Objective Conditions
In the 1930s the Great Depression was starting to have an effect. The stock market had crashed and Canada was struggling with economic decline and unemployment. However, some parts of Canada were more affected than others; the worse affected were the Prairie Provinces in the west of Canada.
In this website I shall be focusing on the prairie province of Alberta and how it was subject to economic struggle during the 1930s (nicknamed the dirty-thirties). The main reason Alberta as well as the other Prairie Provinces were affected so negatively during the 30s in comparison to some of the other provinces was because it specialized in primary resource production. Primary resources are basically un-manufactured, un-processed, raw materials. This influenced their economies negatively as during the 1930s the prairies were experiencing among other natural disasters, among which was a major drought. This led to a dramatic decrease in the rate of crop production. This coupled with the stock market crash and the lack of international demand for primary resources led to Alberta making little profit from exporting and producing primary resources. This lack of profit greatly weakened young Alberta’s economy and jobs became scarce and pay gradually decreased. People migrating north fleeing dust bowl conditions could find little work. This lack of work and decreases in wages led to working class aggressiveness. Alberta during the thirties was not a happy place.
However, provinces such as Ontario and Quebec were not so affected. Even though they did experience significant unemployment and an economical decline heir troubles were far less than Alberta’s. The main reason for this was because they specialised in manufactured goods. This meant that when the stock market crashed and countries significantly decreased their imports their products would still remain in international demand. This meant that they could still export while other provinces were unable to. The differences in economic condition, or regional disparity led to some provinces such as Alberta, whom were suffering from great economic decline to feel alienated and angry.
In the 1930s the Great Depression was starting to have an effect. The stock market had crashed and Canada was struggling with economic decline and unemployment. However, some parts of Canada were more affected than others; the worse affected were the Prairie Provinces in the west of Canada.
In this website I shall be focusing on the prairie province of Alberta and how it was subject to economic struggle during the 1930s (nicknamed the dirty-thirties). The main reason Alberta as well as the other Prairie Provinces were affected so negatively during the 30s in comparison to some of the other provinces was because it specialized in primary resource production. Primary resources are basically un-manufactured, un-processed, raw materials. This influenced their economies negatively as during the 1930s the prairies were experiencing among other natural disasters, among which was a major drought. This led to a dramatic decrease in the rate of crop production. This coupled with the stock market crash and the lack of international demand for primary resources led to Alberta making little profit from exporting and producing primary resources. This lack of profit greatly weakened young Alberta’s economy and jobs became scarce and pay gradually decreased. People migrating north fleeing dust bowl conditions could find little work. This lack of work and decreases in wages led to working class aggressiveness. Alberta during the thirties was not a happy place.
However, provinces such as Ontario and Quebec were not so affected. Even though they did experience significant unemployment and an economical decline heir troubles were far less than Alberta’s. The main reason for this was because they specialised in manufactured goods. This meant that when the stock market crashed and countries significantly decreased their imports their products would still remain in international demand. This meant that they could still export while other provinces were unable to. The differences in economic condition, or regional disparity led to some provinces such as Alberta, whom were suffering from great economic decline to feel alienated and angry.
(Fig. 1.)
Q1)Title: settlers moving back to cardston
date: summer 1924
caption: these settlers came from the dried out area of south-eastern Alberta where they lost the battle against the drought.
Q2)location: Cardston, Alberta
Q3) Objects: loaded horse drawn wagon, livestock, horses, car,
4. People in the Photograph
For all the people on the photograph, identify
a) Age (approximate)
there is: a man leaning against the car (, 2 parents and 2 children to the
left of the car, a man who is driving a wagon, a man who is herding livestock
b) Gender
there is: a man leaning against the car, 2 parents and 2 children (male + female) to the
left of the car, a man who is driving a wagon, a man who is herding livestock
c) What they are wearing (style)?
they are all wearing very cheap clothing which is non-formal and has no particular style
d) People’s roles or occupations
all the people in the photograph used to be farmers and are now unemployed looking for work in urban areas
e) If they are noted figures, can you identify their names?
none of the people in this photograph are notable and therefore their names remain unknown
5.
Actions
Describe what is happening in the photograph.
a) What are people doing?
The people in the photo have left their farms in southern alberta and are now moving in to the urban area of northern Alberta
b) How are people interacting?
there does not seem to be a lot of interaction between the people, there are a group of people (by the car) who are obviously related however apart from that there is not much interaction
c) Is there an event, celebration, ritual or common occurrence taking place?
Yes, these people are moving into an urban area (that is normally counted as an event in their lives)
Q6. Purpose of the Photograph
a) Was it a personal photograph or one that was to be published?
I think that it was meant to be published but that it never did as it has a clear and effective message
b) Does it appear to be an amateur, a commercial or a professional photograph?
I think that this photograph was taken by a professional judging from the quality and clear meaning of the photo
c) Why do you think the photograph was taken?
I think it was taken to make the statement that this lack of income caused by the drought is a problem that someone needs to address.
d) Do you think the photograph had an impact on others?
I do not believe that this photo was ever published or accessible to many people so its effects would not have been very dramatic but I do think that people having seen the photo would be obliged to do something about it.
Q7)historical context
a) What is the historical context of the photo you chose?
this photo shows people fleeing drought in the south of Alberta
b) How does the photograph provide objective proof that a
social problem existed?
This photograph shows that the social problem existed by the actions of the people in the photo. We can see in the photograph that these people were farmers but now they have migrated northward and into an urban area. We can derive the social problem from their reasons for fleeing. The farmers in the picture are fleeing the country as they no longer have the income to stay in the rural areas. this lack of income is caused by the drought and the stock market crash. This lack of income in the farming portion of the working class was the main reason or description of my social problem. This lack of income in many other areas too led to working class militancy which led to the recognition of the social problem.
date: summer 1924
caption: these settlers came from the dried out area of south-eastern Alberta where they lost the battle against the drought.
Q2)location: Cardston, Alberta
Q3) Objects: loaded horse drawn wagon, livestock, horses, car,
4. People in the Photograph
For all the people on the photograph, identify
a) Age (approximate)
there is: a man leaning against the car (, 2 parents and 2 children to the
left of the car, a man who is driving a wagon, a man who is herding livestock
b) Gender
there is: a man leaning against the car, 2 parents and 2 children (male + female) to the
left of the car, a man who is driving a wagon, a man who is herding livestock
c) What they are wearing (style)?
they are all wearing very cheap clothing which is non-formal and has no particular style
d) People’s roles or occupations
all the people in the photograph used to be farmers and are now unemployed looking for work in urban areas
e) If they are noted figures, can you identify their names?
none of the people in this photograph are notable and therefore their names remain unknown
5.
Actions
Describe what is happening in the photograph.
a) What are people doing?
The people in the photo have left their farms in southern alberta and are now moving in to the urban area of northern Alberta
b) How are people interacting?
there does not seem to be a lot of interaction between the people, there are a group of people (by the car) who are obviously related however apart from that there is not much interaction
c) Is there an event, celebration, ritual or common occurrence taking place?
Yes, these people are moving into an urban area (that is normally counted as an event in their lives)
Q6. Purpose of the Photograph
a) Was it a personal photograph or one that was to be published?
I think that it was meant to be published but that it never did as it has a clear and effective message
b) Does it appear to be an amateur, a commercial or a professional photograph?
I think that this photograph was taken by a professional judging from the quality and clear meaning of the photo
c) Why do you think the photograph was taken?
I think it was taken to make the statement that this lack of income caused by the drought is a problem that someone needs to address.
d) Do you think the photograph had an impact on others?
I do not believe that this photo was ever published or accessible to many people so its effects would not have been very dramatic but I do think that people having seen the photo would be obliged to do something about it.
Q7)historical context
a) What is the historical context of the photo you chose?
this photo shows people fleeing drought in the south of Alberta
b) How does the photograph provide objective proof that a
social problem existed?
This photograph shows that the social problem existed by the actions of the people in the photo. We can see in the photograph that these people were farmers but now they have migrated northward and into an urban area. We can derive the social problem from their reasons for fleeing. The farmers in the picture are fleeing the country as they no longer have the income to stay in the rural areas. this lack of income is caused by the drought and the stock market crash. This lack of income in the farming portion of the working class was the main reason or description of my social problem. This lack of income in many other areas too led to working class militancy which led to the recognition of the social problem.