No nation could emerge from the Great Depression without profound social, political, and economic changes. Specifically, the United States and Canada were hit particularly hard with severe unemployment and acute economic deflation. While Franklin D. Roosevelt intervened heavily in the United States’ economy, Canadian Prime Minister Richard Bedford Bennett took a more laissez-faire approach; through these solutions, it is evident that in the case of economic depression, economic interventionism in employment, agricultural production, and national banking provide optimal results for recovery.
In order to repair the ravaged American and Canadian workforces, Roosevelt took decisive action towards reconstruction whereas Bennett, out of respect for the free-enterprise system, opted for less invasive solutions. The Great Depression caused unemployment in the US and Canada to plummet; the US’ unemployment rate rose approximately 25 percent and Canada’s to 27 percent (Leppard 97). Upon regarding the masses of homeless, starving, and impoverished citizens, Roosevelt proposed several …show more content…
Rather than create policies and administrations that would employ the people, he created “work relief camps”, in which 16- year old young men left their families to reduce economic burden (Great Depression of Canada). The men who volunteered for these camps were referred to as “Royal Twenty Centers” because they were only paid twenty cents per day—about $6 per month—which was a stark contrast to the $30 monthly payment the CCC volunteers received (Unemployment Relief Camps). Workers called these camps "slave camps", as they were forced to wear war surplus clothing, live in tar-paper shacks, and consume army rations. Not only did this fail to stimulate Canadian economy and provide citizens with relief, but also create social discontent among Canadian citizens with
In order to repair the ravaged American and Canadian workforces, Roosevelt took decisive action towards reconstruction whereas Bennett, out of respect for the free-enterprise system, opted for less invasive solutions. The Great Depression caused unemployment in the US and Canada to plummet; the US’ unemployment rate rose approximately 25 percent and Canada’s to 27 percent (Leppard 97). Upon regarding the masses of homeless, starving, and impoverished citizens, Roosevelt proposed several …show more content…
Rather than create policies and administrations that would employ the people, he created “work relief camps”, in which 16- year old young men left their families to reduce economic burden (Great Depression of Canada). The men who volunteered for these camps were referred to as “Royal Twenty Centers” because they were only paid twenty cents per day—about $6 per month—which was a stark contrast to the $30 monthly payment the CCC volunteers received (Unemployment Relief Camps). Workers called these camps "slave camps", as they were forced to wear war surplus clothing, live in tar-paper shacks, and consume army rations. Not only did this fail to stimulate Canadian economy and provide citizens with relief, but also create social discontent among Canadian citizens with