I knew the great depression was hard on canada, but i didnt know just how bad it was. The great depression in canada of 1929 history essay the great depression crisis began with the infamous stock market crash of october 1929, which lasted for a decade. The great depression and its affects on ottawa, ontario, canada november 20, 2002. The great depression in canada of 1929 history essay.
The influential 1941 canadian novel as for me and my house by sinclair ross describes dust clouds lapping at the sky and the constant intrusion of dust. Great depression definition, history, causes, effects. The book, based on interviews, personal reminiscences, political diaries, government reports, newspaper articles, economic studies, etc. The great depression of the early 1930s was a worldwide social and economic shock. Im a little embarrassed that it has taken me this long to read this book. Ordinary citizens were rioting in the streets, but their demonstrations met with indifference, and dissidents were jailed. Depression may be caused by one factor alone or a combination of factors including biological, psychological and environmental linked to social or family environment factors. Beginning on black tuesday, october 29, 1929, when the value of the new york stock market fell dramatically, and ending in 1939, the. With formidable storytelling powers, berton reconstructs its engrossing events vividly. The widespread poverty and suffering during the 1930sthe result of unemployment, drought and lack of a social safety nettransformed social welfare in canada. The most searing decade in canadas history began with the stock market crash of 1929 and. The great depression was a global economic depression that in the united states lasted from 1929 to roughly 1939.
Canada suffered a major depression from 1929 to 1939. Material on this subject can be found throughout the central library 350 west georgia street. If you are writing a college paper or just want to read the most authoritative book on the subject, get this book. It started in the united states and spread to other countries around the world. The international stock markets collapsed in october of 1929 precipitating ten years of the great depression. The great depression of the 1930s in canada canadian historical. One of the classic studies of the great depression, featuring a new introduction by the author with insights into the economic crises of 1929 and today. The recovery from the great depression was spurred largely by the abandonment of the gold standard and the ensuing monetary expansion. The great depression in canada the great depression may very well have been one of the most significant eras in canadian history. The great depression in america and canada by alexandra. The outcomes were such that they changed the face of world economy. The great depression in toronto is perhaps best explored in fictional terms, at least by hugh garner in his classic novel, cabbagetown. It ended as dramatically a decade later on september 3, 1939, when the second world war began. The great depression in canada essay 978 words bartleby.
The affects of the depression were felt more deeply in north america than in the rest of the world. Then as now the federal reserve and the money trust of new york and london played a central if littlenoted role in the tragic events. In the twentyfive years since its publication, critics and scholars have praised historian robert mcelvaines sweeping and authoritative history of the great depression as one of the best. As the canadian historian james gray observed, the great depression brought out more of the best than it did the worst in people, offering a reminder that people, if left alone, tend to work. Great depression, worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted until about 1939. This is the argument that the federal reserve caused the great depression, prompting ben bernankes famous apology to the authors. The great depression was ushered in by the stock market crash of october 29, 1929. The great depression is a book written by canadian author pierre berton the period of time between the stock market crash of 1929 and the outbreak of world war ii in 1939 had a terrible impact on the lives of all canadians. During this period, canadians were suffering the effects of the worst economic crisis the country has ever known.
Pictures of relief camps, soup kitchens, protest marches, and drought are vivid reminders of the pain and desperation of those years. I think we have to look at both extremes to find out what really matters, the bad and the good that came out of the great depression and todays recession. The great depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world, lasting from the stock market crash of 1929 to 1939. This book, although geared towards a younger audience, provides great insight into the lives of the children of the great depression. In terms of output it was similar to the great depression in the united states. The worst and longest downturn in our economic history threw millions of hardworking individuals into poverty, and for more than a decade, neither the free market nor the federal government was able to restore prosperity.
Ever since the depression a favourite explanation among canadian academics is that the constitution, the british north america act of 1867, was a large part of the problem, if not the main problem. This is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service. The great depression and its affects on ottawa, ontario. The worldwide great depression of the early 1930s was a social and economic shock that left millions of canadians unemployed, hungry and often homeless. The great depression in canada lasted for most of the 1930s. The united states the causes the response of the government the success of policies the relationship change between business and government the extent of success of policy. The book is a long and tedious read, but there are many interesting historical overviews regarding the great depression. Great depression university of california, berkeley. The great depression was one of the major economic events in world history. August 6, 1932 dear diary, the great depression affected me and my family a lot. Conversations about great depression experiences in 2006, after talking with my parents about their experiences during the 1930s, i asked for volunteers from my church congregation who were 78 years of age and older.
While the great depression reduced inequality and closed the racial wealth gap, the great recession of 2009 did the opposite. It was, in fact, something like a ticking timebomb. Like two swimmers caught at the same time in a devastating flood, the united states and canada struggled for a decade in the economic throes of the great. However, total factor productivity tfp in canada did not recover relative to trend, while in the united states tfp had recovered by 1937. I think it appropriately looks at the monetary financial situation that is at the core of the great depression crisis and also the current situation. Timing and severity in the united states, the great depression began in the summer of 1929. I used the book to help by granddaughter write a research paper for college. A house in the sky by amanda lindhout, an astronauts guide to life on earth by chris hadfield, forgiveness by mar. The dirty thirties, as it was referred to, was a time of hardship and poverty for. Great depression journal entry college essays blueprinces1.
So why does this book need to be read, in your view. The great depression brought about fundamental changes in economic institutions, macroeconomic policy, and economic theory. Effects of the great depression on canada free essays. Differences between the united states and canada during. The great depression was caused by many technical factors the existence of asymmetries in world economy, flaws in the system of gold standard, international deflation etc. Great depression in canada great depression in central europe great depression in chile. It has taught us many lessons about the present and predicting the future. It was the longest and most severe depression ever experienced by the industrialized western world, sparking fundamental changes in economic institutions, macroeconomic policy, and economic theory.
The most searing decade in canadas history began with the stock market crash of 1929 and ended with the second world war. Although it originated in the united states, the great depression caused drastic declines in output. The great depression plunged the american people into an economic crisis unlike any endured in this country before or since. This article deals in detail with the economic, political, social and cultural effects of this crisis and the process of restoration. An index of over 1,800 journals from 1895 to the present on the history and life of the united states and canada. The great depression in canada the canadian encyclopedia.
Canada emerged from the great depression a different nation. The great depression in canada and the united states. Canada and the great depression canadian history research. Beginning on black tuesday, october 29, 1929, when the value of the new york stock market fell dramatically, and ending in 1939, the great depression was a time when canadians suffered unprecedented levels of poverty due to unemployment. The book, the great depression is a scalding indictment of the political leaders of the time, the police, the law and of big business. Through the use of photos, personal accounts and other historical facts, freedman allows the reader to experience the life of an average child and their hardships in this period.
This guide will help you find material in vancouver public library on the great depression in canada. Yes, there was a lot of suffering, but there were times of joy, good times, and scientific advances in the midst of the depression. Great depression, an article about the event that inspired this book. Flag of canada hourglass icon, this article about a nonfiction book on canadian history is. Its semiautobiographical, as garner included some of. Few countries were affected as severely as canada during what became known as the dirty thirties, due to canadas heavy dependence on raw material and farm exports, combined with a crippling prairies drought known as the dust bowl.
The great depression chronologically covers a distinct time frame, from the stock market crash of 1929 to the entry of canada into world war 11. I have included a chapter from my book, gods of money. This is the benchmark book on the great depression. The great depression was felt across canada, although its impact varied from region to region. Pierre berton, canadas late, greatest popular historian, wrote the great depression way back in 1990, and what an eyeopening book it is. It started when the stock market crashed on october 29, 1929. The best books on the lessons of the great depression. Depression is a medical illness which affects the brain which in turn affects the rest of the body.
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