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For most of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, there were very strict restrictions on Chinese immigration to Canada. Allowed into Canada were students, some merchants, diplomats, and Chinese people who were born in Canada, but had gone back to China for education. Even if an immigrant was granted entry into Canada, leaving for two years at a time would result in them not being allowed to return. This was because the federal government thought that Chinese people were "not desirable". -
The Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 was the reason behind these issues. Prior to that, Chinese immigrants had still been treated very poorly, having to pay an extra fee, referred to as a head tax, in order to come to Canada. This was solely so that Chinese people would not enter Canada. Although the restrictions worsened over time, the motive behind them remained the same.
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After the roar of the 1920s, the economy started to decline, which led to the Great Depression in the 1930s. Many people lost their jobs, with 30 percent of all workers no longer having a job by 1933. Workers that had previously been able to provide for themselves and their family with money to spare became dependent on the government in order to survive. Many workers tried to relocate to other areas to try to find jobs, because there were so few opportunities for them. -
This was a very significant negative change for Canadian workers. In a very short amount of time, people went from being very self-sufficient to being completely broke. There was also a negative impact on workers' pride, as they didn't want to have to rely on the government, and they hated the situation that they were in.
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This was a very drastic change for Canadians. Previously, the economy had been booming, many new developments were being made in a wide variety of fields, and life was generally good. Within a few short years, people went from being able to buy whatever they wanted to not even being able to feed themselves or afford housing.
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During the Great Depression, it was very difficult to find work. People were running out of money to support themselves, and were getting sick and dying due to starvation. The federal government set up relief camps, where single, unemployed, homeless men would do heavy labour in exchange for food, clothes, medical care, a place to live temporarily, and twenty cents per day. However, the labour conditions were poor, ultimately resulting in a strike, and in 1936 the relief camps closed altogether. -
During the Holocaust, many German Jewish people boarded the St. Louis and sought refuge in North American countries, including Canada. Canada refused to accept any of the refugees on the ship, with Canadian government officials stating that there would be too many Jews that wanted to enter Canada, and that a line had to be drawn. Some of the refugees on the St. Louis did not get accepted into North American countries and had to go back to Europe, where they were killed. -
There was no real change in the Canadian government's stance on Jewish immigrants between 1929, 1939, and 1945. Throughout the entirety of that time period, anti-semitism was very popular in Canada, and the government stated time and time again that they did not want any Jewish immigrants entering Canada.
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This was a positive change for women. In the past, women had only been allowed in the military if they were working as nurses or in other administrative positions. Having women fighting in battles was a first, and it would have been completely unimaginable just a few years prior.
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Canada lost a lot of men in World War II. Eventually, the military became too small and didn't have a lot of power. Because of this, women were given the opportunity to perform more different roles in the military. They served in the Canadian Women's Army Corps and the Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division, working as drivers, mechanics, and parachute riggers, to name a few of the many things that they did. Over 45,000 women joined the military during World War II. -
While Canadian men were away fighting in the war, Canadian women filled some of the vacant job positions, and helped contribute to the war efforts from home. The number of employed Canadian doubled during the war, from 600,000 to 1,200,000. Women took on extra jobs in as many industries as they could, including farming, manufacturing, and logging. -
This change was a similar change to the one that occurred during World War I. After performing "men's jobs" while the men were overseas, they had to give these jobs back to men once they returned, after both World War I and World War II. Therefore, the change was an improvement from 1929, but a step down from years prior.
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Miller Chenier, Nancy. “Canadian Women and War”. The Canadian Encyclopedia, Block, Niko; Marshall, Tabitha; Millette, Dominique and Yarhi, Eli, 30 Oct. 2020, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/women-and-war. Accessed 25 May 2021. Goldstein, Adara. “Canada and the Holocaust”. The Canadian Encyclopedia, McIntosh, Andrew, 1 June 2020. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/holocaust. Accessed 25 May 2021.
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Chan, Arlene. “Chinese Immigration Act”. The Canadian Encyclopedia, 7 Mar. 2017. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/chinese-immigration-act. Accessed 28 May 2021. Struthers, James. “The Great Depression in Canada”. The Canadian Encyclopedia, Foot, Richard, 16 Apr. 2020. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression. Accessed 28 May 2021.
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Howard, Victor. “Unemployment Relief Camps”. The Canadian Encyclopedia, Skikavich, Julia, 17 Mar. 2015. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/unemployment-relief-camps. Accessed 27 May 2021. Dundas, Barbara and Sarty, Roger. “Women in the Military”. The Canadian Encyclopedia, 10 July 2014. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/women-in-the-military. Accessed 27 May 2021.
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