The Roaring Twenties A CHC Presentation

Maybe this is your image of the 1920s. Gangsters. The mob Maybe this is your image of the 1920s. Gangsters. The mob. But why did gangsters do so well in the 1920’s. Prohibition.

Prohibition introduced in during war in every province but Quebec Prohibition introduced in during war in every province but Quebec. Partially to save grain for soldiers. But also because it was a social evil. Drunken men fought more, had more accidents at work, abused wives more, died earlier. Crime rate dropped. More workers took cheques home instead of tavern. Industrial efficiency improved. But impossible to enforce. Underworld grew. Gradually provinces dropped it throughout 1920s. Also increased tax base Not removed in US until 1933. Meant Canadians made a good business out of rum running.

To get around prohibition thousands of underground saloons, called speakeasies, opened in US and Canada. According to novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, during Prohibition, "The parties were bigger?the pace was faster?and the morals were looser." 

It was the beginning of the Jazz Era.

Flapper look was the new wild fashion Flapper look was the new wild fashion. Heamlines above the knee, silk stockings rollled down. Hair cut short in bob. Flapper name came from the loose galoshes with open buckles that flapped. And they danced the new wild fashion – the loose and carefree charleston

Also saw the rise of Hollywood and the Silent Era Also saw the rise of Hollywood and the Silent Era. By the way Hollywood had a strong Canadian component. Ever heard of MGM – that’s for Metro Goldwyn Meyer – Louis B. Mayer was a Canadian. Or Warner Brothers – Jack Warner was Canadian. How about America’s sweetheart Mary Pickford – also a Canadian – started up United Artists with Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks.

Also the beginning of radio broadcasts.

Another big form of entertainment was Vaudville Another big form of entertainment was Vaudville. Every city had a number of vaudville theatres like this one in Vancouver for travelling variety shows. Vaudville died with the coming of the talkies

Also the beginning of the automobile era when Henry Ford with the assembly line and this Model T car, made the car accessible to almost everyone

Also a period of greater political freedom for women Also a period of greater political freedom for women. Already know that women got the vote in 1920. But didn’t get full equality until late in twenties thanks to the efforts of these five. When Emily Murphy, a suffragist campaigner in the war years was appointed as a judge in Alberta she was challenged by someone who claimed was not a person in the eyes of the law. She won that battle in the Alberta courts. But when she, along with Nellie McClung and three others tried to get the same status for women being appointed to the Senate, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 1928 that women were not persons under the British North America Act. The appealed to the case to Britain and won.

Canada also had its inventors Canada also had its inventors. This Joseph Bombardier’s first attempt at building a snowmobile. Although it didn’t really take off as a company until 1950s

Of course we have Banting and Best who discovered insulin for controlling diabetes

Maybe it was Roaring because the twenties were so tough Maybe it was Roaring because the twenties were so tough. You thought SARS was scary. The Spanish flu epidemic of 1919 killed 50,000 Canadians – almost as many as the in the war. It killed 50 to 100 million world wide

Then there was the problem with returning soldiers Then there was the problem with returning soldiers. What do you do with them.

Workers dissatisfied not have work, couldn’t bargain collectively, not have pensions, not have unemployment insurance. Workers out west had started to join an into something called the One Big Union. Meaning they could all join together in one union and through big strikes force issues. Here the worker threatens direct action. The man in the suit says that if you want to change anything there is always the peaceful road of the ballot box. Government and employers saw it as Communist threat. Why so concerned about communists.

Erupted in the Winnipeg General Strike Erupted in the Winnipeg General Strike. Started by one group of workers striking for decent wages, 8-hour day and right to bargain collectively. Most workers joined strike, including police, firefighters and transit workers. This is a big demonstration on “Bloody Sunday” when police tried to break up a demonstration. Shots were fired and one person killed.

Can you see what sign says. This was a anti strike demonstration Can you see what sign says. This was a anti strike demonstration. Notice anything about the way they are dressed.