Timeline: Events that changed Canada (1929-1945) - Unit 2

1929

How the Great Depression effected Farmers

During the Great Depression, the prices for crops dropped drastically for wheat and hay causing many farmers to begin to lose money and began producing more crops in order to pay off their debt. However, in 1930, most farmers had gone bankrupt. Since they were no longer able to afford their equipment and land, most farmers had no choice but to move into cities and search for new jobs to be able to support their families.

1929

Continuity or Change

The Great Depression caused many farmers to start working in businesses and factories rather than being self-employed on their farms. Checks and balances were put in place with the government to be sure that more money was not being printed than what the country could sustain.

Oct 18, 1929

The "Persons Case"

On October 18, 1929, The Famous Five won their "Persons Case" which meant women were now considered "persons" under the law which most importantly allowed them to sit on the Senate of Canada. This was an example of a berrier that had kept Canadian women out of public office for more than 60 years. When these five women won this case, it required the constitution act of 1867 to recognize women as qualified persons.

Oct 18, 1929

Continuity or Change

Women are now recognized as "persons" under the law and now they were able to sit on the Canadian Senate and be strong members of Parliament.

1930

The Dust Bowl

The Dust Bowl was a period in time where Canadian farmers had to face extreme drought that caused the dust storms making it impossible to be able to grow crops in such dry conditions from 1930-1936. These horrible conditions caused many farmers to leave their farms in Saskatchewan and Alberta and move to British Columbia and Ontario for safer living conditions. Most of these farms had been in the family for generations and before this drought, wheat was a very profitable crop to grow.

1930

Continuity or Change

This event caused more advanced machinery to be made for farmers, they also worked to bio-engineer crops so they could be more drought resistant and able to grow in areas where water was more scarce such as the prairies.

Dec 7, 1941

Japanese Canadian Internment Camps

After the bombing of Pearl Harbour, the Canadian government detained approximately 90% of the Japanese Canadians living in British Columbia. They lived in these camps for World War II. The government sold their homes and businesses in order to pay for these camps and many died while living in these horrible conditions.

1942

Women in the National Selective Service Program

The National Selective Service Program was introduced in 1942. Its main objective was to recruit women into the industrial labour force. In the early stages, it only recruited single women for employment but continuing shortages of labour made the program expand to include childless married women and eventually married women with children.

1942

Continuity or Change

Women were now bringing home pay cheques for their families and were now able to support their family. They were reluctant to leave the workforce and lose their pay cheques. This was the beginning of dual income families as well as out of the home childcare.

Dec 7, 1942

Continuity or Change

Change did not come quickly, it wasn't until 1988 that Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney apologized for the Canadian governments wrong doings and ill treatment of Japanese Canadians for being put into internment camps and having all their possessions and homes sold. Also, it was at this time that the government repealed the War Measures Act.

1945

The Plan to Reduce Japanese Canadians in Canada

By the spring of 1945, the government developed a plan in which each Japanese Canadian person, 16 years or older, was forced to choose if they would return to Japan or move East of the Canadian Rockies. This plan deport 3,964 Japanese Canadians back to Japan. More than half of them were Canadians by birth, the rest moved to Alberta and Ontario but faced hostile communities and racism.

1945

Continuity or Change

Change did not come quickly for the Japanese Canadians as they were not permitted to return to British Columbia until 1949. Coincidentally, it's the same year they received the right to vote in provincial and federal elections.

2020