1. BELLWORK
During the war, Great Britain and the U.S. invested a lot of money in Latin America. What was this money used for?
What was Latin America’s major role in the global economy?
List five reasons why Latin America went into a recession following the outbreak of WWI.
Describe “The Tragic Week.”
How did Latin America’s economy change post-WWI?
6. THINKER: At the Pan American Financial Conference in 1915, the U.S. made the point that the outbreak of war highlighted the problem of relying on European countries economically and suggested that “a more hemispheric approach was desirable.” What do you think the U.S. means by this? If they want economic influence in the region, would this create the same problems as European influence?

2. Discussion
Now that you know how WWI effected Latin America’s economy, make a prediction  What do you think happened to the Canadian and U.S. economies post-WWI?
The U.S. came out of WWI a wealthy nation, while Britain was in debt! This change in economic power heavily effected the dependency of the Americas on the U.S. economy!

3. Canadian Economy post-WWI
Pre-WWI: dependent on imports from Britain.
Due to wartime demand and the decline of British imports, textile and chemical production expanded.
War accelerated Canadian manufacturing
Canada went through a similar recession as Latin America immediately after war
By the mid-1920’s the Canadian economy boomed, mostly due to trade with the U.S.

4. Canadian Economy Post-WWI
Pre-WWI: Traded primarily with Britain
Post-WWI
Britain in debt
U.S. is the new world economic leader
U.S. investment in Canada increased
Trade with U.S. increased (ex: 75% of all paper produced was exported to U.S.)

5. Canadian Economy Post-WWI
Mid-1920’s: Recovery!
Wheat was important export
Huge growth in exploitation of natural resources
Paper mills
Mining
Forestry

6. U.S. and Canadian Relations
Instead of lending money to Canada (like Britain did)….. U.S. investors set up Branch Plants in Canada
Branch Plant: businesses owned & controlled by U.S. companies, but operated in Canada
Benefit for the U.S.: they did not have to pay taxes to import products into Canada…. Because these products were produced in Canada
EX: Car Companies (GM, Ford, Chrysler) replaced all Canadian car makers…. And did not pay a tax in Canada)

8. U.S. and Canadian Relations
Canadians happy with U.S. investments
No one really considered long-term consequences
Canadian economy based on Primary Industries (raw materials – mining, lumber, fish, etc.)
U.S. used these raw materials to make new products

9. Timber: Quebec City

10. To transport goods, the Canadian government expanded the railroad (British Columbia)

11. Urbanization of Canada
The growing economy & industries caused more people to move to the cities for jobs
Huge wave of immigration post-WWI to Canada
Less labor needed in agriculture (replaced by machinery)
Modern Canadian cities formed at this time (Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal)
Problems brought on by urbanization: slums, poverty, pollution

13. Discussion
How do you think the changes in the Canadian economy effected their status as a Canadian dominion/commonwealth?

14. U.S. Economy Post-WWI
1920’s America saw a dramatic change in business and industry; including:
New industries
Higher wages
Better working conditions
More corporations

15. Americans as Consumers
In the 1920’s America’s standard of living improved as necessities and luxuries were more affordable.
Higher wages and buying on credit contributed to this trend.
Products were mass produced
This concept of mass production was started by Henry Ford.

17. Henry Ford
He was one of the first industrialists to act on the realization that each worker is also a consumer.
In an era where $2 a day was considered a good pay, Ford paid his workers $5
Reduced the workweek at his plant from a 48-hour, 6-day week to a 40-hour, 5-day week.
Ford was able to do this because his methods of production made tremendous profits. ($264,000/day)
He was the first to use the assembly line to mass produce his Model-T cars.

20. MODEL-T

22. Assembly Line
A method of mass production in which every employee has a specific task.
With the assembly line, workers with fewer skills were able to operate specialized machines designated for specific tasks.

23. Automobile’s Effect on America
The car defined the U.S. in the 1920’s.
IN 1927, Americans owned 4 out of 5 of the world’s cars, averaging 1 car for every 5.3 persons.
The Model-T transformed the car to an item moderate-income families could afford.
The booming automobile industry created a rise in other industries: steel, gasoline, glass, rubber, garages, restaurants, tourism, and camps.
At the end of WWI, the U.S. had only 7,000 miles of roads. By 1927, U.S. had 50,000 miles.

26. Consumerism
Consumerism: increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable
Contributors to consumerism:
Radio
Advertising
High Wages
Buying on Credit

27. Discussion
Compare/contrast the post-WWI economies of Latin America, Canada, and the United States.