The 1930s witnessed a dark chapter in human history as the rise of Nazism in Germany unleashed a wave of anti-Semitic persecution across Europe. This rise, culminating in Hitler's ascension to power in 1933, ushered in a series of anti-Jewish actions, such as boycotts, the implementation of the Nuremberg laws, and the infamous Kristallnacht. As Europe was thrown into upheaval, a refugee crisis ensued, prompting many to seek safety elsewhere, including Canada. However, the international response to the influx of Jewish refugees was largely apathetic, with Canada admitting only around 5,000 Jewish refugees in the 1930s, one of the lowest numbers in the Western world. These low numbers raise questions about Canada’s restrictive immigration policies …show more content…
This approach to immigration was deeply rooted in the prevailing social, economic, and political attitudes of the time. For example, the Immigration Act of 1919, which established policies to prevent some groups from entering the nation, institutionalized this prejudice. Communists, Mennonites, Doukhobors, and other religiously affiliated groups were among these excluded groups. In addition, people of Austrian, Hungarian, and Turkish descent, as well as those whose nations had fought against Canada in the First World War, were prohibited from entering. The federal government also imposed increasingly prejudicial restrictions based on race and religion. For instance, a proposal to outlaw Black immigration was made in 1911, but it was eventually abandoned. Furthermore, the limitations placed on migration from South Asia reached a turning point in 1914, when the SS Komagata Maru arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia, carrying 376 Punjabi immigrants seeking entry to Canada. Newspapers in Vancouver and Victoria at the time characterized this new immigration group, which included mainly adult males, as “undesirable,” “sick,” “hungry,” and “a menace to women and …show more content…
This difference emphasizes how difficult it is to match public opinion with national policies and how difficult it is to handle refugee immigration in the context of late 1930s Canadian society. Moreover, the petitions from La Société St. Jean Baptiste provide additional insight into the diverse range of perspectives within Canadian society. The strong opposition expressed in these petitions, particularly against Jewish immigration, reflects deeply ingrained xenophobic attitudes prevalent at the time. Additionally, the opposition to all immigration expressed in the second petition underscores the broader resistance to immigrants, further complicating the discourse surrounding immigration policy. This contrast emphasizes the need for decision-makers to balance opposing ideas and create immigration laws that serve both the interests of the country and humanitarian ideals. Furthermore, it demonstrates the fact that achieving widespread satisfaction can be challenging, if not unachievable. As Nazism gained momentum in Europe, many Jewish refugees sought safety in Great
Historically, Canada has held a world renowned reputation as nation with a magnanimous ideological approach to providing asylum to those individuals subjected to marginalization and persecution in their homeland – regardless of their nation of origin (Ismaili, 2011, p.89 & 92). Indeed, providing sanctuary to refugees who would otherwise experience significant hardships ranging from blatant discrimination and racism to torture and genocide, has very much become an institutionalized aspect of Canadian society. However, recent changes to Canada’s immigration policy delineated in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Bill C-31 may have perhaps put this ideology in peril (Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, 2001).
Canada’s immigration policy has got fairer from the middle of the century on to the end of the century. At the start of the century, Canada’s immigration policy, Canada’s immigration policy wasn’t fair but as the century comes to an end, Canada’s immigration policy became entirely different. There were a lot of racism in the first half of the century but most of this racism in the immigration policy disappeared from 1967 and on. As the years go by, Canada’s immigration policy gets a lot reasonable.
Canada did accept Jewish refugees, but before the war and they only took in 4000 Jews. Canadians were very hostile towards Jews. Anti-Semitism existed in Canada back in the 1920s-30s. There were no Jewish lawyers, teachers and professors. Many Jews hid their identities in order to get a job. Signs saying no Jews allowed were hung outside of resorts and clubs. In 1930s Canada’s immigration policy was very restrictive, only British and American immigrants were preferred. So it didn’t allow Jews to enter Canada that wanted to flee Europe. 937 Jewish passengers on the M.S. St. Louis were refused to enter Canada. Because of Canada’s wartime policies nearly 2,300 men were interned as enemy aliens in camps across Canada in between 1940-1943.Canadians did think that Jews needed help, but they thought that they should be sent to Asia or Africa. Canada thought Jews would not make good settlers. Mackenzie King also had negative views on Jews, and he also believed in Jewish stereotypes.
The history of Canada was flooded with many influential and incredible events, particularly during World War 1 and World War 2. During the 20th century, Canada got more involved in worldwide events. It was a very important period for Canada; it was where they gained their independence and progressed as a country. After this century, Canada was considered an important and powerful country. The three main 20th century events in Canadian history are the battle of Vimy Ridge, the change of woman’s rights and the battle of Juno Beach.
The discrimination suffered by the “ethnic Canadians” increased during the war was inflicted by both society and the government. An example of the discrimination suffered by “ethnic Canadians” is Sarah Mann, a Canadian-German living though World War 1. Before the people of the town knew she was of German descent, she lived a normal life. But, that all changed when they found out; they vandalized her house by breaking the windows, painting harsh words in red paint or blood, which is overall person to person discrimination. However, throughout the war, it was not just the Canadian-Germans who suffered from discrimination, all ethnicities either than English-Canadian or French-Canadian. Also, they did not only receive discrimination through vandalism, and other person to person discrimination, “ethnic Canadians” faced discrimination by the Canadian government. The governments’ discrimination was caused by the pressure of frightened public experiencing panic because of the Great War. Therefore, the government took action by passing the Wartime Elections Act and the Wartime Measures Act. The Wartime Elections act meant the “ethnic Canadians” would lose their right to vote. The “ethnic Canadians” would also be put into concentration camps or have to register to the police on a regular basis. The historical significance...
Before the 1920’s American had an ‘open door’ policy and many people from around the world travelled there to fight poverty and experience the American dream. However then America introduced two immigration laws in 1921 and 1924 which restricted immigrants from Southern, Central and Western European countries such as Italy and Russia. Fear of communism explains the changes in American policy toward immigration in the 1920’s to a certain extent. However factors such as Isolationism, Prejudice and Racism, Social Fears, the Effects of WW1 and Economic fears were also important.
There are more than 1000 people trying to immigrate to Canada. What if Canada contributed more to help the newcomers to Canada? Most of these newcomers are Muslim, and they are mostly coming from Syria, Iraq, and other countries that are at war. They are forced to leave their homes and can barely survive. These people are very vulnerable to almost anything. If Canada inherits these newcomers, it will gain a greater security and become more diverse. This will also become an advantage in the future. The government should help newcomers to Canada because they are vulnerable. It also gives Canada a chance to improve its diversity and safety, and it will benefit Canada in the later years.
Have you ever wondered which events in Canadian history have been the most significant in shaping Canadian identity? Many significant events in the twentieth century left a lasting legacy for Canada. Canada would not be the culturally rich, prosperous and progressive nation that it is today, without its immigration patterns in the past. World War I (WWI) was also a significant event as it united Canada and left behind a legacy of sacrifice and national pride. Economic development during the post war period contributed to Canadian success nationally and globally. Immigration, WWI and economic development were significant events in Canadian twentieth century history. Each event brought new and powerful
When the Italians came to Canada, they had many Obstacles moving into a different area. In 1901, many articles were revealed about Italians labors being unfair at work. Labors were misled through this system at labor camps or find themselves unemployed and were not considered labors in many Canada’s major cities. In 1902, the government of Italy sent a tour to report on Italian’s workers in Canada. This report talked about the harsh problems labors to suffer in Canada so, the Italian government suggested that Italian migration to Canada should be suspended. After WW1, the Canadian government took a legal action to immigration. A new law passed to decrease th...
Ninette Kelley and M. J. Trebicock, The Making of the Mosaic: a history of Canadian immigration policy. (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998). Immigration Policy in Canada: History. Administration and Debates. “Mapleleafweb.com.”
The steps to becoming a Canadian citizen are comprised of several components. The fact of the matter is that citizenship does not end when an individual obtains the documents that enable them to participate within civic duties and responsibilities. Based on the evidence of expert T.H. Marshall, within his academic essay entitled “Citizenship and Social Class”, the formation of social citizenship “promised greater economic equality, improvements in social welfare, services and education, and the opportunity for individuals to "share to the full in the social heritage and … live the life of a civilized being according to the standards prevailing in the society” (Marshall 1964). Social citizenship is also attributed as the basis of all forms of citizenship, yet is often debated whether it is currently possible and exercised by those of who it would benefit. According to the principles of T.H. Marshall’s literary work, social citizenship is active, as demonstrated through: the four core aspects citizenship, the basis of social policy, and the resulting actions taken by governing bodies.
Arrivals, from the same year, from all countries of persons of German race were 29,682 and Hebrew arrivals were 60,764. Changing the Character of Immigration, Pg. 103. 1) Unfortunately, with such a large influx in population during a short amount of time and other variables such as immigrants being unable to speak English, inadequate affordable urban housing, and insufficient jobs, a large amount of immigrants ended up in growing slums without the feeling of security or knowledge of how to find help, if there was any, from an unrepresentative government. These factors transformed incoming immigrants into easy prey for patronage from the political machine and sustained them by giving their votes. In the 1930’s, mass immigration had stopped and representative government had begun, leading to a decline in patronage needed by then integrated immigrants and a decline in votes for the machine....
Canada has continuously served as a home to immigrants and refugees from decade to decade harbouring people from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The first set of immigrants to settle in the country came from Britain, the United States and from other nationalities mostly including immigrants from Europe who were either desperate to escape from religious or political turmoil or were simply attracted to Canada’s economic promise. Soon after the Canadian confederation in 1867, immigrants from Irish and Chinese backgrounds who occupied most of the country were used as workers and the demand for labourers to develop the country increased rapidly as more Chinese descents were imported to build the Canadian Pacific Railway. Although, Canada opened its doors to immigrants, but the country also intended to gain human resources for work in the farms, in the forests, factories and mines but not everyone was equally welcomed in Canada.
Canada is a very big country where many immigrants want to achieve their goals and have a good life. According to government statistics (October 2013) population in Canada is 35,295,770 and is still increasing. Every year more people from every country in the world are moving to Canada to settle down, find new job, and start perfect life. It is very hard to behave like born and raised as Canadians for people from different countries, cultures and with different backgrounds. Canadian government is supporting newcomers trough many trainings and courses, but this is immigrants responsibility to be prepared for new circumstances, they have to do a lot of job themselves just to feel safe and secure in new place and life. Immigrants should considered few very important things before they will make their decision about changing place and life style. While they can be great specialist in their field, emigrants have to learn about Canadian culture, Canadian workplace rules, and what’s most important they have to adopt this knowledge to their new life.
In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is publicly ridiculed because of her decision to commit adultery. The town punished Hester for her whole life, making her wear a scarlet A on her chest. Similarly, Lindsay Lohan has recently been publicly shamed for addictions to drugs and alcohol. Hester Prynne and Lindsay Lohan have many similarities and differences in their scandal, punishment, and ridicule.