E.G. Congress Of Cdn Women example essay topic

Postwar Boom: - They had learned from WWI, so in 1944 the govt set up the Department of Reconstruction, to adjust the economy to peacetime. - It was under the leadership of C.D. Howe, the "Minister of Everything". He cut back the govt control of the economy and encouraged investment by special tax breaks. - New industries came out of the war, e.g. new appliances for the home, last ics, the jet airplane. - The war gave people lots of money to spend. Per capita income would rise every year until the mid 70's.

There was pent up demand for consumer goods, e.g. cars. - Oil and natural gas were discovered in Alberta. Helped the economic boom. Pipelines were built from Alberta to Ont. and Que... - American investment helped fuel the economy, they set up "branch plants" here in Canada, e.g. the Ford plant in Oakville. The direct investment of the Americans in Canada resulted in the Americans owning 75% of Cdn mining, oil and manufacturing industries.

The Americans owned the majority of the electrical appliance companies that were revolutionizing the Cdn home. - Cdns became anxious about this American control of our economy. Did nothing about it. - The Trans-Canada highway was completed. The St. Lawrence Seaway connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic, so you can send major ships from Hamilton to the Ocean. The building of the Seaway caused the flooding out of lands in Ont. and Que.

Some of the older buildings were saved and made into Upper Canada village in Morristown Ont... - Technology: Technology changed people's lives in the 50's. The phone became common in most homes. Live television and radio broadcasts became possible due to microwave transmissions. The rural areas of the country became electrified. New equipment made farming more profitable and had greater production.

- Regional disparity became apparent, the industrialized centre of the country became wealthy while the other areas fell behind. i.e. Ontario became rich while the Maritimes became poor. - Cars became very common, most families had one. - The Labour Movement: the govt legalized collective bargaining in 1944 (i.e. unions). Unions were good for consumers and producers as unions got good wages for workers that became the consumers of goods. Helped the growth of the middle class. - Many unions were American based.

The Cdn Labour Congress was formed in 1956. - Unions helped get good wages and good working conditions for the workers. - The Unions supported the NDP (New Democratic Party) and pressed for govt day care and free health care. - The Baby Boom followed the war.

The population grew by 2% per year. People spent on their children. - Between 1945 and 1955 1.5 million people immigrated to Canada (population of Canada was 11 million in 1945). They mostly came from Europe. Most were British, but also they came from southern and eastern Europe, leads to multiculturalism, e.g. Italian-Canadians. They came by ship.

- 1947 the Cdn Citizenship act created Cdn citizens (rather than British). The govt did little to help immigrants adjust to Canada. - Not until the 1970's did a more open immigration policy create a more diverse society, e.g. non-white immigration. - After the war there was a housing boom. Due to the availability of cars the houses spread out, this created the suburbs. To reach these suburbs the automobile companies made big, fancy, chrome covered, fin added, cars.

- The buying power of the consumers allowed them to get lots of new products, e.g. refrigerators, car radios, TVs, dishwashers, frozen food, drip dry shirts, power lawnmowers, and record players. - The department store, such as Eaton's or Sears, were the main source for consumers. - The "mall" was invented. - There was a short recession (smaller than a Depression), in the late 50's. The lowering of the Cdn dollar helped it end. Made it easier to export goods.

- New universities were built, e.g. York and Trent. Higher education became more common. - Pollution started to become an issue. - American Culture: TV helped the flood of US culture into Canada.

We knew US culture better than our own. e.g. we all knew President Kennedy. - We listened to US music, big band music in the 40's, by the 50's Rock-and-Roll. - We tried to compete with US influence by setting up the CBC for Cdn TV. Hockey Night in Canada was very popular. Most Cdns preferred US TV with its higher production values.

(The TV companies make money from commercials they sell to advertisers. Therefore the larger US market can sell their advertising time for more money. They make more money to spend on better shows.) - The govt was concerned that our culture was disappearing (see p. 222). - The metaphor of the mouse sleeping with the elephant. No matter how benevolent the creature might be, when ever it moves or rumbles it really frightens the mouse. - For the people of Quebec there was a fear their culture (i.e. French culture) was disappearing.

The Parti Quebecois was formed in 1968. They wanted to keep their culture. - The NFB (National Film Board) did their best to promote Cdn films. Tended to be little documentaries.

(Now shown on "The Way we Were"). - Teen Culture: After WWII young people gained more leisure time and spending money. - Teens became the target of advertisers. - Teens often were after fads, or buying stuff just to "rebel" against their parents. ("The Wild One" staring Marlon Brando set the tone, e.g. black leather jackets, ducktail hair, and motorcycles). - The availability of cars allowed teens to "hang out", to be "cool", down on the "main drag" (i.e. main street).

It was a "big deal" to "go steady". - They listened to Rock and Roll as a sign of rebellion. Often with American stars, e.g. Elvis. - Women's Changing Role: -women had made an important contribution to the war effort.

After the war most returned to the home. - During the war their was govt sponsored day care, after the war it ended. - Women were mostly in "traditional" jobs, nurse, teacher, house wife. Often got paid less than men for the same job.

- There were some advances for women's rights, e.g. equal pay for teachers in Ont. in 1948. Judy La Marsh as national minister of health and welfare helped set up Medicare. Some women's groups, e.g. Congress of Cdn Women, were founded in the 50's. - By the 1960's the govt started to investigate the status of women and to move towards equality. - Native People: Before 1951 the Indian Act prevented the native people from creating political organizations.

This ended in '51. The Native people began to make "land claims" against the govt., they lobbied for additional rights. In 1961 the "National Indian Council" was founded. This gave the native people a national lobby group to represent them. - During this period stories of residential schools came to light. The harsh discipline shocked some people.

The idea was to assimilate the native children into "white" culture, it was unsuccessful. Most of the schools closed down by the 1960's. - By the 1960's many non-whites had gained respect and understanding of the Native way of life, e.g. the environmental attitude of living in harmony with nature. Native actors got substantial roles in films.