The Great Depression The end of Prosperity

Society and Economics Canada and the U.S. experienced ‘Boom’ period in the 1920’s led to increased mass consumerism growth of mass production increased focus on isolationism, leading to exclusion – especially from the European market

Causes Overproduction - too many goods for U.S. population to consume excessive margin or credit purchasing tariffs - the downside stock market crash: October 24, 1929 (Black Thursday)

The Stock Market - a primer buying shares (stocks) = purchasing a portion of the corporation companies sell shares to raise revenue for investment of expansion supply and demand: - greater demand = higher prices - lower demand = lower prices basic tenet: buy low, sell high

Key Events and Issues Collapse of the banking system Personal and business bankruptcies caused banks to collapse depositors lost savings in runs on the banks massive unemployment and poverty

Comparing the ‘29 Depression with 2003 Depression

Depression Around Canada and the U.S. Unemployed workers march in New York

Income in the depression

Soup Kitchens Soup kitchens provided some, but little relief

Drought and Duststorms in the Prairies Oklahoma Regina

Homeless Camps in BC and Saskatchewan

A Depression Era Christmas

Trekkers in the Interior of BC

Homeless on the Prairies

Shanty-Town on the Prairies

Maple Leaf Gardens Built in 1931 Managing director Conn Smythe Completed in six-months {started on June 1 1931 12:00 am, opened on November 12 1931} Cost of $1.5 million

Hoover’s Attempts Herbert Hoover- inaugurated as President of US in 1929 resisted government intervention in the economy offered some assistance to corporations but not to workers villages of tarpaper shacks became known as “Hoovervilles”

Roosevelt & the New Deal Started alphabet soup Started spending money Re-organized banks Helped the poor and regular people Franklin Delano Roosevelt

William Lyon Mackenzie King Liberal 10th PM of Canada December 29, 1921 – June 28, 1926 September 25, 1926 – August 6, 1930 October 23, 1935 –November 15, 1948

R.B. Bennett Conservative 11th PM of Canada Aug. 7, 1930-Oct. 23, 1935 Did little to alleviate the Depression

Bennett Buggy

Canadian Attempts Stopped all immigration Said it was municipality and provincial responsibility William Lyon Mackenzie King said he wouldn’t give a 5 cent piece to Tory government Ultimate solution - WW II