1920s and 1930s Timeline

Group Of Seven Exhibit

May 7,1920

The Group of Seven was formed on May 7, 1920, as many members of the group were frustrated with rampant conservatism in Canadian art, so they exhibited their work as a collective in the group of seven. The Group of Seven consisted of Lawren S. Harris, J.E.H. MacDonald, Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varley, Frank Johnston, Franklin Carmichael and A.Y. Jackson. The Group of seven’s artistic journey took them all over Canada. However, some of their most memorable paintings were created in Ontario's Algoma Country and along the shore of Lake Superior. The Group of Seven holds a great amount of significance in Canada’s history. The Group introduced the idea that Canadian art could be expressed and earn a spot on an international level. Most importantly, The Group of Seven influenced and encouraged the next generation of Canadian artists.

Social Event

Discovery Of Insulin

July 27,1921

On July 27, 1921, medical students Charles Best and Dr. Frederick Banting of the University of Toronto announced the discovery of insulin. Insulin would be the cure to preventing diabetes and controlling normal metabolism. On January 22, Banting injected Insulin in a 14-year-old which then helped the boy’s blood sugar levels drop and gain strength. They received a Nobel Peace Prize for one of the most important discoveries in modern medical history. This was a significant event in Candian history as it was one of the biggest discoveries in medical history. Prior to this, diabetes was a deadly illness, and those afflicted had no way of treating themselves. This led to high death rates for those affected by this illness. Insulin was able to eradicate much of the deadly elements of this disease, thereby saving countless lives.

The Chanak Affair

Sept 15,1922

The Chanak Affair was a war scare on September 15, 1922 between Canada, the United Kingdom, and Turkey. This war scare took place in Chanak, Turkey. After the First World War, Turkish forces were threatening British troops stationed in Turkey, which led to aggression in the region . After Turkish forces successfully pushed Greek forces out of Turkey, they threatened the British forces near Chanak. On September 15, Britain had sent a telegram to showcase its power. Prime Minister Mackenzie did not provide Britain with Canada’s military forces right away. The Chanak Affair took place because Military forces of Britain, France, and Greece took up a large amount of land in western Turkey because of the Treaty of Sevres. This was forced on Turkey because of its loss in World War 1. This Affair was significant because it was another moment in history when Canada made another step to independence. King did not send out military forces to help the British, even though Britain ordered them. While this may have been seen as a sort of betrayal against the British government, King was ultimately proving Candian sovereignty and their right to make independent political decisions regarding foreign affairs.

Halibut Treaty

The Halibut Treaty of March 2, 1923, was a Canadian-American agreement on fishing rights in the Pacific Ocean. The Treaty involved Prime Minister Mackenzie King and American President Calvin Coolidge. The Treaty took place because of the amount of commercial fishing of halibut, putting halibut at the risk of overfishing. This Treaty was signed in order to protect Halibut stocks on the Northwest Coast of North America. This Treaty is extremely significant in shaping Canada’s identity as it was the first treaty negotiated by and signed by Canada only. Usually, Britain negotiates and signs on Canada’s behalf. This was the beginning of Canada becoming an autonomous sovereign state. The treaty created the International Pacific Halibut Commission, which continues in its role today.

March 2, 1923

Chinese Immigration Act

July 1,1923

On July 1, 1923, The Chinese Immigration Act was passed by the Parliament of Canada, banning Chinese Immigration to Canada. The Act was passed by Prime Minister Mackenzie King in response to continued demands for more prohibitive regulations to limit the immigration of people deemed “undesirable,” which included Chinese people. After WW1, resentment and suspicion of non-British foreigners grew even more. Many expressed xenophobia, which was evident in the Chinese Exclusion Act. The Act banned all Chinese immigrants with the exception of students, merchants, and diplomats for 24 years. During that time, only 8 Chinese were allowed in Canada. This is significant for Canada as it reveals how much of this nation’s history is rooted in the hatred of minorities, and how this veneer of inclusion and multiculturalism is still a new concept to the Canadian zeitgeist.

The famous five and the Person's case

On October 19, 1929, The Privy Council decided to overturn the ruling of the lower court. The BNA Act of 1867 had the word “persons” which was used when referring to more than one person and the word “he” was used when referring to one person. Many people argued that the Act was stating that only a man could be a person, consequently preventing women from being fully involved in politics and state affairs. This led to a group of activists, The Famous Five (Emily Murphy, Irene Parbly, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Edwards and Louise McKinney). This Powerful Group of women took this issue to the Privy Council in England, the most powerful court in Canada at the time, after the Supreme Court of Canada decided that the word "person" did not include women. On October 19, 1929, The Privy Council decided to overturn the ruling of the lower court. This is a significant event in Canadian history as this was a landmark achievement in the fight for equality. The Famous Five did not only achieve the right for women to serve in the Senate but paved the way for women to play a larger role in the political climate, which only helped women’s rights.

Oct 19,1929

Black Thursday

The New York Stock Exchange occurred on October 24,1929. The New York Stock Market had crashed when scared investors had sent Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging 11%. Many factors contributed to this crash. This includes, Government increasing interest rates, the high amount of loans, and national debt increasing significantly. The stock market crash left the Canadian economy in ruins. Many Canadian stocks such as Pacific Railway and Imperial Oils lost more than half of their value in the market. Also many Canadians who took out loans to invest in stocks had to give up their cars and homes just to pay back their bank.

Oct 24, 1929

Black Tuesday

The tragedy of Black Tuesday was the day the stock market crashed on October 29, 1929. The stock market was relied on by many people and when it crashed, it affected many. aIt was this day when the roaring twenties had come to a halt and the Great Depression started. In the late 1920s people invested money in stocks that they didn't even have using credit. When the stock market crashed many people were left in debts to pay, when they couldn’t be paid they, people lost their homes and their belongings. Black Tuesday teaches people not to rely on the stock market as it is extremely unpredictable. This reveals a lot about Canada's identity as it shows what happens when you rely on another country financially. Because Canada was so dependent on the US, that when the US fell, Canada went down with it.

Oct 29,1929

Beginning of U.S Branch Plant

The 1920’s mark the beginning of a new era of U.S Branch Plants in Canada. Branch Plants were copies of American parent companies located in Canada. Branch Plants were set up because Canada couldn’t compete with the Americans. Products were still “Made in Canada” so companies could avoid paying tariffs at the border. Most Branch Plants were built in Industrial Canada aka Ontario and Quebec. The branch plants were a success for both nations, Canadians were being provided with job and training opportunities with new technology. However, there were some negative aspects to branch plants such as the top management jobs were held by Americans and profits went to the parent company in the U.S. This is significant as it created a big change in Canada’s economy. Instead of selling our own products, we set up U.S factories in Canada and sold their products. This is also significant since it still exists today. This also showed how America was starting to take over the Canadian economy, by setting up more and more branch plants in Canada.

Date N/A

First Canadian Female Senator

In 1930 the year after the success of the Persons case, Cairine Reay Wilson was the first woman appointed to the Canadian senate on the advice of Prime Minister Mackenzie King. Wilson was actively participating in many women' liberal clubs and youth groups during the 1920s. As a senator Wilson believed in progressive policies. This includes divorce legislation to give women more rights and independence. October 1938, she opposed Mackenzie King’s stance and issued a statement condemning the Munich Agreement, which permitted Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia. Cairine Wilson is very significant in Canada as she is looked upon by many young girls in Canada. Wilson positively shaped Canada as she increased social development, contributed to multiculturalism, and equality towards women. She is looked upon highly by every woman in Canada.

Feb 15,1930

Estevan Riot

The Estevan Riot also known as the Black Tuesday Riot, was the confrontation between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Coal miners. The miners had been on strike since September 7,1931, hoping to improve their wages and working conditions. The riot took place in Estevan,Saskatchewan. Miners assembled in Estevan with their families to parade through the city in order to draw attention to their strike. As the protesters walked from Beinfait to Estevan, they were met with lines of police officers. The RCMP confronted the miners and attempted to block and break up the procession. Police violence broke out and the RCMP officers opened fire on the strikers and killed three and injured many others. The event of Estevan is controversial to date. The riot is significant as it shows how Canada has evolved and wages have been improved over the years.

Sept 29,1931

CCF Founded

The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was founded in Calgary in 1932. The CCF is a political coalition of progressive, socialist, and labour groups that wanted economic reform to help Canadaians affected by the Great Depression. The Party Governed Saskatchewan under Tommy Douglas, who went on to be the first leader of the New Democratic Party. The CCF party became NDP, which formed the Opposition party in the House of Commons in 2011. This is significant towards shaping Canada as it has formed one of the most popular parties in Canada.

1932

Parliament Passes Bank of Canada Act

The Bank of Canada Act formed on July 3, 1934, created the Bank of Canada 1935 in response to the 1933 Royal Commission on Banking and Currency. The Act associated revisions to the Bank Act also changed the legal framework for Canada's chartered banks. During WWII it helped the Dominion in financing the war effort. The act is significant because the powers were extended and modified but never changed essentially.

July 3,1934

New Deal

On January 18, 1935 R.B. Bennet had introduced a deal to satisfy and to calm Canadian citizens. Bennet had promised a more progressive taxation system, a minimum wage, closer regulation of working conditions, unemployment insurance, and health insurance. This came into play when the king and the liberals came back into power in a landslide victory. Bennett did this so that he will be able to beat the conservatives and be back into his spot that was before. He was too-little, too-late. The deal is significant towards Canada as the deal was never put into place as Prime Minister Mackenzie King had won. With King’s win, many important event occurred such as Canada declaring war on Germany.

Jan 18, 1935

On-To-Ottawa Trek

On June 3,1935 in Vancouver, B.C a group of unemployed men came together and began to protest the dismal conditions in federal camps scattered in remote areas in the Western Part of Canada. As the trek grew in popularity, police, military, and government authorities decided it had to be stopped. The raid quickly transformed into a battle between the police, trekkers, and citizens, which spilled over into the streets of downtown Regina. The toll from the riot was two dead, hundreds injured, and thousands of dollars of damage to the city. The trek is a defining moment in the Great Depression and the significance includes the fact that protests and riot happen today, in Canada and many other countries. The On to Ottawa Trek stands for a quest of social justice.

June 3, 1935

Wartime Prices And Trade Board

September 3,1939 Prime Minister Mackenzie King enforced the Wartime Prices and Trade Board in order to control inflation as well as to ensure that the public wouldn’t interfere with the war efforts. The Government had created the Wartime Prices and Trade Board as they needed to keep the inflation under control on commodities such as food, clothing, etc. Using this policy there would be less social unrest and more people in support of the war. This even is vital in Canadian history as it allowed Canadians to be able get goods and services at an affordable rate disregarding high inflation rates. Also, it helped maintain a stable economy through the war as well as post-war for Canada.

Sept 3, 1939

Canada Declares war on Germany

Canada declared war on Germany 7 days after Britain and France. Although Canada was obliged to go to war with Britain, they left a week late in December to show independence. It was calculated by Prime Minister Mackenzie King to emphasize the country’s newfound independence from the motherland. This event is significant as it showed Canada’s independence from the U.K, especially during a World War.

Sept 10,1939