Roaring Twenties3.2

Mid – Late 1920sThe Good Times

In the 1920’s, it must have seemed that the world was suddenly smaller for many people.

New inventions such as the radio, talking films, mass produced automobiles, and air travel meant that people in the remotest areas of the country were no longer as isolated.

They could share in common forms of entertainment, travel to other regions, and tune in to the latest news broadcasts.

While not everyone could afford the new FADS and inventions, they moved to within the reach of more than just wealthy.

The Good Times

More and more Canadians were moving into the “modern age.”

Many people moved into the cities to work in factories or in service industries.

Wages were rising for many people.

Buying on CREDIT was now possible.

All of the new developments in the 1920’s, created a huge confidence in the economy.

The result of this confidence was people began to buy STOCKS in businesses.

This created a STOCK MARKET BOOM.

Leisure in the 1920s

With higher incomes and a shorter work week, many Canadians had more time for leisure.

No one can explain exactly how fads catch on, but suddenly many people became interested in dance, fashion, game, sport, or other activity and take it up with great enthusiasm.

Examples: Mahjong Crossword puzzles. Long races and contests: non-stop talking,

kissing, eating, drinking, etc… Flappers – type of woman’s fashion.

Leisure.. Cont’d

Inventions were also sweeping across the nation. Examples:

Radio Cars – Ford’s Model T.

Different forms of entertainment: Example:

Jazz Music Dancing – Charleston. TALKIES – talking films. Mary Ann Pickford – a Canadian born actress. Sports – baseball, hockey, football, etc... Women also

played a major role.

After the war, more women wanted to attend universities.

Their fashions began to reflect the “New times” for females in Canada and around the world.

Social Inequality – 1920s

As we have discussed not all the prosperity has been equal. Women:

Still underrepresented in government. Still not considered “persons” under law. Some laws have changed but attitudes have not.

(women’s roles) The training they got in some schools prepared them

for marriage, motherhood, typing and/or shorthand classes.

Even if they did graduate from university they were likely to be paid less than men.

Seen as seen as “temporary employees, working until they were married, then they were fired.

Children

By 1929, children under the age of 14 were legally prohibited from working in factories and mines in most provinces.

Children began to stay in school longer. (Junior High).

The group that was still exploited were; the HOME CHILDREN.

Children.. Cont’d

Were overworked, neglected, and sometimes abused.

By the 1920’s reformers like CHARLOTTE WHITTON, were condemning the practice of home children.

This practice ended in 1930.

Immigrants

In the 1920’s, many North Americans and northern Europeans believed that there were superior races.

Racism began to rise in Canada in the 1920’s.

Example: refusal of some restaurants to serve Blacks.

A few Canadians demonstrated their racist outlook in extreme and occasionally violent ways.

Native Peoples

Throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s, Native peoples struggled to keep their culture and heritage.

Government policy during this period was ASSIMILATION.

Native children were sent to special residential schools where they were forbidden from learning about their own cultures.

At the same time, Native peoples who tried to live off RESERVES in Canadian towns and cities faced discrimination and prejudice.

They were given few opportunities to find good jobs and make a living.

Many faced poverty.

If they lived on reserves, they were not allowed to vote.

In the 1920’s – 1930’s, Native peoples were beginning to form organizations to fight for their rights.

Prohibition

READ P. 120

In the early years there was a lot of crime and corruption as well.

Most of it can be blamed on PROHIBITION.

This began in Canada in 1916 and 1917.

This made the production and sale of alcohol illegal.

During the war, many women’s groups had campaigned against drinking. (Women’s Christian Temperance Union)

Reasons for Prohibition:

Argued that wheat should be used to feed soldiers rather than make alcohol.

Money needed to feed families was often spent on drink and there were many arrests for drunkenness.

Positive Effects of Prohibition

Crime rate dropped

More workers took their pay cheques home instead of to the tavern.

Industrial efficiency improved because fewer work days were missed.

It became obvious during the 1920’s, prohibition was very hard to enforce.

After W.W.I, Canada dropped Prohibition, while the U.S. continued on till 1933. 

Some Canadians made fortunes smuggling liquor south of the border.

These people became known as RUMRUNNERS.