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Post War Politics

+ The Nation Expands

Prime Minister Mackenzie King’s last task in office was to expand the nation from sea to sea.

Until 1932, Newfoundland had been an independent, self governing dominion of the British Empire. They suffered greatly in the depression and were eventually given a REFERENDUM. They could continue under the existing British government, return to a self-governing dominion, or join Canada.

J.R Smallwood, a politician in Newfoundland argued that joining Canada would modernize Newfoundland.

At first referendum, the vote was almost tied 3 ways, at the second vote, 52% voted for confederation. On March 31, 1949 Newfoundland became part of Canada.

+New Leadership

Mackenzie King retired at the age of 73 and Louis St. Laurent took his place. By the time Laurent became 75, he looked old and haggard. TV portrayed him as washed out.

The New Progressive Party had a new option, John Diefenbaker who was charismatic and electrifying in comparison. He was elected as Prime Minister

At the same time, the leader of the opposition, the Liberals, was Lester “Mike” Pearson. They would take turns being Prime Minister and leader of the opposition

+Dief the Chief

John Diefenbaker was the first MP whose father was neither English or French..he was German. He saw him self as speaking for “ordinary people.” He believed in unhyphenated Canadianism-or a belief in equality for all Canadians regardless of heritage. He wanted to keep friends with the British and stand up to the Americans.

He gave Canada’s status Indians the right to vote in elections and introduced the Canadian Bill of Rights.

The French did not agree with Diefs version of unhyphenated Canadianism as they saw themselves as staunch French-Canadians.

+Lester Pearson

Pearson and his Liberals appealed to younger and urban voters in central Canada.

Pearson’s vision of Canada was based on two founding peoples: French and English. He believed however that the British connection would be severed. He thought that we needed a Canadian identity that was meaningful to all Canadians, including the immigrants.

Pearson was responsible for trial abolition of capital punishment and easier divorce laws.

He also introduced Canada’s flag and improved Canada’s social welfare system.

He introduced the Canada Pension Plan and the Canada Assistance Plan to help social assistance for needy people.

Pearson also introduced Canada’s Medicare system with the Medical Care Act in 1966.

+Pierre Trudeau

Pearson’s successor was Pierre Elliot Trudeau, a new kind of political figure for Canadians. He was relaxed and very modern. He drove a sports car and wore an open necked shirt and sandals to the House of Commons.

He dated celebrities and joked with reporters, did spins behind the Queen and generally joked around. PEOPLE LOVED HIM. Young people fell into TRUDEAUMANIA.

Trudeau had a clear vision of what he thought Canada should be. He used the term JUST SOCIETY to describe a gov. with the duty to protect the rights and freedoms of people. He did however think that people should have individual freedom and have no gov. interference in their person lives.

+THE YOUTHQUAKE

The baby boomers formed a huge young population under the age of 25 and by 1965, half of North America was in this age group. THIS WAS CALLED THE YOUTHQUAKE.

The Beatles were popular and the HIPPIE phenomenon began. Rock music was popular and “MAKE LOVE NOT WAR” was the slogan of the day.

Many became active in the women’s, environmental, anti-war, or Aboriginal movements and protested for their beliefs.

In 1972 the voting age was decreased from 21 to 18 as the youth were becoming more politically conscious.

+ Post War Boom and Bust

There was an economic crisis in 1973 as an oil embargo was imposed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) In that year war broke out between Israel and their Arab neighbors and in response OPEC (which had many Arab countries in it) refused to sell oil to Canada and the U.S who supported Israel.

Oil and gas prices jumped about 400% overnight! This caused INFLATION as prices of manufactured products going up and

the purchasing power of the dollar going down. This continued through most of the 70’s

There was also a huge REGIONAL DISPARITY between the richer and poorer areas of Canada. Ontario and Quebec suffered less in the 1970’s than the other provinces. The other provinces began to resent them.