Social Studies 10 Lessons

By: Gen L

Lesson 1: 1919 - 1920 Discontent

The Post War Recession

• Munitions plants shut down after the war
• 250k people out of work & 350k veterans returned
• Low supply of consumer goods + high demand = inflation
  • Banks raised interest rates to fight inflation
  • Many small businesses went bankrupt & jobs disappeared
• Canada entered a recession: High inflation, interest rates & unemployment
  • Experienced worldwide

Rise of Unions

• Work conditions declined; pay didn't match cost of living.
• Many workers joined unions to improve conditions.
• But, profits down, employers didn't listen to union demands
• Distain would grow, and in May 1919, it would all come to a head.

The 1919 Winnipeg General Strike

• 1 May, Winnipeg Metal Workers on strike
• 2 May, Building trades went on strike
• 15 May, A General Strike begins
  • 30k workers walked off the job, including pubic sector (mail, water, police & fire) and private sector, unionized and non-unionized workers.
• Strike demands include right to collective bargaining, living wage & 8 hour days.
• Made front page news worldwide.

General Strike, cont.

• 30 May, Police refused to sign a no strike pledge
• 1 June, entire police force fired and 1800 "Specials" were hired to replace them
  • 10 000 Soldiers returned from the front gathered to declare solidarity with the strike.
• 17 June, Strike leaders arrested in late-night raids
• Union members began protests in large groups.

Bloody Saturday: 21 June

• Protests grow in size and intensity; becomes a mob.
• Winnipeg mayor reads the Riot Act

Significance

• Birth of the modern labour movement in Canada
• Creation of CCF (later became the NDP)

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