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Great Depression
In the 1930's a disastrous world wide event occurred, it was the Great Depression. The cause was an abrupt drop in demand on the economy and credit. Another thing that contributed to the Great Depression was declines in the prices of world commodities. -
Continuation of the Great Depression
Canadian farmers faced very hard times during this event. Due to prices dropping farmers were forced to produce more and more in order to make a living. After prices continued to drop many farmers ended up bankrupt which resulted in the loss of their farm. This event was a huge decline for farmers and presented lots of change. -
Continuation of Women Workers During the Great Depression
I think that this event did not promote very much change because women were left performing the same jobs. I also think that there might have been the slightest decline because women had to significantly budget the money they had for essentials, which would be a hard thing to cope with. -
Women Workers During the Great Depression
Throughout the 1930’s, during the Great Depression, many Canadian women naturally took up the role as housewives. The domestic skills of women became essential to their families. Skills such as allocating money, cooking, shopping and caring for children. Although many women were housewives, 25-30% of city jobs were performed by women. Most of these jobs were found in restaurants and family businesses. -
Canadian Dust Bowl
Throughout the 1930’s a devastating problem occurred. Aeolian processes better known as wind erosion became a serious issue due to the harsh dust storms it formed and the drought it brought onto the prairies. This event brought on huge change and a massive decline in the lives of farmers. This event was a critical hit to farmers ruining their fields and leaving a wake of devastation. The event is of big importance to the history of the Canadian farmers that were located in the prairies. -
Relief Camps
The Great Depression forced businesses to let go of countless working men. After 3 years Canada had grown an abundance of unemployed single men who were left living on the street. Since acquiring a job was such a difficulty A.G.L. McNaughton recommended the solution of relief camps. These camps would provide men with three meals each day, clothing, medical attention, housing and a wage of 20 cents daily. In return for manual labor. This was a huge progressive change for workers at the time. -
World War II
When WWII began most men chose to enlist in the army to serve Canada. Women did not have this option and were not allowed to enlist until 1941. Up until then they were tasked with filling in and keeping things running in the mens absence. I think this was a super important event for women and it sparked a very slow progressive change. Although it took a long time for women to start entering the workforce, this gave them the chance to prove that they were able to perform jobs just as well as men. -
The Windsor Ford Strike
On September 12, 1945 19 000 Ford motor workers went on strike. They were from various Ford plants but mainly from the plant in Windsor. The strike lasted 99 days, ending on December 19, 1945. During the war the union workers power grew, once all the veteran soldiers returned that power dissolved. With the UAW leading them, the Ford workers demanded recognition of their Union. After both parties agreed to arbitration Ivan C Rand helped to settle the dispute and the Rand formula was put in place. -
Continuation of The Windsor Ford Strike
Personally I think this event sparked progressive change for the workers. Although they did take a step back from the power they achieved throughout war times, I believe they took two steps forward after the strike had concluded. For the most part, thanks to Rand, they ended up achieving what they were seeking as well as there opposition, who were satisfied with the beneficial changes made for them.