Federal Prohibition In Canada

In 1919, World War I had finally come to an end, leaving most of the world in a post war depression. However, in countries like Canada, the decade ahead would be filled with amazing growth and change in many ways. The 1920s were an exciting time in Canada because of the economic prosperity, technological, social and cultural revolutions and growing political responsibility and change in policy that country experienced. These economic, social and political changes really made the 1920s in Canada “roar”.

Because of the rising change of social and industry they kind of caused friction towards political views. Miners and steelworkers were the first workers to use the strike ad a bargaining tool against their business owners.

In order to truly understand Canadian prohibition the prior temperance movement must be examined. During the 19th century, alcohol was seen as a great evil (citation needed). This evil harmed the family unit and society. This

Strikers headed to Ottawa were the main reason for the Regina Riot. Their strike turned into a violent riot when RCMPs involved.

The Winnipeg General Strike happened from May 15-June 25, 1919. This strike is Canada’s best known strike in its history. Massive unemployment and inflation, the success of the Russian Revolution in 1917, and rising Revolutionary Industrial Unionism, all were contributions to the postwar labor unrest that put the strike in motion.

After the war, Canadian factories that manufactured war supplies were permanently closed. This produced a lot of unemployment and bankruptcy. The cost to live was increasing dramatically and many people (who were still employed) could not compete with the inflation.(CBC, N/A, 1). WW1 veterans who had returned home after the war found that the wages were far too low.(School Work Helpers, 2016, 1). Some people wished to be employed, while others wished for better working conditions.(CBC, N/A, 2). On May 15, 1919, metal and building workers and the trades and labor council declared a strike. In a few hours, 30,000 left their jobs to participate in the strike.(Reilly, 2006, 3). One Big Union (OBG) was designed to speak for the workers.(School Work Helpers, 2016, 1). The House Of Commons had modified the Immigration Act so that any individual who was not born in Canada would be deported.(School Work Helpers, 2016, 2). The government feared that this strike would create a revolution, so they interfered. Workers were told to either go back to work or be fired.(Reilly, 2006, 6). On June 21, 1919, otherwise known as Bloody Saturday many people engaged in a silent protest. 2 people were killed that day and many sustained injuries. Several of the union leaders were arrested.(School Work Helpers, 2016, 2). Strike leaders were afraid that more people would be killed so on June 25, they went back to work.(Reilly, 2006, 3).

The lack of unions that actually took part in the strike also contributed to its failure to both have an impact and to live up to its name as being a ‘General Strike’. The printers, gas and electricity, transport and railway workers were only some of a limited number of unions that went on strike. This meant that the strike could not have its effect that it was meant to. The fact that the general public didn’t give their support to the strike meant that there was a feeling around the country that what the strikers were doing was pointless. Indeed the way in which the TUC didn’t want to be

Labor unrest came to a head in 1919 when workers began to protest in response to the difficulties caused bydemobilization. Workers went on strike

Canada in the 1930s was in a state of economic depression and the people, notably living in the west, were finding it difficult to secure a source of income. R.B. Bennett was elected as Prime Minister by Canadians in 1930 on the basis that he would end unemployment, but by 1932 his government was seemingly overwhelmed by the persistence of the Depression and was becoming

When prohibition was first being, talked about in the 1840's and the 1850's this was the beginning of the subject prohibition In 1864 the Dunken Act was passed and this left the local people to declare if their counties should be dry. This act fell apart when confederation came about in Canada but, it came back about 14 years later but it was called The Canadian Temperance Act (The Scott Act) this act was an act of trying to control liquor. In 1886 Nova Scotia had its own Temperance Act, they wanted to tighten up liquor regulations. Schools at the time had mandatory Temperance education that was made to be taught. This was the start of prohibition in Canada. It took quite a few years to get off the ground and get peoples attention. Prohibition actually did not get popular until after World War One because the focus of the people of Canada was the issue of warfare. Some of the arguments by prohibitionists were that

During World War 1, the women had the rights to work outside their homes because they took over their husband’s jobs while the men were in the war fighting. They also had their voices heard and had the right to vote because the 19th amendment led to women suffrage. Men were addicted to alcohol and so were women but problems had occurred because of it so a prohibition act was to put. There had been political and economic changes for women in 1920s and the prohibition movement was one of them. The movement of Prohibition was started by and for women because the women were sick and tired of their men coming back home drunk and they start abusing them.

The Winnipeg General Strike The year of 1919 has been one of the most influential years of strikes

In modern days, alcohol is a popular drug that people consume generally. However, there was a time when any kind of activity related to alcohol was illegal. Drinking, transporting, producing, selling, and buying of intoxicating alcohol was prohibited under Canadian law. This time was called, “Prohibition”. Despite Prohibition being adopted with good intentions, it was not successful. However, it was necessary for Canada to keep their troops fed during the war. Not only did Prohibition unite people in backing the troops overseas, but it also showed women they had political influence. It spurred them into a more confident political activism in the future. It was also an ideal example of the government compromising with people who have demands.

The war industries closing down led many men to unemployment, several undesirable conditions and post war labor unrest. A man who survived the great depression stated, “As a young man, I lived through the Great Depression, when banks failed and so many lost their jobs and homes and went hungry. I was fortunate to have a job at a canning factory that paid 25 cents an hour (Faust James).” This quote shows the atmosphere during the great depression with high rates of unemployment and bankruptcy. James Faust was grateful that he at least had a job that paid him 25 cents per hour, showing the requisite for men to provide for their families in any way possible. However, they were beginning to become restless about their conditions and started to act up against their government. On May 1919, the Winnipeg General strike took place, and was known as Canada’s best known general strike. 30,000 workers left their jobs and began to demand 85 cents per hour, 8 hour workdays and the right to collectively bargain. The strike then ended on “Bloody Saturday”, when the government arrested the leaders of the strike and a riot formed in Winnipeg (Reilly Nolan). This was significant because of the attention that was drawn to the social and economic problems of the workers. Thus forth, the unemployment for men led to severe poverty and frustration that caused a period of unrest in

The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was America’s first nationwide strike. The strike was a result of a 10 percent pay deduction by four of the largest railroads. “Nearly 100,000 workers were idled and approximately two-thirds of the railroad mileage across the Unites States was shut down with over 14 states and ten railroads involved” (AP Study Notes: Rise of Unions). President Hayes eventually sent troops to coral the strikers but they were so unorganized that they eventually stopped and went back to work.