Essay Sample about Canada in the 1920's

Many of the contributions made during the 1920s in Canada had a lot to do with the changing social life, switching from wartime after the end of World War I to peacetime and getting the economy back to its former state.  Through advancements in travel, a switch in entertainment and nightlife, and many new inventions, Canada went through many drastic changes in the 1920s.

In the 1920s there were many large advancements in methods of travel.  Much of these advancements were able to help Canadians, as they made life much easier for them.  Rather than walking or taking public methods of transportation, cars were able to get you to and from places you needed to be and they were much more reliable.  It was Joseph Armand Bombardier who created the first snowmobile.  In Canada’s harsh winters this snowmobile would be able to help many Canadians with transportation and a means of food delivery.  Cars were also developed in the 1920s and were meant to have a hand-cranked start-up method.  These cars were able to go as fast as 64 kilometres per hour and were always reliable.  The cost of cars being only $394 and installment plans being the newest methods of payment are the two factors that caused Canada to be the 2nd most motorized country in the world behind the United States.  In conclusion, the new technology in the travel industry is one of the biggest factors of Canada’s drastic changes in the 1920s. Not only did these new inventions create much more convenience for people but cars were one of the biggest symbols of the 20s.

During the 20s there was also a very big shift in nightlife and entertainment.  Prohibition and the idea of “the New Woman” were two things that greatly influenced this shift.  Speakeasies were illegally operated nightclubs that sold alcohol, which was also illegal during the time of prohibition.  They were people’s biggest sources of nighttime entertainment, always complete with live music and drinks.  Flappers were also a big part of entertainment in nightlife.  Younger and extremely stylish, flappers were one of the two types of the “New Woman”.  Many of these flappers would go out to parties, smoke, drink, and practice sexual freedom.  Flappers were frowned upon by older generations simply because of their new vibrant, youthful, and “boyish” nature.  Entertainment and nightlife in Canada had a big impact on its change.  The newfound ways of partying illegally and a refusal to conform to older Victorian morality.  Overall, this new “living in the moment” mindset of young Canadians would greatly contribute to its drastic change.

Lastly, many great Canadian Inventors were able to further change Canadian society with their great creations.  The telephone made by Alexander Graham Bell would be the new modernized means of communication for many.  This would set back the old methods of communication such as telegram and letter far behind this new innovative technology.  Not only did the telephone create the convenience of not needing to write things out as you would in letters or telegrams but you would be able to have immediate conversations with other people over the phone.  The creation of insulin was also created in the 20s by Canadian inventor Sir Fredrick Banting.  Before the discovery of insulin, the diagnosis of diabetes was a death sentence.  The most common cure of diabetes was to let the patient starve, but through the creation of insulin, many of these people were saved and would be able to live normal lives.  Despite the two inventions being the only ones listed, there are many more creations Canadian inventors came up with which further advanced and changed the country in the 1920s.

Without several methods of travel such as the car or snowmobile, Canadians wouldn’t know the convenience that they do today.  Prohibition and the “New Woman” promoted the “living in the moment” lifestyle and rebellion against the conservative Victorian lifestyle that was lived prior to the war.  In addition, many new inventions of Canadians would not only change the lives of other Canadians but also many people all over the world.  Through advancements in travel, a switch in entertainment and nightlife, and many new inventions, Canada went through many drastic changes in the 1920s.