Category: Grade 10

How would you describe the first few years after WWI in Canada? Who was happy, who wasn’t, and why? Evidence?

1) After the WWI, Canada was proud of the victory. Bordon the prime minister, was happy after the war. Because the Allied powers ask Canada to sign the Treaty of Versailles. That means now Canada sees the country, not a colony. Canada’s industries were much stronger than before. Women were also happy because they got more women’s right (vote, more women were in the workforce). However, there was a disagreement. Because there had a lot of conflicts. The soldier who went from WWI or veterans were got a conflict with civilians who never went to the war. Workers were in conflict with employers, farmers were unhappy with the government’s economic policies, many Canadians did not appreciate immigrant, and French Canadians were still angry because about the conscription. Many people were disappointed for the government because they brought little peace than people thought. The soldiers who came from the war needed jobs. And some factory which produced weapons, Uniforms, stuff like that, didn’t need anymore. So that means there are fewer jobs and more people. That’s why the soldiers and civilians got a conflict and Winnipeg is the evidence.

Was there any point to the Winnipeg General Strike?

2) Winnipeg general strike in 1919 was one of the most influential strikes in Canada and was based on labor reform in the future. Large-scale unemployment and inflation, the success of the Russian Revolution in 1917, and the growing alliance of revolutionary industries all contributed to this historic strike as causes of postwar labor unrest. Before the Winnipeg general strike happens, the WWI just ended. That means that there are factories that produce products that are no longer needed due to increased bankruptcies and inflation, and it also means that people who went to war as soldiers are looking for jobs. Moreover, although the strike was caused by economic inequality rather than idealism, the success of the Russian Revolution increased interest in socialism. All this has created the necessary conditions for the Winnipeg general strike.

Why did the Liberals win the election of 1921?

3) Mackenzie King, who was in the Liberal Party, had a good campaign strategy. In the 1921 election, managing the economy and taking responsibility for Canadians around the world were emerging as a major problem. The debate over free trade and tariffs played an important role in this election. Mackenzie King focused on the negative aspects of their governance. He accused the Union government of securing victory through corrupt means in 1917 by granting suffrage to voters supported by the election law. He focused on increasing taxes and public debts. Mackenzie King focused on the fall of the government to divert his attention from his position on tariffs. By 1921, Canadian politics was mainly about French / English and Catholic / Protestant divisions. Successful governments like Wilfred Laurier managed to balance those benefits for the common good

Find primary evidence: How did Canadians feel about conscription? Who supported it and who didn’t?

1) There had two opinions about the conscription. Bordon who was the prime minister believed the conscription will be the answer to Canada’s contribution to the war effort. HE promised Britain he would increase the size of the Canadians force for the war effort. But some people opposed it and didn’t like it. Most of the English Canadians supported the conscription. Most of the English Canadian were from Britain and they are proud of their parent’s home country. However, French Canadian opposed the conscription. Some workers also opposed conscription. French Canadians didn’t have pride in France that much, and they believed that they were punished for not enlisting.

What are the messages in the political cartoons?

2) This cartoon tells us about the conscription. We can see, his wife and kid are waving their hand to him, and he is holding the British flag. When Bordon proposed the Convention, most English Canadians responded positively and actively joined the military. The French Canadians who opposed the draft thought their country was Canada, not Britain or France, while the English Canadians thought their home country is  British and they were very proud of their country.

Was the Khaki Election rigged or just better democracy?

3) The Khaki Election was rigged. Many Canadians who participated in the war as soldiers in WWI were killed and wounded. These losses have led to more people joining the military. But people’s passion for war has gone away more than ever. This is because they needed a father and a son in their family. Bordon promised the Canadians not to conscript, but after seeing wounded soldiers in Europe that spring, he felt that their sacrifices should not be in vain and should end this war. So he thought conscription was the answer. Bordon thought of elections as a way to bring in conscripts. On December 7, a referendum on conscription began. But just months before the election, Borden manipulated two bills and collected votes from the coalition.

Was the government acting in the interests of the public when enacting conscription?

4) No, it wasn’t. Many people weren’t very interested in war and didn’t want to participate in it. But the government refused to listen to these citizens and was accepted conscription for their benefit. I think if Bordon really thought about the civilians, he wouldn’t make a fabrication in the 1917 election. Bordon only thought Canada would gain a stronger voice in international matters after the war.

I draw the reconciliation between Indian and Canada. I thought Canada has hurt Indians in many ways. I think a sincere apology is the first step toward reconciliation, although an apology won’t heal their wounds.

Reflection #7

Aboriginal

I saw some video that about Indian’s story.  The Indian residential school part was feeling excessive distress. The Residential School was a school that was established in Canada in the past to teach aboriginal students. But it was forced. Parents who did not send their kids to residential school were punished, and they were detained in a dormitory because the government thought it would be difficult for them to learn with their parents. The Indian residential school was established in an attempt to educate, convert and integrate the Indians into Canadian society, but the Indians were forced to speak a new language, religion, and culture. Even many students were caught up in violence, abuse and even sexual assault, which led to many unfortunate events. Although all the Indian residential schools are closed now, there will still be heartache for those who experienced the situation at the time. In many past events, as well as Indian residential schools, Indians were subjected to severe discrimination.  I think they are obviously an indelible scar on Indian. As we have said that the reason we learn history is not to repeat the same mistakes. So, I think we should learn more and not forget more to prevent the pain of these Indians from repeating. Also, many incidents have hurt Indians deeply, but I think that if the government makes a genuine apology, it can heal some of their wounds.

SOGI (LGBTQ)

My home country, Korea is not generous with LGBTQ, and I think it is because we learned it too late. Today, I got a discussion with some students and Mr. Chan. I could hear a lot of opinion in that discussion. I think we should learn about LGBTQ when we are a teenager, but when we better get used to the word gay of kind of that when we are an elementary school. Elementary age is too young to understand all the things that LGBTQ included. But If we learn about LGBTQ without basic knowledge, It can give us an adverse effect. Before we learn about LGBTQ more deeply when we are the teenagers, we must understand that a lot of people are now living, and they are all different. As our physical appearance is all different out gender and gender identity could be different and it’s not a weird thing. While I was researched about LGBTQ, I saw a short film. That short film was a film that has changed the view that homosexuals are popular, and heterosexuals are included in the sexual minority. After I watched it a sudden thought struck me. What is normal? And what is abnormal? I felt that there were no summit and abnormalities in the world. There is the only difference. I think the reason why there are many people who are opposed to SOGI now is that they are not familiar with it. We have been the focus of heterosexuals since the past. That’s why many people still don’t think they’re used to being a sexual minority. However, as we have a slightly different opinion in our debate, I think that LGBTQ is also slightly different in mind. Although it will take a long time, I hope there will be a world where everyone can proudly tell who I am and everyone can accept it naturally.