The Great Depression: Political Figures. Richard Bedford Bennett July 3, 1870 – June 26, 1947 July 3, 1870 – June 26, 1947 Elected Prime Minister of Canada.

The Great The Great Depression:Depression:

Political FiguresPolitical Figures

Richard Bedford BennettRichard Bedford Bennett July 3, 1870 – June 26, 1947July 3, 1870 – June 26, 1947 Elected Prime Minister of Canada in 1930, Elected Prime Minister of Canada in 1930,

defeating Mackenzie King.defeating Mackenzie King. Used many different methods to end the Used many different methods to end the

depression, but ended up putting the government depression, but ended up putting the government in debt, and making things worse. in debt, and making things worse.

Some examples of his attempts: He set larger Some examples of his attempts: He set larger tariffs, tried to increase trade with Britain, and set tariffs, tried to increase trade with Britain, and set up make-work projects for the unemployed.up make-work projects for the unemployed.

He also created the Bank of Canada in 1934 to He also created the Bank of Canada in 1934 to regulate all chartered banks.regulate all chartered banks.

He was defeated by Mackenzie King in the He was defeated by Mackenzie King in the October 1935 elections.October 1935 elections.

Richard Bedford BennettRichard Bedford Bennett

A “Bennett Buggy”

William Lyon Mackenzie William Lyon Mackenzie KingKing

December 17, 1874 – July 22, 1950 December 17, 1874 – July 22, 1950 Overall, had 6 terms in office.Overall, had 6 terms in office. First voted as Prime Minister in 1921, with First voted as Prime Minister in 1921, with

Canada’s first minority government.Canada’s first minority government. Defeated by Bennett in 1930,5 years after the Defeated by Bennett in 1930,5 years after the

King-Byng Affair, when the Governor General King-Byng Affair, when the Governor General Byng refused to dissolve parliament. Byng refused to dissolve parliament.

He was once again voted for in 1935, when He was once again voted for in 1935, when Canada was nearing the end of it’s depression.Canada was nearing the end of it’s depression.

Some major points of his time in office: he had a Some major points of his time in office: he had a total of 22 years as PM, lead Canada through all total of 22 years as PM, lead Canada through all of WWII, and created the Trans-Canada Airlines.of WWII, and created the Trans-Canada Airlines.

William Lyon Mackenzie William Lyon Mackenzie KingKing

J.S. WoodsworthJ.S. Woodsworth July 29, 1874 – March 21, 1942 July 29, 1874 – March 21, 1942 Creator of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Creator of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation

(CCF), which is our present day New Democratic Party (CCF), which is our present day New Democratic Party (NDP)(NDP)

He was ordained as a Methodist Minister in 1896, following He was ordained as a Methodist Minister in 1896, following in his father’s footsteps.in his father’s footsteps.

During WWI, he showed his objections towards conscription, During WWI, he showed his objections towards conscription, which later caused him to resign from the church because which later caused him to resign from the church because of it’s support of the war.of it’s support of the war.

He was very involved in the Winnipeg General Strike, He was very involved in the Winnipeg General Strike, leading protest movements.leading protest movements.

He was elected Independent Labour Party Member of He was elected Independent Labour Party Member of Parliament for the riding of Winnipeg North in 1921. Parliament for the riding of Winnipeg North in 1921.

He also helped organize the Federated Labour Party of He also helped organize the Federated Labour Party of British Columbia. British Columbia.

J.S. Woodsworth J.S. Woodsworth

Winnipeg General Strike

William Aberhart (Bible Bill)William Aberhart (Bible Bill) December 30, 1878 – May 23, 1943 December 30, 1878 – May 23, 1943 He was drawn to the Social Credit theories of a He was drawn to the Social Credit theories of a

British Engineer.British Engineer. He was a part of the Social Credit Party of He was a part of the Social Credit Party of

Alberta, which won the provincial vote by a Alberta, which won the provincial vote by a landslide.landslide.

He was elected Premier,and also held the titles of He was elected Premier,and also held the titles of Attorney General and Minister of Education.Attorney General and Minister of Education.

His party didn’t have very much success, but he His party didn’t have very much success, but he did create the Alberta Treasury Branches in 1938.did create the Alberta Treasury Branches in 1938.

He was succeeded by Ernest C. Manning after his He was succeeded by Ernest C. Manning after his sudden death in 1943.sudden death in 1943.

William Aberhart (Bible Bill)William Aberhart (Bible Bill)

Maurice Duplessis Maurice Duplessis April 20, 1890– September 7, 1959 April 20, 1890– September 7, 1959 Founded the Conservative Quebec Union Founded the Conservative Quebec Union

Nationale Party.Nationale Party. He was voted for Quebec Premier in 1936 and He was voted for Quebec Premier in 1936 and

again in 1944.again in 1944. He was Premier for a total of 18 years.He was Premier for a total of 18 years. His main focus was to go after union leaders, His main focus was to go after union leaders,

communists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.communists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. He created the “Padlock Law”, which stated that He created the “Padlock Law”, which stated that

it was legal to lock any building allegedly used for it was legal to lock any building allegedly used for communistic purposes.communistic purposes.

He put an end to a 39 year Liberal rule in Quebec.He put an end to a 39 year Liberal rule in Quebec.

Maurice DuplessisMaurice Duplessis

Harry StevensHarry Stevens December 8, 1878 – June 14, 1973 December 8, 1878 – June 14, 1973 He was Bennett’s Minister of Trade and He was Bennett’s Minister of Trade and

Commerce.Commerce. During his research, he was disturbed to During his research, he was disturbed to

find many issues with Canadian businesses. find many issues with Canadian businesses. He coined the term “sweat-shops” when he He coined the term “sweat-shops” when he

found that many factories were working found that many factories were working their employees in cramped areas for less their employees in cramped areas for less money.money.

Bennett then forced him to resign, and he Bennett then forced him to resign, and he formed the Reconstruction Party in 1935, formed the Reconstruction Party in 1935, but was not very successful.but was not very successful.

Harry StevensHarry Stevens