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Canadian Farmers began suffering from a drought in 1929 that would last ten years. The drought left the prairies of Canada in a "Dust Bowl" state during the early 1930's. The lack of rain due to the drought along with other factors like over farming, high temperatures and plagues of grasshoppers, only made The Great Depression much worse for farmers in the prairies of Canada. Through the decade 1931-1941, 250,000 Canadian Farmers had abandoned their farms.
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Compared to the end of the first world war in 1918, Canadian Farmers situation in 1930 had been a change for the worse. Canadian Farmers (specifically in the prairies) were in a worse state in 1930 because they were not only dealing with collapsed prices, but were also beginning to face the collective downsides of the “Dust Bowl”.
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The working class Jewish community in Toronto received resentment and complaints from the local residents who formed a swastika club to make Jews feel unwelcome. The Christie Pits riot was the last in a series of anti xenophobic riots in Toronto and was the tipping point that caused the mayor to warn against displaying the swastika.
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In 1933 the largest minority in Toronto were Jewish Canadians. During the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi movement in Germany there was a growing resentment against Jewish immigrants. During a baseball game at Christie Pits in Toronto a riot broke out. While playing a team that was made up of Jewish boys and young men, the opposing team displayed a blanket with a large swastika painted on it. This caused anger and outrage among the players and spectators.
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The great depression contributed to a drop in global fur prices causing the Hudson Bay company to end credit advances and switch to an entirely cash and barter business. Some Inuit could only earn money needed for supplies by selling wood to the Hudson Bay company. The new system caused poverty and a scarcity in materials and food for the Inuits, resulting in diseases like scurvy and beriberi becoming more prevalent in their communities in 1936.
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The Hudson bay company had begun providing only the necessary materials for hunting, and removing the usual supplies for sealing and fishing in Inuit peoples everyday life. Living conditions were also worse for the Inuits in 1936 because of a combination of decreased fur prices and the Hudson Bay company ending credit advancement years prior.
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Continuing over from World War I, Indigenous peoples generally experienced respect, acceptance and promotion during their time serving in World War II. After serving, many Indigenous Peoples remained unrecognized, or were not recorded properly. However there was a step up in recognition of Indigenous Peoples service.
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Over the course of World War II, thousands of Indigenous Peoples enlisted. Many more Indigenous Peoples were conscripted to serve overseas from the start of the war in 1939, to the war’s end in 1945. Unfortunately many Indigenous Peoples who enlisted did not get recorded, an example being that most enlisted Métis were not recorded. Many Indigenous Peoples status was not yet recognized by the Canadian government.
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After Japan attacked Pearl Harbour on December 7th, 1941 during World War II, there was widespread racial prejudice and anti-Japanese sentiment. In 1942 the Canadian Government sold their property and ordered all Japanese to be relocated to the interior of B.C. and other provinces. Voluntary deportation to Japan was encouraged by the federal government in 1945. Eventually Japanese-Canadians receive some compensation for their property losses.
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Most Japanese-Canadians lived on the west coast of British Columbia. After their land and belongings were sold when they were relocated, they were never fully compensated and not able to return.
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After recovering from the great depression in 1939, Canadian Farmers needed to meet the challenging requirements of war once again. In March of 1943, the Canadian Government started an Agricultural Supplies Board in order to achieve the requirements of war, but also meet Canada's usual needs. Canadian Farmers were recognized for their contributions to the war and Canada received a seat on the Allied Combined Food Board, also in the year 1943.
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By 1939 and the beginning of the second world war, Canadian Farmers were mostly recovered from the great depression and had to begin providing for World War II. Compared to World War I, farmers now had some more assistance from the government in the form of the improved Agricultural Supplies Board in 1943.
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