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UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 Chapter Seven A CHANGING CANADA Figure 7–1 The illustration (left) of a Canadian World War I veteran at home...

UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 Chapter Seven A CHANGING CANADA Figure 7–1 The illustration (left) of a Canadian World War I veteran at home appeared in Canada in Khaki, a magazine published by the Canadian War Records Office. But the rosy picture shown in this illustration — suggesting everything was back to normal — was far from the reality faced by many returning soldiers. The photograph (bottom) shows some returning veterans at the corner of Yonge and Carlton streets in Toronto in 1919. 198 Unit 2 Did World War I transform Canada? mhr CHAPTER ISSUE What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? By the time World War I ended, nearly 600 000 men and women had served in the Canadian forces. Between 60 000 and 70 000 Key Terms Canadians never returned; they were buried in marked and inflation unmarked graves in France and Belgium. And of those who did suffrage return, more than 172 000 were wounded in body or mind. pandemic In 1919, neither war veterans nor Canadians who had remained general strikes at home knew what was to come. The Allies had won the war, but Prohibition the victory had been costly in many ways. Canada was in debt, and branch plants the country was entering a turbulent time. In the decades ahead, credit Canadians faced rapid changes marked by periods of boom and bust. autonomy The images on the previous page show two perspectives on the multilateral action experience of returning soldiers. Examine each and respond to the following questions: What words or phrases sum up your immediate response to each image? What story does each image tell about how life has changed or stayed the same? What are the similarities and differences between the two stories? What might have been some of the greatest challenges returning veterans had to face? Consider social, economic, and psychological challenges. Looking Ahead The following inquiry questions will help you explore how — or whether — Canada and Canadians LEARNING GOALS changed after World War I: Was World War I a turning point for women? In this chapter you will d and what stayed How did Canada recover from the war? examine what change following World How did the “good times”of the 1920s affect life in the same abou t Canada Canada? War I velopments in the What new roles did Canada play on the world describe some key de stage? rights of women made by individuals explore contribu tions of rights, culture and groups in the areas ce, and technology and enter tainment, scien wing role on the world analy ze Canada’s gro ing relationships stage in light of its evolv d States wi th Britain and the Unite mhr What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? Chapter 7 199 UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 Was World War I a turning point for women? Figure 7–2  When veterans returned home from Europe, Canadians welcomed them as heroes. But the homecoming celebrations masked a number of Inflation happens when prices go up while troubling realities. Supplying war materials had been good for Canadian your wages stay the same. How would this businesses, and workers had been in demand. During the war, wages situation affect your buying power over time? had risen and jobs had been plentiful. But the years ahead would not be as prosperous. Society would also be challenged by a different kind of prices change. The war had shown women what life could look like if they could participate equally in the workforce. This fact would prove pivotal in the years ahead. wages Changing Expectations During the war, the Canadian munitions industry had employed up to 300 000 people. The demand for workers was so high that many factories had hired women to do skilled jobs that had previously been open only to men — and these women had proved that they could work as effectively Figure 7–3 This cartoon, which appeared in the Halifax Herald in early as men. 1919, reflects the concern of many But when the war ended, many of these women were expected to give returning soldiers. What are some up their jobs to make way for returning veterans. In addition, munitions things the government could have done factories, as well as many other industries, either closed or cut production. to ensure that veterans were able to The economy shrank, and Canada experienced a recession. quickly reintegrate into society? The hard times meant that few jobs were available, and by the end of 1921, 20 per cent of all veterans were unemployed. The situation was made worse by a British government plan that encouraged British veterans to settle in other parts of the British Empire. Thousands took advantage of the plan to immigrate to Canada and settle on farms in the West. Inflation — a rise in prices accompanied by a drop in the buying power of money — added to the challenges. The cost of living had increased during the final years of the war, and in 1918, living in Canada was nearly twice as expensive as it had been in 1914. Returning veterans had expected more from the government and Canadian society. Soldiers had been poorly paid during the war, at the same time as many Canadians at home had prospered. The veterans lobbied for improved benefits, but in the end, they received a lump sum based on their rank and length of service, $35 to buy civilian clothes, and a year of free medical care. 200 Unit 2 Did World War I transform Canada? mhr  The government also paid an allowance to the wives and children of those who had died in the fighting. And though veterans who had suffered a permanent disability could claim a pension, only those who were completely disabled were eligible. This amounted to only about 5 per cent of the total. Ethical Dimension: Did returning veterans have a right to be resentful of women who wanted to take part in the workforce? Figure 7–4 Elsie MacGill, the first women to Women and Change graduate with an engineering degree from a Canadian university, later designed World During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Canadian women War II aircraft. How can individual trailblazers tried to reform society by fighting for rights such as the vote, greater like MacGill help create change within society? educational and job opportunities, and improved labour laws and health care. Before World War I, many of the jobs open to women were low- paying and offered little chance of advancement. This situation started to change during the war, but most women, such as teachers, were still expected to end their careers once they married. Married women with families to support often worked as domestic servants in the homes of the wealthy or in the sweatshops of the clothing industry. Many professions, such as medicine, law, and engineering, were all but closed to women. By 1919, only 11 Ontario women had managed to overcome the obstacles to becoming a lawyer. And Canada’s first woman engineer, Elsie MacGill, did not graduate from the University of Toronto Check Forward  until 1927. One of the earliest Canadian women’s organizations was the National Council of Women of Canada, which was founded in 1893 and has remained active to the present day. In the early days, members focused on improving public health and the lives of female factory workers, immigrants, and prisoners. Many early advocates of the vote for women, including Nellie McClung, were members of the council.  Check Back Continuity and Change: With a partner, draft a statement that expresses how the graph in Figure 7–5 shows that some things for women had You read about Elsie MacGill in the prologue. changed — while other things had stayed the same. Figure 7–5 Women’s Changing Roles, 20 1911–1921 15 Percentage Before 1911, many working women were domestic servants. That changed after 10 the war. This graph shows how women’s participation in two other professions was 5 changing. What other professions might 1911 1921 1911 1921 have seen more women? 0 Clerical Professional Positions Positions Source: Robert Bothwell, Ian Drummond, and John English. Canada: 1900–1945. mhr What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? Chapter 7 201 Graph Labels - Univers 47 — 7/8.4 main graph lines and ticks.5 pt 100% black UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 Women and Political Change Canadian women began to campaign for suffrage — the right to vote — in the 1870s under the leadership of Emily Stowe. Stowe, the first woman to practise medicine in Canada, knew about inequality firsthand. Denied Figure 7–6 Women in the House of entry to medical schools in Canada, she had gone to the United States to Commons, 1921 and 2011 earn her degree. She then had to spend years trying to become licensed to practise medicine in Ontario. What does your comparison of these graphs suggest about the level of success In the early 1900s, leaders such as Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir of Canadian women’s struggle for equality? Edwards, Louise McKinney, and Emily Murphy continued the fight for women’s right to vote. These activists did not see suffrage as the end of the 0.4% 22.4% battle. They also wanted to overcome other hurdles, such as the right to run for public office, to be appointed to the Senate, and to serve as judges. Ontario was the first province to allow some women — widows and unmarried women who owned property — to vote in municipal elections. More women won the right to vote during World War I, and by 1918, 1921 2008 some women could vote in provincial elections in Manitoba, Alberta, 1 of 235 MPs 69 of 308 MPs Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. In 1918, Prime Minister Robert Borden’s government extended suffrage Figure 7–7 This 1918 cartoon was created by the artist and writer Emily Carr, who to most Canadian women and, in 1919, poked fun at people who feared that recognizing women’s right to vote would lead to women’s right to run for Parliament was even more “radical” changes in society. What is Carr’s message? recognized. In the 1921 federal election, Agnes Macphail became Canada’s first woman member of Parliament when the voters of Grey Southeast, in Ontario, elected her to represent them. Macphail, who was from a farming family, ran for the Progressive Party, which championed farmers’ causes. Election to the House of Commons did not end Macphail’s struggle for equality. Graph Labels In the47House, - Univers — 7/8.4 she encountered main graph lines and ticks.5 pt 100% black resistance Standard Text and was 47 - Univers often belittled by — 9/10.8 ghost lines of graph.25 pt 50% black other MPs. Still, the voters BOLD L ABELS - UNIVERS 67 — 9/10.8 SMALL in her CAPS riding continued to return her to the House,.5 PT BLACK STROKE ON BARS where she struggled as the only woman until 1935. In that year’s election, Martha Black, who was elected in Yukon, became the second woman MP. Continuity and Change: Is measuring political representation the most effective way of assessing the success of women’s struggle for equality? What other measures should we consider? 202 Unit 2 Did World War I transform Canada? mhr Thinking Historically: Cause and Consequence Why Women Finally Got the Vote Historical events sometimes happen at a precise moment. On May 24, 1918, the Canadian Parliament passed the Act to confer the Electoral Franchise upon Women. In one fell swoop, parliamentarians officially granted all white women born in Canada the right to vote in federal elections. It is important to note that non-white women were excluded, but the step nonetheless almost doubled the number of people who had full citizenship rights. There is no doubt that the members of Parliament who voted to change the law changed Canada’s course. As with all historical developments, however, people do not act in isolation. Historical events come about through a combination of historical actions—people or groups take actions that cause events the conditions within which those actions are taken The federal government would not have changed the law a hundred years earlier because the conditions would not have been right. The war changed everything. Figure 7–9 Suffragette protests like this 1913 parade in New York City would have made the news. How would this influence Canadian women and legislators? Figure 7–8 Underlying Conditions and Historical Actions Underlying Conditions Social conditions: During the war, women were doing jobs normally done by men. Economic conditions: Some women were gaining economic independence. Cultural conditions: It was becoming more culturally acceptable for women to speak their minds. Political conditions: It looked like Sir Robert Borden and his party would not get re-elected without votes from the mothers, sisters, and wives of soldiers. Canadian women get Dr. Emily Howard Stowe formed the Toronto Women’s Library Club, which was a screen for the vote suffrage activities. Members began a long campaign of public education. in 1918 Historical In 1914, Nellie McClung and the Political Equality League staged a mock parliamentary session Actions in Winnipeg. They debated whether or not to give men the vote. It was an enormous success. Between 1916 and 1918, six provincial governments, including the Ontario government, had voted to grant women the right to vote in provincial elections. To get re-elected in 1917, Robert Borden granted the mothers, sisters, and wives of soldiers the right to vote. When other women protested their exclusion, he promised it to all women. Explorations 1. Create a web of the historical actions and conditions 2. In your opinion, which historical action or condition was in the graphic above. Draw arrows from one to another most responsible for women getting the right to vote in to indicate how one condition or action led to another 1918? What part did the war play? What were the other condition or action. What can your conclude about how factors? Explain your position. conditions and historical actions interact? mhr What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? Chapter 7 203 UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 The Persons Case By the end of 1919, most women in Canada could vote and hold elected office, but they still struggled to be appointed judges and senators. In 1916, the Alberta government had appointed Emily Murphy a police magistrate, making her the first woman judge in the British Figure 7–10 In 2000, this sculpture by Empire. Though some male lawyers who appeared before Murphy refused Edmonton artist Barbara Paterson was to accept her judgments, the Alberta courts ruled that she was qualified to unveiled on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. It is hold the post. called Women Are Persons ! and honours Then, in 1917, a group of women put Murphy’s name forward as a the Famous Five, the five women who candidate for the Senate — but Prime Minister Robert Borden refused to spearheaded the Persons Case. Why do consider Murphy on the grounds that she was not a “qualified person.” you think it took until 2000 to erect this Borden’s decision set in motion what became known as the “Persons sculpture? Case,” a legal action that took 12 years to resolve. The British North America Act of 1867, Canada’s Constitution at the time, specified that only “qualified persons” could be senators. But the act did not define “persons”; instead, the courts relied on an old British definition. It said, “Women are persons in matters of pains and penalties, but are not persons in matters of rights and privileges.” In response to Borden’s decision, Murphy and four other women — Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, and Irene Parlby — came together to take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada. This court ruled that because only men were persons, only men could be appointed senators. At that time, Supreme Court decisions could be appealed to the Privy Council in Britain, and this is where the women took their case next. On October 18, 1929, the privy councillors overturned the Supreme Court decision and ruled that Canadian women are persons. The councillors noted that “the exclusion of women from all public offices is a relic of days more barbarous than ours. And to those who would ask why the word ‘persons’ should include females, the obvious answer is, why should it not?” At the time, Liberal William Lyon Mackenzie King was prime minister, and he soon named Cairine Wilson to the Senate. Despite Murphy’s leading role in the battle, King bypassed her because of her ties to the Conservative Party. Recall... Reflect... Respond 1. Historians Robert Bothwell, Ian Drummond, John 2. What changes in Canadian society made Canada a English, Sarah Glassford, and Amy Shaw maintain better place for women? How have these changes that World War I was “of fundamental importance in influenced what kind of Canada we live in today? the changes in the political role of women.” Develop 3. Imagine you were a woman in Canada at this time. an argument to support or challenge this judgment. Which steps would you be willing to take to help improve your rights and social opportunities? 204 Unit 2 Did World War I transform Canada? mhr How did Canada recover from the war? Up for Discussion If wars have such terrible long-term At the end of World War I, Canada faced a number of challenges — effects, why do countries such as Canada physical, economic, and political. commemorate battles? Influenza: 1918–1919 At the time, little was known about the disease or how to treat it. Scientists now believe it started in birds and jumped to pigs and then to humans. Once humans carried the flu to Europe, the disease spread Voices quickly in the mud and filth of the trenches. Wounded soldiers returning to Canada in 1918 carried the virus home I want to make it absolutely clear with them. By the time Canadian forces in Europe had embarked on the that people are dying in our midst last 100 days of the war, the flu was spreading across Canada. because they are not provided with The parades and crowds celebrating the end of the war in late 1918 proper care. They are not dying because we don’t know about them. helped spread the disease. The same thing happened in many other We know where they are, but we countries, and the flu became a global pandemic — an epidemic that have nobody to send. Knitting socks affects many people in many countries. Some historians believe that as for soldiers is very useful work, many as 50 million people, including more than 50 000 Canadians, died. but we are now asking the women of Ottawa to get in the trenches Conditions in Canada themselves. The economies of countries that had fought in World War I were — Harold Fisher, mayor of Ottawa, at a news conference, 1918 in chaos, partly because of unemployment caused by the closing of munitions factories and partly because of huge debts that had accumulated during the war. By 1934, for example, Britain still owed the United States $4.4 billion for the war. The global economic decline after the war was deep and widespread. Figure 7–11 Returning soldiers were In Canada, unemployment increased in 1919. Tens of thousands angry when they could not find jobs. On of soldiers had returned from Europe and were looking for work at the Thanksgiving Day in 1920, this group of same time as munitions factories, chemical and steel plants, and mining World War I veterans marched through operations were closing. downtown Toronto to protest the shortage Both food and fuel were in short supply and became more expensive. of jobs. Put yourself in their shoes. Why do The price of ground beef, for example, had been 10 cents a pound in they feel a sense of injustice? 1914. In 1918, it was 39 cents a pound, an increase of nearly 300 per cent. Higher prices and lower wages meant that people had trouble maintaining their standard of living. In 1920, Stephen Leacock, a popular Canadian humorist and a political economist, warned that Canada faced strikes, economic unrest, and cycles of rising wages and prices. During the war years, employers had needed workers, and many employers had been willing to negotiate when workers threatened to strike. But when the economy tanked after the war, companies had a hard time surviving, so they were unwilling to improve working conditions or wages. mhr What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? Chapter 7 205 UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 Returning Veterans Many of the soldiers returning from World War I were changed by the Voices horrors they had experienced. Some found it hard to settle down to There must be a minimum of civilian life. In March 1919, veteran George Pearson wrote in Maclean’s sentiment and a maximum of hard magazine that returning soldiers experienced a “terrible restlessness business sense concerning the future which possesses us like an evil spirit; the indefinite expression of a vague of the returned soldier. discontent, the restlessness of dying men, little children, and old soldiers.” — Ernest Scammell, secretary of the Others suffered from shell shock, called post-traumatic stress disorder Military Hospitals Commission, 1915 today. And some 4500 veterans had been prisoners of war. Few services were available for these soldiers. The prevailing attitude was that they should return to their civilian responsibilities. Hugh Graham — Lord Atholstan — the multimillionaire publisher of the Montréal Daily Star, echoed this opinion when he said, “The returned soldier must not be allowed to consider himself an unlimited creditor of the State, to be supported in idleness.” Up for Discussion At first, soldiers with disabilities had some government support, but For how long should a country be as time passed and the economy worsened, the government cancelled expected to support soldiers while veterans’ training and skills programs. By the end of 1921, most veterans they reintegrate into society? with disabilities were unemployed. Many former soldiers were bitterly disappointed by the government’s — and the public’s — response to their situation. Some veterans hoped that by banding together they might be able to press the federal government to create programs that would benefit them and their families. So they formed groups such as the Great War Veterans’ Figure 7–12 Union Membership and Hourly Wages for Building-Trade Association. The GWVA tried, but failed, to win improved compensation Workers in Canada, 1914–1924 for all veterans, including those with disabilities and the families of those who had been killed. In a number of cities, veterans began to organize In which years was union membership protests but often ended up in jail. First Nations veterans also organized highest? In which years were hourly wages protests, and their story is told in the next chapter. the highest? Year Total Union Members Average Hourly Wages Labour Unrest 1914 166 000 $0.25 In the early 1900s, labour union activity increased in Canada. This activity reflected growth in the worldwide labour movement. Canadian 1915 143 000 $0.25 workers began to demand eight-hour workdays, recognition of their 1916 160 000 $0.25 unions, and improved wages. At the time, few laws protected workers 1917 205 000 $0.25 from exploitation, and work conditions could be dreadful. Between 1914 1918 249 000 $0.40 and 1918, membership in labour unions grew. The experience of Canadian soldiers in Europe had taught many that 1919 378 000 $0.45 working collectively brought results, an insight that meshed with the 1920 374 000 $0.43 growing union movement in Canada. Strikes organized by labour unions 1921 313 000 $0.38 in several major centres of the United States found broad-based support in 1922 277 000 $0.33 Canada. 1923 278 000 $0.33 Evidence: Examine the statistics in Figure 7–12. What factors could have 1924 261 000 $0.33 contributed to an increase in union membership and wages? What factors could have contributed to a decline in membership and wages? Based on Source: Statistics Canada this evidence, make a statement about labour movements that you think is true. Explain your answer. 206 Unit 2 Did World War I transform Canada? mhr One Big Union After World War I, the idea of unions joining together became popular,..... CONNECTIONS..... especially in Western Canada. In March 1919, union leaders met in The idea for One Big Union began with Calgary and decided to form a branch of the One Big Union. OBU the Industrial Workers of the World, members believed that an alliance would increase their bargaining power a movement that had started in the United States just after the turn of the with government and employers. Members would support one another if 20th century. IWW members — often one group decided to strike. called “Wobblies” — believed that The beliefs of many OBU members were similar to those of the all workers should unite in one big union rather than join smaller unions communist revolutionaries in Russia and of the international communist representing specific trades. The IWW movement. In Canada, many people, including the government and and the OBU adopted the communist police, were suspicious of communists and harassed them continually. slogan: Workers of the World, Unite. Pamphlets produced by the OBU called for a restructuring of society because it was based on an unfair class system. The pamphlets said that workers suffered “hunger and want” while employers had “all the good things of life.” Workers were urged to unite to fight those who denied them equality and fairness. Voices To achieve their goals, OBU members supported general strikes. A general strike is not directed against a single employer; rather, it is Winnipeg is a warning to the rest of directed against governments and employers as a group. At the Calgary Canada. The object of the One Big Union is plain. It is the aim of the meeting, delegates proposed a country-wide general strike on June 1 if the Reds [communists] who dominate government did not respond to their demands. that organization to use mass-power, Historical Perspective: C  ommunism was young and untested in 1919. in defiance of agreements, for the Many people thought that it was the answer to all the world’s problems overturning of organized society. because it claimed to put the needs of the people before the needs of the — The Times, Toronto, May 21, 1919 rich. Why would its ideals appeal to Canadians in 1919? Is it easier to judge how effective communism is today? Why or why not? The Winnipeg General Strike On May 1, 1919, members of Winnipeg’s building trade unions went on Figure 7–13 Although thousands of World strike when their employers refused to negotiate a wage increase. The War I veterans joined the Winnipeg General strikers were joined the next day by city metal workers. When the strikes Strike, others like these — who marched on June 4, 1919 — believed that the strikers were were not settled by 11 a.m. on May 15, the Winnipeg Trades and Labour trying to destroy the values they had fought Council called for a citywide strike to support the striking workers. An for. Why might such a widespread strike cause hour later, 20 000 members of 94 unions were off the job. people to fear or attack the strikers? Within days, the number of strikers had risen to 30 000. The strike closed factories and stores, and stopped city streetcars. The original strikers were joined by postal workers, firefighters, and police officers. A central committee co-ordinated the labour protests and negotiated with employers. Essential services, such as delivery of food and dairy products, were allowed. Delivery wagons carried signs that read “Permitted by Authority of Strike Committee.” mhr What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? Chapter 7 207 UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 Opposition to the Strike The Citizens’ Committee of 1000 formed to oppose the strikers. The committee, which was made up of business owners, politicians, and bankers, portrayed the strike as an effort by foreigners to overthrow the democratically elected Canadian government. Figure 7–14 On Saturday, June 21, The committee recruited volunteers to replace striking workers, fired 1919, members of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police charged at protesters all Winnipeg police officers who refused to pledge not to join the strike, who had attacked a streetcar driven by a and hired 1800 special police officers. The city also called in the Royal replacement worker. Order was restored, Northwest Mounted Police (RNWMP) — now the RCMP — to help but the day became known as “Bloody keep order. Saturday” because of the violence. Do you Committee leaders warned that the strike was the start of a revolution think the situation could have been handled like the one that had taken place in Russia. The federal government, differently? Explain your response. which was afraid the strike would spread to other cities, supported the citizens’ committee and ordered government employees to report to work or lose their jobs. Immigration laws were changed so that any striker who was an immigrant could be deported immediately. On June 17, some strike leaders were arrested. Four days later, RNWMP officers on horseback charged into a protest that was becoming violent. By the time the confrontation ended, up to 100 people were injured and one worker was dead. A second died later of his injuries. The army then moved in to occupy the streets of the city. Threatened with losing their jobs, the strikers returned to work on June 25, six weeks after the strike began. Some strikers were fired, and before they were allowed to go back to work, others were forced to sign agreements not to join a union. Ethical Dimension: G  iven the context, was the government reaction and use of force justified? Voices Some Consequences of the Strike The strike did not bring about the changes that the workers had hoped Unionism has already accomplished for. One strike leader was deported, and others were jailed. And over the much. Factory acts, the reduction next few years, union membership dropped as unemployment rose. in the hours of labour, and the Still, the strike did have some lasting effects. A royal commission establishment of a standard rate of wages have been brought about found that the strikers had engaged in peaceful protest and that the strike largely through pressure on the part was not a conspiracy to overthrow the government. of Unions... Unionism is the most The law soon required employers to recognize the right of workers to democratic of all movements. bargain collectively. The strike began a new era of political involvement — J.S. Woodsworth, for workers, and several strike leaders went on to political careers. John in My Neighbor, 1911 Queen, for example, later became mayor of Winnipeg, and in 1921, J.S. Woodsworth was elected to the House of Commons. Woodsworth became a founding member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, which later became the New Democratic Party. 208 Unit 2 Did World War I transform Canada? mhr Prohibition Figure 7–15 As Prohibition in the In the early 20th century, alcohol was blamed for many social problems, United States continued into 1928, liquor such as crime, public drunkenness, family violence, and poverty. As a smugglers from Canada found ways to result, the temperance movement, which called on people to abstain from conceal the illegal substance. This woman drinking alcohol, gained ground in North America. showed how a floppy overcoat could be Temperance societies believed that if people stopped spending money used to conceal two tins of liquor strapped on alcohol, many families would be able to improve their lives. The to her legs. What might be this woman’s motive for posing for these photographs? Woman’s Christian Temperance Union campaigned for a total prohibition Was she a smuggler or a prohibitionist? on alcohol. Nellie McClung and Louise McKinney of the Famous Five were members of the movement. Before and during World War I, the temperance movement led to the banning of alcohol in several provinces, including Alberta and Ontario. Bars were closed and selling alcohol became illegal. In 1918, under the War Measures Act, the federal government enacted Prohibition — laws against making and selling intoxicating liquor. The ban lasted until a year after the war ended. Not all Canadians were happy with Prohibition, and a brisk illegal trade in alcohol developed. People who wanted to drink had to buy illegal liquor from criminals for high prices or go without. Governments lost the income generated by alcohol taxes. By 1921, provincial governments began to repeal prohibition laws and replace them with government- controlled liquor sales. The U.S. government had also introduced Prohibition, and the U.S. laws remained in effect well after Prohibition had ended in Canada. This created a profitable business opportunity for Canadian liquor companies, which looked the other way when their products were smuggled into the..... CONNECTIONS..... United States. Every year, “rum runners” transported about 45 million litres of liquor The I’m Alone was a rum runner from into the United States, often through remote land crossings or across lakes Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. In 1926, the U.S. Coastguard noticed that the boat and rivers in boats. Small-scale smugglers often hid liquor containers in had developed engine trouble in the their clothing, in baby carriages, or in other places. Larger-scale smugglers Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Coastguard used fast boats or cars to bypass border checkpoints. Some Canadian rum chased it out to sea, where it sank. After the incident, Canada demanded runners, such as Rocco Perri and Emilio Picariello, developed reputations an apology and compensation for the as larger-than-life “entrepreneurs.” loss of the vessel. Recall... Reflect... Respond 1. Create a two-circle Venn diagram to describe On the basis of what your Venn diagram shows, write conditions in Canada in the years immediately after a short message that you would have sent to your World War I. member of Parliament if you had lived at the time. I n the left circle, describe conditions for war 2. Explain the goals of a movement in which Canadians veterans. worked together to achieve something. In the right circle, describe conditions for most 3. Describe one major area of conflict among Canadians Canadians. in the years following World War I. What caused this In the centre, overlapping area, describe conditions conflict? What harm did this conflict lead to? What encountered by both groups. positive results came out of it? mhr What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? Chapter 7 209 UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 How did the good times of the 1920s affect life in Canada? By 1924, the Canadian economy was finally turning around. In Europe, countries were starting to recover from World War I, and demand for Canadian products grew. This increased demand created more jobs for Canadians. Many of these jobs involved producing consumer goods. People began to buy mass-produced goods like cars, radios, and telephones. These products represented a “modern” way of life and helped people forget the horrors of the war years. Figure 7–16 The top photograph shows A Growing Economy Lake Shore Boulevard in Toronto in the Industries developed mass production techniques during the 1920s. With winter of 1925. The bottom picture shows assembly lines, products could be turned out more quickly and for less the elevated Gardiner Expressway, which money. These changes in the manufacturing process meant that cars and now runs above Lake Shore Boulevard. trucks could be produced more cheaply. As prices dropped, more people How do these images reflect the growing importance of the car to the average could afford to buy them. Canadian urban dweller? By 1927, the Ford Motor Co. had sold 15 million Model Ts around the world. Vehicle ownership in Canada jumped from 300 000 in 1918 to 1.9 million in 1929. The rapid increase in the number of cars encouraged governments to invest in infrastructure like roads, bridges, and power systems. As electrical power became more widely available, many Canadian industries began using electricity rather than coal to power factories. This stimulated the development of large hydroelectric power stations. During the 1920s, electrical energy production in Canada increased fourfold. Canadian resources industries, including forestry and mining, also expanded to keep up with the demand for raw materials. The pulp and paper industry, for example, grew because it supplied newspaper companies in the United States. During the 1920s, Canada also became a major wheat exporter. At the beginning of World War I, wheat accounted for about a quarter of the country’s exports. But in the years after the war, the value of wheat exports increased by 250 per cent. Two forces helped contribute to the increase in wheat exports: a growing number of farmers on the Prairies and innovations that helped farmers increase production. Unfortunately, not every part of Canada prospered. The economy in the Maritimes, for example, remained weak. As industries stopped using coal, many coal mines in the region closed, leaving miners out of work. Manufacturing jobs in the region also began to disappear when the federal government opted to protect industry in Central Canada by maintaining high tariffs on goods imported from other parts of the country, and by raising railway freight rates. 210 Unit 2 Did World War I transform Canada? mhr Changing Trade Partners..... CONNECTIONS..... Until the 1920s, Britain was Canada’s main trading partner. But as the American economy became stronger, trade between Canada and the The McLaughlin Motor Car Co. of Oshawa, Ontario, had been building United States grew, while trade between Canada and Britain declined. By Buicks in partnership with General 1925, the United States had become Canada’s chief trading partner. Motors, an American company, since The Canadian economy benefited from the strong U.S. economy. The 1907. In 1918, General Motors bought McLaughlin — and General Motors Americans needed Canada’s natural resources to manufacture products, of Canada was founded. By 1938, the such as newspapers. But most manufactured goods flowed the other way company had manufactured a million — from the United States to Canada. vehicles. Cause and Consequence: During the Great Recession of 2008, Canadian resource companies that exported to the United States suffered because sales went down. When the economy in the United States picked up, so did sales for Canadian resource exporters. How was this situation similar to what occurred in the 1920s? Foreign Ownership During the 1920s, Americans increased their investment in Canadian industries. Some of these investments were in the form of branch plants — operations set up in Canada but completely owned by Figure 7–17 Estimates of Foreign American companies. Investment in Canada, 1915–1939 Auto companies such as Ford and General Motors, for example, were quick to establish Canadian branch plants. Branch plants enabled Examine the statistics. When was U.S. American companies to sell to Canadian consumers without incurring investment the highest? When was British high transportation costs or paying the import tariffs that the Canadian investment the lowest? government used to protect Canadian manufacturers. Year U.S. Britain Other Canadians were divided over the benefits of branch plants. Some 1915 27% 69% 4% believed that foreign investment created jobs for Canadians and helped Canadian industries grow. And if American investors made money in 1920 44% 53% 3% Canada, they would continue to invest. 1925 56% 41% 3% Others argued that American factories put Canadian companies 1930 61% 36% 3% out of business, that the managers of the branch plants were usually 1939 60% 36% 4% American, and that most profits earned in Canada went back to the U.S. Source: Statistics Canada parent companies. These critics also said that branch plants undermined Canada’s ability to make economic decisions — the branch plants answered to the parent company, not to Canadian workers, citizens, or decision makers. Continuity and Change: By the end of 2012, the United States accounted for 51 per cent of foreign investment in Canada, while Britain accounted Up for Discussion for 8 per cent. The remaining 41 per cent was from other countries. Does it matter if ownership is Canadian or Examine the trend shown in Figure 7–17 and comment on whether the foreign as long as a company provides jobs? 2012 figures are what you might have expected — and why. mhr What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? Chapter 7 211  UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 Figure 7–18 Urban and Rural Populations, Changing Lifestyles 1911–2011. As the economy improved during the 1920s, Canadians began to change What trends do you see from 1911 to 1931? the way they lived. Before World War I, more than 50 per cent of Did those trends continue? How would Canadians had lived on farms and in rural areas, but after the war, many these trends affect life in rural areas? began to move to towns and cities. Many Canadians had money to spare, 100 and they could afford to buy the consumer goods, including radios and Urban telephones, that were becoming widely available. Rural 80 Urbanization Manufacturers built their plants in urban areas because they needed 60 a large, skilled labour force and transportation links. Canadian cities Percentage began to grow as workers crowded into them. Cities grew upward as tall 40 buildings, some more than 30 storeys, were built. Cities also expanded outward as residential suburbs were added. The growth of cities depended on technological innovations. 20 Streetcar and road systems linked suburbs to the centre of cities, where most industries and services were located. Telephone and telegraph 0 communication connected city dwellers. 1911 1921 1931 2011 Source: Historical Statistics of Canada and Statistics These changes meant that many Canadians were no longer as self- Canada, 2011 Census sufficient as they had been. They needed the services offered in urban areas — grocery and clothing stores, housing, education, health care, and so on. The wealth generated by jobs was used to pay for these services, and Graph Labels - Univers 47 —the 7/8.4 service sector of the economy grew quickly. graph lines and ticks.5 pt 100% black Standard Text - Univers 47 — 9/10.8 As more people moved to cities, a political shift took Figure t lines of graph.25 pt7–19 The T. Eaton Co.’s Winnipeg 50% black BOLD Lcatalogue ABELS - Ufor 1928–1929 NIVERS place. 67 — 9/10.8 SMALL CAPS The political power of urban centres increased, while was designed to encourage both urban and rural dwellers to buy. the power of rural areas decreased. 5 PT BLACK STROKE ON BARS How does this cover promote an idealized version of Canada? Continuity and Change: Explain why the Progressive Party, whose support was largely rural, failed to maintain its popularity after 1921. Growing Consumerism During the boom of the 1920s, more Canadians could afford to buy consumer goods. After paying for food, clothing, and shelter, many had money left over to buy products that went beyond the necessities. Mass advertising campaigns — in magazines and newspapers and on billboards and radio — encouraged people to spend. Department stores like the T. Eaton Co. created catalogues and mailed them across the country. In the 1920s, the catalogues became large publications. Pages of colour images were designed to persuade people to buy new products — electric toasters, irons, sewing machines, washing machines, and fashionable clothing for everyone in the family. Women were usually the intended audience for these catalogues, and they were portrayed as stylish — and often idealized — wives and mothers, roles that the intended audience often identified with. 212 Unit 2 Did World War I transform Canada? mhr Buying on Credit One outcome of the new, urban way of life was the use of consumer credit — borrowed money. Before this time, credit had been given by grocers and merchants for food and fuel, items that were consumed. Amounts owed by households remained small, and the credit was given for a short time only. In the 1920s, the demand for consumer goods prompted banks to lend money for goods like furnishings and cars. People often bought expensive items on an instalment plan. This involved paying part of the Figure 7–20 In 1923, Foster Hewitt cost at the time of purchase and the rest in instalments over time. The became the first announcer to broadcast amount of household debt increased dramatically. the play-by-play of a Canadian hockey Credit was also available for playing the stock market, and this game on radio. He would continue to be the voice of hockey broadcasts for the next 60 appealed to people who wanted to share in the promise of spectacular years. How could something like this help profits. Paying very little up front, even average citizens could invest, and unite the country? the stock market boomed, setting new trading records. Ethical Dimension: What parallels do you see between the credit-crazy 1920s and today’s consumer society? The Media and the Arts The whole world seemed different after World War I, and that included Canada. Technological and artistic developments in media, literature, and the visual arts helped make this happen. Rise of the Radio During the 1920s, more people bought radios as the technology improved and prices fell. By 1928, some Canadian radio stations existed, but 80 per cent of the programs Canadians listened to were produced in the United States. Powerful transmitters carried the programs across the border. Canadians listened to homegrown and imported drama, comedy shows, music, and sports broadcasts. Passengers riding in Canadian National Figure 7–21 By 1938, Maclean’s magazine Railway’s parlour cars could listen to the radio as they crossed Canada. had built a loyal following among Canadians Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King participated in interested in reading news, articles, and Canada’s first cross-country radio broadcast in 1927, when he addressed stories told from a Canadian perspective. the country from Parliament Hill to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of How would this perspective be important to Canadian identity? Confederation. Canadian National and Canadian Pacific telegraph lines and various local and provincial telephone lines were used to link most of the private Canadian radio stations operating at that time. King was impressed with the new medium as a way of communicating with Canadians, and he continued to use radio to address the country. Magazines Like television and radio programs, Canadian magazines also faced competition — in this case, from glossy American magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post. Some of the early Canadian magazines survived. The Beaver, today called Canada’s History, was started by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1920 to celebrate the company’s 250th anniversary. One of the company’s main goals was to promote its stores, but the magazine also focused on Canadian history and culture, publishing photo essays and stories by Canadian writers such as Stephen Leacock. mhr What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? Chapter 7 213 UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 Maclean’s, which was founded in 1905, grew in popularity during the 1920s. Issues featured articles by Canadian writers including Emily Murphy, one of the Famous Five, as well as Canadian art and fiction by authors such as Lucy Maud Montgomery and Robert Service. Maclean’s prided itself on presenting a Canadian perspective. In 1926, editor J. Vernon Mackenzie said that the magazine’s success proved “that a Canadian magazine staffed by Canadian editors, and featuring predominantly the work of Canadian writers and artists, could merit the support of a discriminating Canadian public.” Movies Figure 7–22 Mary Pickford was reported to be the first woman to earn more than By 1920, the American movie industry was well established. Initially, $1 million a year through acting and the movie studios in California turned out silent films, but in 1927, The co-running a major film studio. Millions Jazz Singer ushered in the “talkies.” Like their neighbours to the south, of Canadians flocked to her movies. What Canadians loved movies and movie stars such as Greta Garbo and Charlie effect might she have had on Canadians’ Chaplin. Even during the Depression, many people managed to scrape dreams and aspirations? together money to go to the movies. Although Canada produced few movies during the 1920s and 1930s, some Canadians played an important role in the development of the American industry. A rising star of this period was actress Mary Pickford, born Gladys Marie Smith, from Toronto, Ontario. Pickford, who had begun her career in the theatre, was first noticed by a New York film director who cast her in his short silent films. During the 1920s, she became a major Hollywood silent film star, surpassing even Charlie Chaplin in popularity. One of Pickford’s greatest legacies was her businesslike approach to acting. She negotiated wisely with studios for payment and eventually formed United Artists — today a major motion picture company — along with other actors so that she could have more control over her own film production and distribution. Other Canadian fixtures in Hollywood at the time were comedian Marie Dressler and studio executive Louis B. Mayer. Canadian Literature In the early years of the 20th century, some Canadian writers told stories of people struggling against an unforgiving wilderness. Others told sunnier tales of rural life in tight-knit communities such as Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, the setting of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 novel, Anne of Green Gables. Voices But by the 1920s, Canadian writers were developing a different sensibility. They were telling grittier stories influenced by the social It was hardly more than dawn when disruptions caused by World War I, poverty, and the growth of cities. George woke up so suddenly. He Canadian writer Morley Callaghan, who was born in Toronto in lay wide awake listening to a heavy 1903, published his first novel, Strange Fugitive, in 1928. In the decades truck moving slowly on the street below; he heard one truck-driver that followed, Callaghan’s fiction, especially his innovative, tightly shout angrily to another; he heard crafted, and intense short stories, would gain an international audience. a hundred small street sounds Callaghan’s language was sparse, and he told his stories from multiplying and rolling with the the perspective of ordinary people who were often caught in painful motion of the city awakening. predicaments and whose lives were marred by poor choices. — Morley Callaghan, writer, Historical Perspective: H  ow did Callaghan’s use of plain language and in “The Blue Kimono,” 1935 everyday situations reflect a changing Canadian sensibility? 214 Unit 2 Did World War I transform Canada? mhr Canadian Visual Art Figure 7–23 Big Raven, by Emily Carr, 1931 The growing sense of Canadian identity that emerged after World War I was encouraged by some Canadian painters who were also developing a distinctive style. Until then, most Canadian artists had been heavily influenced by European styles and techniques, but a number of painters found inspiration in Canada’s rugged landscapes. Using strong, vivid colours, they wanted to show how the landscape affected them. To do this, they went out and experienced the physical settings for themselves. Leaders in this new style of painting included Emily Carr, Tom Thomson, and the Group of Seven — J.E.H. MacDonald, Lawren S. Harris, Franklin Carmichael, Arthur Lismer, F.H. Varley, A.Y. Jackson, and Franz Johnston. When Johnston left the group, A.J. Casson joined. Emily Carr was one of the groundbreaking Canadian artists. Carr grew up in Victoria, B.C., in the late 19th century. After studying in Paris, she developed a unique style, but neither this nor her subjects — the culture of the Kwakiutl people and the landscape of the West Coast — was appreciated at the time. But in the late 1920s, she received encouragement from members of the Group of Seven, though her works did not sell well during her lifetime. Throughout her career, she continued to be influenced by First Nations people and their communities. Many Canadians rejected this new style, with its bold colours and brooding images. One patron of the arts remarked, “It’s bad enough to live in this country, without having pictures of it in your home.” But over time, this new style captured the imagination of many Canadians, who connected it with their growing sense of identity. Figure 7–24 Clouds, Lake Superior, by Lawren S. Harris, 1923 Figure 7–25 Swamp, Sawyer’s Lake, by A.J. Casson, undated mhr What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? Chapter 7 215 UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 Thinking Historically: Cause and Consequence Canadians Interpret Canada In the early days of mainstream Canadian art, Canadians of European heritage painted in a European, realistic style. They painted lovely scenery, rugged outdoorsmen, and quaint domestic scenes. But nothing about the paintings said, “This is Canadian!” Then came a pivotal moment in Canadian artistic history: the first exhibition of the Group of Seven in May 1920. For the first time, a group of Canadian artists presented a distinctive interpretation of the Canadian wilderness. How did this moment come to be? The Inspiration of Tom Thomson Algonquin Park. He spent the war years living in the It all began in 1877, with the birth of Tom Thomson. park and painting his most famous works. Then, in July Thomson grew up in Leith, Ontario, a small town on the 1917, he drowned in Canoe Lake. shores of Georgian Bay. His parents encouraged him Thomson’s friends mourned his loss but drew in drawing, design, and music. After some business inspiration from his paintings and their memories. They training, he began a career in commercial art. By lucky continued his pursuit of a truly Canadian approach to chance, in 1909, he joined the Toronto firm Grip Ltd., art. And this led, in May 1920, to their first exhibition. where he met the head designer, J.E.H. MacDonald. MacDonald helped Thomson develop his talents. Soon Thompson, MacDonald, and four fellow designers at Figure 7–26 The West Wind, by Tom Thomson, 1917 Grip began to go on weekend painting trips into the In the early 20th century, Canada was becoming increasingly countryside. urban. Could it be that Canada’s newest city residents The artists didn’t just share the occasional tube of yearned for the undeveloped Canada they had left behind? paint. They also shared a common passion to interpret How might this condition have contributed to the success of Canada for Canadians. They wanted to break from the Group of Seven? European artistic traditions. Together, they set about to create a unique painting style. In 1912, Thomson travelled for the first time to Algonquin Park. He was so impressed by the setting that he convinced his artist friends to join him there. This was their first introduction to the Canadian wilderness. And they loved it. Arthur Lismer said that “Thomson sought the wilderness, never seeking to tame it, but only to draw from it, its magic of tangle and season.” The artists followed Thomson’s example, and began painting the wilderness using defiant brush strokes and vivid colours. On seeing Thomson’s paintings, an art enthusiast offered to pay Thomson’s expenses. So in 1914, Thomson took a leave from his job and moved to Explorations 1. Create a graphic to show how multiple causes led to 2. Do the landscape paintings of Thomson and the Group the art exhibition that revolutionized the Canadian art of Seven reveal an aspect of Canadian identity that is scene. Include actions of individuals as well as general important to you? Explain. conditions. 216 Unit 2 Did World War I transform Canada? mhr Changes in Science and Technology Figure 7–27 This woman is driving a The period after World War I was a time of rapid technological change. flashy Studebaker roadster — a two-seater During the 1920s, radio and movies become mainstream media. convertible. Predict how car ownership may Industries developed mass production techniques to meet the consumer have affected some women’s mobility and sense of independence. demand for goods. Cars started to become cheaper, faster, and more reliable and comfortable. Other scientific and technological developments were also important in changing Canadians’ lives. Roads In 1919, Parliament passed the Canada Highways Act, committing the federal government to build 40 000 kilometres of highway. By 1930, the annual cost of building roads was about $94 million. Better roads made Canadians more mobile. And convenience helped drive up vehicle ownership, which encouraged the building of new roads. By the end of the 1920s, nearly 1.62 million motor vehicles were travelling Canada’s roads. Widespread car ownership also supported the expansion of cities Figure 7–28 The candlestick phone was and the development of suburbs, a pattern that has continued. one of the first desktop dial phones. How would your life be different if this was the Communication only type of phone you could use? Telephone technology developed quickly after Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call in 1876. In 1916, for example, the first trans-Canada call was made from Montréal to Vancouver, although it was routed through American systems. At the time, telephones came in two pieces: an earpiece and a speaking piece. Users first called an operator, usually a woman, who connected them with the person they were calling. Phones were expensive and were considered a luxury, affordable only for people who were wealthy. But over time, innovations made phone service much easier and cheaper. The dial phone was introduced in 1924, and the one-piece handset in 1927. In 1927, 13 of every 100 Canadians had a telephone. Telephone company advertising promoted the telephone as essential to modern life and an aid to social interaction. Historical Perspective: C  ompare 1920s phone technology and 21st century “smart phone” technology. Which do you feel had a greater impact on people’s lives? Explain your reasoning. mhr What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? Chapter 7 217 UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 Changes in Health Health care was another field in which rapid advances were made in the decades after World War I — and Canadians were at the forefront of some of these innovations. Treating Diabetes Figure 7–29 Charles Best (left) and Frederick Banting stand with one of the In 1920, people knew little about diabetes, a condition in which the diabetic dogs they used for research. In pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Diabetes often affected the 1920s, using animals for research children and was usually fatal. purposes was not frowned upon. How Frederick Banting, a doctor from Alliston, Ontario, believed does this situation help you understand diabetes could be treated with injections of insulin. Banting persuaded the risks of imposing today’s ethics on a J.J.R. Macleod, a professor at the University of Toronto, to lend him past action? his laboratory so he could test his theory. Macleod assigned Charles Best, a young researcher, to help Banting. In January 1922, the pair injected animal insulin into Leonard Thompson, a 14-year-old diabetic. Thompson got better, and lived until his late twenties before dying of another illness. In 1923, Banting and Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine for the discovery of injectable insulin. Today, millions of people owe their lives to this research. Fighting Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly disease that attacks the lungs. In the 1920s, there was no effective treatment for TB, one of the leading causes of death in Canadians 20 to 50 years old. By 1925, however, a Canadian team sponsored by the National Research Council (NRC) had begun making a vaccine against TB. At the time, TB was a problem on many First Nation reserves, so NRC doctors started vaccination programs there. These programs helped establish a model for more widespread vaccination programs, and TB became a preventable disease. Change and Continuity: How did the medical advances of the 1920s change life for all Canadians, including future generations? Recall... Reflect... Respond 1. Who would most benefit from the improved In the column headed “Legacies,” include topics listed technologies of cars, radios, and telephones? Who in this section of the chapter. Then, on the basis of wouldn’t? Why not? your understanding of events and conditions in Canada between 1914 and 1929, list both short- and long-term 2. Choose two individuals who contributed to Canadian effects. Incorporate your ideas into a paragraph that cultural development in the 1920s and explain their responds to the question. impact today. You may have to do some research to assess the person’s impact in contemporary life. Short-Term Long-Term 3. In your opinion, which of the cultural, technological, Legacies Consequences Consequences and scientific changes ushered in after World War I and during the 1920s had the greatest impact on Canada? To help you decide, create a three-column chart like the one shown. 218 Unit 2 Did World War I transform Canada? mhr What new roles did Canada play on the world stage? Canada’s performance on the battlefields of World War I had changed many Canadians’ sense of themselves and of their country. They wanted Canada to take its place on the international stage, and they supported Prime Minister Robert Borden’s insistence on Canada having its own seat at the peace talks in 1919, and not being considered a colony of Britain. Growing Autonomy Voices Many Canadians also wanted greater autonomy — self-government or independence — from Britain. They believed that Canada should no When Britain’s message came [asking for help at Chanak], then Canada longer be tied to the apron strings of a European power, so in the decades should have said: “Ready, aye ready; after the war, the country took steps toward independence. we stand by you.” I hope the time has not yet gone by when that The Chanak Affair, 1922 declaration can yet be made. After World War I, French and British forces occupied Turkey, which had — Arthur Meighen, leader of the fought alongside the Central Powers. By 1920, treaties had been signed Opposition, 1922 and British forces had withdrawn to a few key sites. A British ally, Greece, attacked Turkey. Turkey fought off the Greeks but then advanced on the British at Chanak, now Çanakkale. The British were outnumbered, so David Lloyd George, the British prime minister, called on the dominions and colonies of the British Empire for help. But William Lyon Mackenzie King had become prime minister, and King refused to send Canadians without question. King wanted Parliament to decide whether Canadian forces should go. In the end, the British and the Turks signed a peace agreement. But the Chanak affair signalled that Canada wanted to make its own decisions about becoming involved in conflicts. Historical Significance: W  hy was a parliamentary debate over whether to go to war regarded as an important step toward autonomy? Halibut Treaty, 1923 Before 1923, Canada could negotiate treaties with other countries, but the treaties always had to be co-signed by British officials. After World War I, it became clear that halibut stocks off the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada and the United States were endangered by overfishing. So the two countries negotiated an agreement to manage the industry by setting limits on catches and on the fishing season. Britain expected to co-sign the treaty as usual, but King said that Canada would sign on its own. The British government eventually gave in to King’s demands. The Halibut Treaty set a precedent by establishing Canada’s right to take independent diplomatic action. Cause and Consequence: How might Canada’s participation in World War I have contributed to Canada’s changing view of itself on the world stage? How might it have affected other countries’ willingness to listen? mhr What changed and what stayed the same after World War I? Chapter 7 219 UNIT TWO 1914–1929 1914–1938 King–Byng Crisis, 1925–1926...