1. The Government Responds to the Depression
Lesson 8

2. Changes in Government during the Depression
– Liberals under William Lyon Mackenzie King
– Conservatives under R.B. Benett
A job for everyone willing to work
Liberals under William Lyon Mackenzie King
King or Chaos

3. The Bennett Buggy Describe what is happening in this picture
Why might this be an appropriate symbol of the 1930’s?
What does the name given this vehicle tell you about how Canadian’s felt about the government?

4. Halifax Chronicle in 1932 Describe what is happening in this cartoon
How is Prime Minister Bennett portrayed?
What message is the cartoonist trying to deliver?
Would Bennett’s wealth affect his decisions as Prime Minister?
Was the criticism fair?

5. Read p 86, and p 88-89 of the textbook
Why did people react so strongly to King’s “five- cent piece” comment?
Do you feel Prime Minister Bennett’s economic actions helped or hurt people suffering during the depression? Why?
Do you feel the government should take an active role in helping people, or should people be left to figure it out for themselves? Explain why.

6. Did the government do enough to help?
Prime Minister R.B. Bennett’s government introduced monthly relief payments for people in need.
But these payments were very low.
Bennett believed that they should be lower than the money people could earn at the lowest-paying job.
He said that higher payment would discourage people from looking for work.

7. What attitude is the speaker reacting to?
Was the system of doling out relief payments to various groups was fair?

8. Why would some workers and unemployed people believe that communism would solve their problems?

9. Unemployed Workers Seek Other Solutions
Unemployed workers believed that the government was not doing enough, and many turned to new political parties. Some supported communism as a way of solving their problems.
In 1917, communists had taken over Russia through a violent revolution. This frightened many governments around the world. Many people feared that their government, too, would be overthrown by communists.
In Canada, people suspected of being communists were treated harshly. Many were beaten up by police and arrested. Some were even deported.

10. Relief Camps
To deal with unemployment, Bennett’s government created relief camps. The purpose of the camps, which were in remote areas, was to move homeless, unemployed men away from cities and towns, where people feared that they would cause trouble, like creating support for other forms of government
Signing up for the camps was voluntary - but an unmarried homeless man who chose not to go could be arrested. In return for doing jobs like building roads and planting trees, camp workers were given food, shelter, and work clothes. They also received 20 cents a day.
Bennett believed that camp workers should be grateful for the opportunity to work. But many workers resented the low pay and the poor living conditions in the camps.

12. Workers Take Action: The On-to-Ottawa Trek
In 1935, camp workers organized to demand higher wages. The protest was called the On-to-Ottawa Trek.
The trek - or journey - started in Vancouver, where more than 1000 men hitched a ride in freight cars bound for Ottawa. They planned to talk directly to Bennett. In towns along the way, people welcomed the protesters and gave them food. More men joined the trek.
But Bennett had no sympathy for the trekkers. He ordered the RCMP to end the protest in Regina, Saskatchewan. There, the police would not let trekkers back onto trains.

14. Workers Take Action: The On-to-Ottawa Trek
Meanwhile, Bennett had agreed to meet trek leaders in Ottawa. But their talks broke down after an hour, and the leaders returned to Regina. Bennett then ordered their arrest.
At a protest rally in Regina on July 1, police waded into the crowd to make the arrests. Trekkers fought back and a vicious riot erupted. One police officer was killed, dozens of people were injured, and 130 protesters were arrested. The Regina Riot ended the trek and nothing changed for camp workers.

15. Show You Know Read p.92-93 of the textbook
Examine the quote by Agnes McPhail on p.93. What is she trying to say?
Complete TLS Worksheet – Examining Relief from Both Sides
To some, the On-To-Ottawa trekkers were innocent victims of the Depression. To others, they were a dangerous threat to society. Which perspective would you have taken if you were an unemployed worker? A business owner? Explain your reasons.

16. Jewish Refugees
During the 1930s, the Nazis, led by Adolf Hitler, came to power in Germany and began trying to rid the country of people they considered undesirable.
These included Jews, Gypsies, communists, homosexuals, and people with intellectual impairments.

17. Jewish Refugees
Life in Germany became harder and harder for people who were the targets of Nazi brutality, and many fled.
They became refugees, people who leave their home country to escape persecution, or ill- treatment.
The largest group of refugees - more than was Jewish.

18. Jewish Refugees
Many countries would not accept large numbers of refugees. Why?
High unemployment, Anti-Semitism

19. S.S. St. Louis
The SS St. Louis left Hamburg with 907 Jewish refugees on board on May 13, 1939
It sailed to Cuba, but the Cuban government wouldn’t let them on land.
Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Panama, The US, and Canada would not allow the refugees to enter their countries
The Ship returned to Antewrp on June 17, 1939
Many passengers would later be killed by the Nazi’s

20. S.S. St. Louis Read p 102 in the textbook
What is your reaction to Canada’s refusal to admit the refugees on the SS St. Louis?
In your notes, answer the following questions:
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good [people] do nothing.”
How does this quote apply to the SS St. Louis, and the situation of Jews in the 1930’s in general?
In your opinion, does Canada have a duty to accept refugees who are fleeing from dangerous situations? Why?