Political Parties
Who gave the "Five Cent Speech"?
Prime Minister Mackenzie King.
At the peak of the Depression, approximately how many Canadians were unemployed? (answer in percentages)
25%
What country was Canada's economy dependent on?
United States
Define "Stocks"
Units of ownership in companies
Which provinces suffered the most during the Depression?
The Prairie provinces
What union marched on Ottawa in 1935?
The Relief Camp Workers Union
What were government relief payments called?
"Pogey"
What were Canada's primary products?
Wheat, fish, minerals, pulp and paper
What was the unemployment level before the Depression started?
4.2%
What Act did the government pass to help the farmers in the Prairies?
The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration Act
What were the conditions like in work camps?
They were very isolated and worked on projects such as building roads, clearing land and digging drains.
They were paid 20c/day and included room and board.
Beds were bug-infested and the food was terrible.
How did unemployed people travel when looking for work?
They "hopped" freight trains
What was the practice of benefiting local businesses and products called?
Protectionism
How did people pay for the stocks?
They took out loans to pay for the stocks
When did the droughts happen?
1928-1936
What did the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) support?
The government ownership of certain businesses and industries and social programs to help people in need. (the homeless, elderly, unemployed, sick, etc.)
Governments spending more money on public works to create employment opportunities.
Where did unemployed men usually stay, and for how long?
1-2 days in "shanty towns" that appeared around cities
What was a popular practice for buying during the 1920s?
Buying on credit
Why did people start selling their stocks?
Some cautious investors noticed that stocks were inflated beyond their true value and started selling to cash in on profits
What were the effects of the drought and where was it hit the hardest?
Constant dust storms and lost of topsoil
Palliser's Triangle in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan
What was the "Little New Deal" and who proposed it?
BC Premier Dufferin Pattullo.
To shorten the work day
To increase the minimum wage
To increase relief payments by 20%
What did Canadians need to do to receive government relief payments and what did they recieve?
They had to line up to publicly declare their financial failure, swear they had nothing of value and prove that they were evicted from their home.
They were given inadequate food vouchers.
What happened to Canadians when the stock market collapsed? (be specific)
They went bankrupt as many of them had bought stocks on margin (small down payment and large loan).
Why did the Stock Market suddenly collapse?
Cautious investors started selling stocks and others panicked and followed en masse. The Stock Markets soon collapsed due to the sudden selling.
What plague descended on the Prairies?
A plague of grasshoppers