1. Immigration, Racism, and the KKK in the 1920s

2. Immigration
Between 1919 and 1931, 1.2 million immigrants arrived in Canada
There was a decrease in the number of immigrants to Canada after World War 1
The decrease was due to the higher standards by the Canadian government
Also, many people in war torn Europe did not have the resources or money to immigrate
The Canadian government had a preference for potential farmers, domestic servants, and agricultural workers

3. Immigration
In 1923, Canada opened its doors to British subjects, Americans, and citizens of “preferred countries”, this included: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, and France
For all of the 1920s there was law called the “Order in Council” which did not allow for “any immigrant of any Asiatic race” to come into Canada

4. Racism
Cleaning Product of the 1920s

5. Racism In the 1920s, all British subjects had the right to vote
Discrimination for “reason of race” was allowed

6. English-speaking Canadians began to believe that the British principles of government were the key to Canada’s greatness
Discrimination began depend on a persons ability to obey the social rules of the ‘Canadian’ way of life, as well as their appearance

7. Aboriginal Peoples in Residential Schools
Native children in Canada were taken from their homes in order to be education in residential schools which were run by the government or by a religious organization
Anything connected to native language or heritage was excluded from school life
There was an effort to assimilate (make the same) the younger generation into mainstream Canadian life
Many children were abused (physically and sexually)
Many did not learn their own native culture, language or customs from their family members

8. Aboriginal Peoples
Natives living on reserves were NOT allowed to vote, lost their right to have traditional forms of native government
Some groups banded together to defend their land and fishing and hunting rights
Native peoples rights and culture were not considered important

9. Ku Klux Klan

10. KKK
In late 1926 Klan organizers came to Saskatchewan to preach its message of racial and religious hatred and to sell expensive memberships to fund its activities
By the fall of 1928 local Klans had been established in over 100 Saskatchewan towns, usually signaling themselves by a ritual burning of crosses

11. KKK The KKK had a membership of over 40,000
Many belonged to the group because they did not accept the people who were not part of mainstream Canada –
Usually these were immigrants from central and southeastern Europe