May
11
Hist 30: May 11 Unit three notes / discussion continues…
- We had a Fun class yesterday! There were several students missing but for those of us present, it was a fun discussion and dialogue. I can now quote students saying “That was a fun History class!” 😀
- We continued on with filling in the answers to their notes for Unit three. For those students missing, you really don’t get the full picture by only reading the notes and getting the answers from other students. By being present, you can participate in the discussion that goes along with the notes and hear the emphasis put on different topics or issues.
The major focus of unit three is on the changing /growing role of Government for Canada. Before the war, the role of government was in conflict as decisions were not clearly Federal ones or Provincial ones. During the war, conflict existed for those in power over whether to use conscription and force soldiers to fight. The continuing French-English struggle continued as well as the French, once again, resented being attached and at the beckon call of England. After the war, when the Depression hit the country hard, the role of government, again, was in dispute as farmers and laborers, struggling to make ends meet and keep their farms, asked the government to intervene and assist them economically. The government stalled, which led several workers and farmers to believe they were fighting against an unknown alliance between Government and Business in Canada. That struggle, to protect themselves against this perceived alliance, is what led to the creation of new political movements that originated in the West and gained popularity and momentum through their ideologies of wanting public ownership of certain companies (ie banks, insurance agencies, public works etc). This was a new era of politics for Canada and a new level of initiative for the Canadian worker/farmer.