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During the late 1910's little was known in health and sciences. So when influenza became widespread Canadians did not know about the disease or how to treat it. As soldiers started to arrive home in 1918 they brought with them a very contagious virus that ended up spreading all over Canada, parades and parties celebrating the end of the war helped spread this virus globally causing a world wide pandemic. This pandemic claimed the life of 50,000,000 people, 50,000 of which were Candian
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In the early 20's many temperance societies and unions became popular and started campaigning for alcohol prohibition in Canada. Alcohol was blamed for many social problems and was seen as nothing good. Although prohibition was a strong act, it only lasted 2 years, when the government repealed the laws and replaced them with government controlled liquor sales. However the U.S. didn't stop prohibition until 1933. Resulting in "rum runners" transporting 45 million liters of liquor over the border
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Canada joined the League of Nations when it was created in 1919, which marked an independent multilateral action, this action was made by Canada without the supervision of the British on a multi-national level, signifying the beginning of Canada's many multilateral actions for the future. -
Throughout the 20's and 30's Canada's Department of Indian Affairs came to the conclusion that they needed to "get rid of the Indian problem" thus the creation of Residential Schools. These schools would take first nation children against their will and assimilate them into European culture. These schools were usually ruthless and hard on the children, most not being able to see their family for years. We as Canadians' have to look back and reflect on how we treated the FNs.
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In the late 1910's Canadian woman became restless with not being defined as "persons" so they started rallying and created a case that lasted 12 years. The case was presented showing that woman were only considered "persons" in the matters of pains and penalties, and not anywhere else. So finally in 1929 Canada ruled that woman are persons. This was an extremely important moment in Canadian history as it signified the beginning of rights for women in Canada
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As changes in science and technology became more and more widespread Canadians started to accept and use the telephone more, but because phones were expensive they were considered a luxury, but over time cheaper and more affordable phones were created making it possible for more people to get a phone. This is an important part of Canada's history as it shows that Canada started to take movements into technology and made actions into the future.
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During the 20's - 30's Canada had many restrictive immigration polices. Many Canadians had no problem with these polices, or even supported them as many Canadians viewed these new immigrants as a threat to jobs. Many Canadians believed that immigrants should try to drop their old traditions and culture in order to assimilate into "Canadian" culture. This is important to Canada's history as it shows that Canada was not a very welcoming country during the twenties and thirties.
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The democratic system put in place by the allies after WW1 was weak, as the economy was suffering when Germany had to pay 33 billion dollars to pay back for the destruction during the war, this lead to hyperinflation and poverty. So in 1920 Germany looked for someone who could fix their problems and Adolf Hitler seemed to fit this role. So in the 20's Hitler became a prominent figure in Germany and by 1933 became chancellor of Germany. Many people gave Hitler praise for his rebuilding of Germany
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During the 20's Diabetes was a uncurbable and usually fatal disease. This disease stopped your pancreas from producing any insulin, resulting in many health effects. Luckily Frederick Banting was able to treat diabetes by injecting insulin into patients. Successful this way of treating diabetes became widespread and resulted in millions of people owing their lives to his research. This is an important part of Canada's history as it shows that Canadian's are highly capable people.
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When Britain called on Canada to help with it attack on Turkey, Canada's Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King refused to send troops. This again sparked independence and publicly showed that Canada was an independent Country that could make its own decisions.
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In the 20's Canada was becoming an independent country, they started making statements like the Chanak Affair. These events helped Canada publicly show its independence to Britain. So when an opportunity like the Halibut Treaty came King decided that Britain did not need to sign the treaty between the United States and Canada and preceded with the treaty without the British signing Although the British most likely would agree with the treaty this was more of a independence move on Canadas's part
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Tuberculosis was a raspatory virus that was quite lethal in the 20's. There was no cure of treatment for the virus which caused many casualties that people could do nothing about. However a Canadian team was able to make a vaccine against the virus in 1925. This was revolutionary and helped saved many lives. This is an important part of Canadian culture as it helped save countless lives and made TB a preventable disease.
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In the 1900's there was lots of child labor, many kids were sent to work instead of getting an education. This raised concern in the provincial governments
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In the late 1920's attention and power had moved to hardline militarists who believed that problems should be solved in military ways. They also encouraged nationalistic sentiments, and labelled Japan's form of democracy as "un-Japanese" In the Early thirties this group dominated the government.
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Canada's Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King believed that this time Canada should make an independent decision to join the war. So he summoned Parliament and officially declared war on Germany. Although Canada had ties with the British Empire, this decision clearly made a movement towards Canada's independance as a country.
