Great Depression Essay

Canada is a nation constructed from small stones of determination, and piles of perseverance. Today, Canada stands tall as a beacon of democracy and a fortress of ideological freedom. From the small stones of determination, to the status it wears proudly today, much has changed. It is the history that has shaped Canada into the nation it is; from the victorious moments to the days of misery and hardship. A prominent decade of true misery and hardship recalled by Canadians is the Great Depression. The Great Depression of the 1930s was a time of severe poverty, unemployment and unjust treatment experienced like never before by Canada. The Great Depression was unforeseen, yet inevitable. The Great Depression led many families to undertake drastic measures. This spark ignited a flame of downwards spiralling, leading the worst to be brought out in Canadians everywhere. Some say the 1930s was a time most difficult for single, unemployed men. These men needed work and a roof to sleep under. In a nation littered with jobless men, it was difficult to find work for every unemployed man. However, Prime Minister R. B Bennett found the simple solution to be relief camps. Bennett feared the idea of Canada, like Russia, would become a communist society. What he feared more was the idea that single unemployed men could overthrow the government, which led him to create relief camps. Bennett’s true motive for creating the relief camps was to hide the men from the public, and thus prevent the men from influencing the public negatively, by leading them to riot and protest. He did this by locating the camps in isolated areas. The idea of relief camps was brilliant at first, as it provided meals and protection from the harsh winters. Unfortunately, the conditions inside the camps were sickening. Although meals were served, they were not easily consumed due to the horrid taste. A resident once said, “No, we never starved. The food was good. I mean good when it arrived but it was pretty