The ROARING 20’s: Those Who Missed It Canada’s Adjustment to Political, Social, and Economic Changes after the First World War

The Roaring Twenties: Hard Times for Women? These young women are making preserves as part of a course in “community leadership and domestic and leisure time activities” at the University of Saskatchewan.  Women were enjoying new freedoms after WWI, taking part in jobs that were traditionally for men-however, their main role was still wife and mother.  In the 1920s and 1930s, less than 25% of university students were women - and they usually were steered into courses such as domestic science and the arts.

Women in Politics  Although women attained the right to vote in 1918, only four women ran for office in  Women in office brought a new voice-the voice of women’s rights and the rights of the child, to government.  By the end of the 1920s an Equal Rights measure was passed in the B.C legislature-reversing most of the laws restricting political and legal rights of women.

Women in Politics THE PERSONS CASE  The Persons Case of 1929 brought the issue of women participating in politics to the forefront.  Emily Murphy, a well known suffragist, was appointed a magistrate in Alberta. HOWEVER her appointment was challenged because under the BNA Act, only PERSONS could hold this office.  Women at the time were not “persons,” and were property of their husband or father.  Murphy, and four other women known as the FAMOUS FIVE challenged PM Mackenzie King to appoint a woman senator to clarify the definition of PERSON.  The supreme court ruled in 1929 that women were not persons as per the constitution.  The famous 5 appealed the decision and on Oct. 18, 1929 the Judicial Committee ruled women persons under British law.

African Canadians African Canadians were discouraged from coming to Canada prior to World War One Those who did come faced discrimination In Nova Scotia the Education Act of 1918 allowed separate schools for “ Blacks ” and “ Europeans ” – this remained unchanged until 1954

African Canadians In Montreal there was racial segregation of seating in theatres

African Canadians Not everyone believed in this though – in 1919 the Brotherhood of Railway Employees accepted black porters as members and in 1924 Edmonton City Council refused to ban African Canadians from public parks and swimming pools

The Roaring Twenties: Hard Times for Aboriginal People? These children attended a residential school in Alberta during the 1920s Residential Schools in the 1920s  The Canadian government forced Aboriginal children to live, work and study at residential schools  The government wanted to assimilate Aboriginals - make them forget their own culture and be more like British Canadians  Discipline at school was often harsh. Children were forced to speak English - and punished for speaking their own language. They were told that their history and culture were not valuable.

The Roaring Twenties: Hard Times for Aboriginal People? These children attended a residential school in Alberta during the 1920s Residential Schools in the 1920s  These schools were very unhealthy and many children died of disease.  Many children were badly abused and mistreated by the teachers.  The last residential school in Canada was closed in  In 2008, the government of Canada apologized to Aboriginal people for the treatment they received in residential schools.

The Roaring Twenties: Hard Times for Aboriginal people? Assimilation This is an Aboriginal boy who spent time in a residential school. The Canadian government wanted to make him more like a British Canadian. Did the government succeed in assimilating this boy? What differences do you notice?

The Roaring Twenties: Hard Times for Immigrants? These posters from the 1920s were used to recruit British immigrants to Canada  In 1922, the Canadian government passed the Empire Settlement Act.  This law made it easier for British and other white immigrants to settle in Canada.  For example, the government helped pay their costs and offered other kinds of supports

The Roaring Twenties: Hard Times for Immigrants?  In 1923, the Canadian government passed the Chinese Immigration Act, which banned Chinese people from immigrating to Canada.  Chinese Canadians remember July 1, the day the Chinese Immigration Act came into force - as “Humiliation Day.”  The ban on Chinese immigration lasted until 1947.

In 10 sentences- Explain why the 1920’s were a time of luxury and a time of despair simultaneously.