effects of the great depression
DESCRIPTION
Effects of the Great Depression. New Voices and New Ideas. Less Purchasing by Everyone. Stock Market Crash people stopped buying things led to a reduction in the # of things produced thus, a reduction in the workforce no work - unable to make payments unemployment rate rose above 25%. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Effects of the Great Depression
New Voices and New Ideas
Less Purchasing by Everyone
Stock Market Crash
people stopped buying things
led to a reduction in the # of things produced
thus, a reduction in the workforce
no work - unable to make payments
unemployment rate rose above 25%
Banking Failures + Closures
banks provided loans
people couldn’t make loan payments
banks failed
people lost their savings
surviving banks were less willing to create new loans
over 9 000 bank failures in the US
most banks in Canada survived, but were affected by the US
Poverty, Homelessness and Emotional Depression
men were expected to support their families
these men suffered from:
anxiety
worthlessness for failing to provide
many resorted to:
stealing food
stealing money
committing suicide
Birth Rates
Canada’s birthrate dropped from 13.1 live births per 1000 in 1930 to only 9.7 by 1937
Urbanization Rates
Canada’s rural population grew more rapidly than its urban population
many unemployed thought “going back to the land” was preferred over living a miserable existence in the city
Immigration Rates
dropped from 164 993 in 1929 to 11 277 in 1935
Farmers and Drought
prolonged drought
thousands of farmers abandoned their lands and moved west to BC
Political Consequences
Germany
democracy did not survive
rise of fascism - Hitler
Canada
new political parties formed in reaction to the government’s inability to address the problems of the depression
The Canadian Cooperative Federation (CCF)
Social Credit Party in Alberta
Union Nationale in Quebec
CCF
1933
under the leadership of J.S. Woodsworth
formed in Regina
supported by drought stricken Saskatchewan and labour unions and workers
committed to rescuing Canada from the Depression
promised employment and health insurance, public housing, agricultural price supports, laws to protect farmers from creditors & public ownership of major industries and financial institutions
CCF contiuned
first party to practice Reform Liberalism
allows state intervention
creates an environment that enhanced opportunities for individuals
removed “intolerable” inequities in society
did not trust in the market place
In Saskatchewan, the CCF was elected to a majority government under Tommy Douglas
introduced a health plan in 1946 that provided health care to everyone regardless of economic status
from the CCF to the NDP
1961
abandoned some of the more radical beliefs and changed their name to the New Democratic Party of Canada
although the CCF/NDP has never been elected federally, it is considered “the conscience of the House of Commons”
Social Credit Party
“Give each citizen a monthly $25 prosperity certificate, guaranteed by the government to spend on food, clothing and shelter.” ~ William Aberhard
Social Credit Party
1932
Aberhart used his radio program to encourage other Albertans to adopt social credit as the means of rescuing the province and Canada from the drastic effects of the Great Depression
Union Nationale Party
Quebec
led by Maurice Duplessis
blamed “aliens” (English minority) for the problems in Quebec
ran Quebec like a dictator and remained in power until 1959
The Padlock Act (1937)
allowed the Attorney-General to padlock the premise of any “traitor” organization
Summary
regional parties emerged in provincial politics
new ideas helped to combat the depression
the national identity forged by MacDonald, Laurier, and Borden began to break down