members promise not to go to war until disputes sent to arbitration (third party ruling on two party disagreement) • Collective Security • Members promise to help any ally who was a victim of aggression. Hoped that aggression would be halted & halted through sanctions vs force. • L.O.N. we obligated to cut off trade with aggressive countries

5. Assessment of the League • Good in theory, but it didn’t “work”… • Top two reasons include: • Membership of the League never represented the whole community of nations • Originally Germany and Soviet Union were not members, the real kicker = USA refused to ratify Versailles and consequently were not a member of L.O.N. • USA was against German penalties, signed their own treaty in 1921 • The league had no adequate means of enforcing its will on offenders • Break the rules, whatchagunna do about it?

6. League of Nations

7. Some “good” came of it… • One thing that came from the initial onset of the L.O.N. was the fact that there was a general feeling of optimism • This led people to believe that war could be prevented • Current day United Nations operates with no such idealistic illusion… War is always a reality

8. Canada during the Interwar Years… • Canada in the 20s, after the war • Despite the fact that the war was over, 4 years of horrors left behind, Canadian soldiers still found themselves facing numerous difficulties: • It took years for some to actually make their way home; shipping was inadequate • Soldiers wanted more $$ in the form of pensions etc; soldiers felt they were worth more than they got • Adjusting to “normal” life was difficult; what had been important before the war just didn’t seem as such after • French-English relations had forever changed; the conscription issue had torn the “country in two”, resentment would affect an entire generation…

9. 1920s Canada: Social Changes • Despite the difficult adjustments faced by soldiers on their return from Europe, there were many positive changes that occurred in Canada • The Economy was booming, women had gained the vote, and optimism that the horrors of war being gone was high • Through numerous interventions and activities, Canadian life in the 20s had a lot to look forward to…

10. Social Changes: Types of Activities • Canadians began to participate in numerous activities, some of which have remained – and seem extremely common place – to this day… • Summertime: picnics, corn roasts, and clam bakes were on the up and up. “Riding the rapids” and going to the horse races were also experiencing new born popularity • Wintertime: Going to the movies, and engaging in skiing and skating were becoming sports of choice • Living life to the fullest was more of a consideration than ever before…

11. Social Changes: Art • The most famous group of Canadian artists from the 1920s was the Group of Seven • These seven rejected realism (represent subject matter truthfully), using bold strokes, heavy paint, and contrast in their paintings • These artists believed “that a distinct Canadian art could be developed through direct contact with nature”; painting the Canadian landscape, particularly the north was their style of choice…

12. Canadian Art in the 1920s • One of Canada’s most famous artists, and an “unofficial” member of the Group of Seven was Emily Carr • Sketched and painted scenes of the forests around Victoria, BC as well as studied local aboriginal culture. • Emily Carr Institute of Art, Design, & Media • Granville Island

13. Social Changes: Inventions • In the 1920s the popularity of three miraculous inventions forever changed the lives of Canadians • The Radio, the Airplane, and the Automobile were to change the Canadian landscape forever… • Radio: News and information, Foster Hewitt & CBC Radio • Airplane: WWI technology that was applied to travel and carrying more than just weapons • Automobile: Created jobs, enabled Canadians to drive from sea to sea. Also a major force in the development of suburbs

14. Social Changes: Immigration • Before WWI Canada experienced a unprecedented boom in immigration • Settlement was located on the Prairies and experienced benefits from the expansion of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in the 1880’s • This “boom” experienced a lull due to an amendment to the Immigration Act in 1919 • Canada was closed to people coming from “enemy” countries, emphasis was geared towards British and American immigrants • More people leaving than coming in; between 1915 and 1925 Canada had 400,000 more people leaving than coming to stay

15. Changes to Immigration Policy • Canadian farmers urged the government to introduce a less restrictive immigration policy • PM Mackenzie King lowered barriers to European immigration • CPR spent more money trying to lure immigrant groups from the United States and Europe during this time • Further to this Railway led initiative, Pier 21 was a portal to Canadian immigration • Halifax, NS was the focal point for European immigration by boat • 1,000s of people would arrive at a time, processed in groups of 250 • 1927: top 5 immigration countries for Canada: Scotland, England, Poland, the United States, and Ireland