Canada Between The Wars 1919-1939 Social Studies 11 Canada Between The Wars 1919-1939

Conditions in Canada in 1935 Unemployment by 1935 was ten times that of 1930. Mortgage foreclosures and unemployment were the common lot of many Canadians. Riots broke out in Regina on Dominion Day 1935.

“King or Chaos” This slogan helped bring King and the Liberals back to power in 1935. Bennett’s “New Deal” collapsed with the fall of his government. Two new political parties, the CCF and Social Credit, elected MPs for the first time. These “parties of protest” were a response to the failures of the Liberals and Conservatives. Mackenzie King

The Cooperative Commonwealth Federation The CCF was founded in Saskatchewan in 1933. Its program was outlined in the Regina Manifesto. The basic beliefs were that the government should own all important industries. Business and the wealthy should be taxed to provide social benefits for the citizens. Tax the Wealthy

Social Credit This political movement was founded in Alberta and its first leader was William Aberhart or “Bible Bill.” He followed the theories of a Major Douglas who believed that there should be more money in circulation to stimulate the economy. Social Credit promised a “Basic Dividend” of $25 to each citizen over the age of twenty-one. This never happened but Social Credit became the party of business and free enterprise. $ 25

The Liberals after 1935 King and the Liberals returned to power just as the economy began to slowly improve. The Purvis Commission convinced King that the federal government had to take some financial responsibility for unemployment. The Rowell-Sirois Commission was appointed to investigate regional economic disparity.

International Economic Problems and the Rise of Hitler

International Economic Problems Canada and the United States were not the only countries to experience economic difficulties after World War I. Europe and, in particular, Germany was badly hit by problems that the prosperity of the “twenties” only briefly improved. In Germany the collapse of the economy after 1929 resulted in the rise to power of National Socialism and ultimately to another world war.

The German Economy November 1923 - 201,000,000,000 Marks During World War I the German government had borrowed large sums of money to finance the war. After the war the new government printed too much paper money in an attempt to pay down the debt. The result by 1923 was hyper-inflation. September 1923 - 1,512,000 Marks July 1923 - 3,465 Marks January 1923 - 250 Marks January 1922 - 163 Marks January 1918 - 0.63 Marks Price of a 1 Kilo Loaf of Bread

The Weimar Government In Germany the Weimar Government was established following the collapse of the autocracy in 1918. This new government was weakened by political turmoil and too many political parties. There was little respect in Germany for democratic institutions.

The Treaty of Versailles Germany This treaty signed in 1919 was considered by many Germans to be unfair. Germany’s boundaries were considerably altered leaving many German speaking people outside of Germany. Germany was forced to accept guilt for causing the war. Large reparations payments were imposed on Germany. Europe 1919

The Great Depression of 1929 and Germany The crash of the American stock market ended loans to Germany. These loans were necessary to pay reparations. German banks failed and unemployment rose by March of 1932 to over six million. The middle class which had been badly hurt by inflation in the 1920s now faced complete ruin.

Unemployment in Germany 1928-35 6 Million People 5 4 3 2 1 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935

Hitler and the Nazi Party Hitler was a veteran of World War I. After the war he became involved in politics and in 1923 attempted to seize power in Munich. Hitler’s political movement was the Nazi or National Socialist Party. The goals of Hitler and the party were set out in a book called Mein Kampf.

The Nazi Party The Nazis wished to overturn the Treaty of Versailles. promised prosperity and national unity. blamed the Weimar Government for many of Germany’s problems. held Germany’s Jews responsible for the economic situation.

Hitler Achieves Power After 1929 the economic situation allowed the Nazi party to increase its power base in the German Reichstag or parliament. By July of 1932 they held 230 seats and the Weimar Republic was near collapse. In January of 1933 an aging President Hindenburg was persuaded to appoint Hitler Chancellor. 1939 - 720,000 MEN 1932 - 100,000 MEN GERMANY ARMY

Hitler Achieves Power II The Nazi’s did not hold an overall majority but had sufficient support to form a government. Hitler’s rise to power had been completely legal. Hitler consolidated his power through the passage of an Enabling Law in March of 1933. 1939 - 3,200 PLANES 1932 - NIL GERMAN AIR FORCE

German Expansion After 1933 Hitler and the Nazi’s began to rearm Germany. German expansion included Austria in 1938 and by March of 1939 most of Czechoslovakia. Hitler’s final demand was territory from Poland.

Europe 1935 Britain Germany Poland France Austria Yugoslavia Spain Czechoslovakia France Austria Yugoslavia Spain Italy

Art and Literature in Canada 1920 -1939