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