Prohibition & Social Reform

Active learning works for this topic because students need to grapple with the human impact of economic collapse, not just memorize dates and policies. Through role-play, simulations, and debate, they connect abstract causes to real experiences of struggle and resilience during the Great Depression.

• Grade 10
• Canadian Studies
• 3 activities
• 25 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Evaluate the social and economic arguments for and against prohibition in Canada.
2. Analyze the rise of organized crime and its connection to rum-running during the prohibition era.
3. Explain the role of women's temperance organizations in advocating for social reform.
4. Compare the effectiveness of prohibition policies across different Canadian provinces.
5. Critique the unintended consequences of prohibition on Canadian society and law enforcement.

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Letters to the PM

In small groups, students read real letters written by Canadians to Prime Minister R.B. Bennett during the Depression. They identify the different types of help people were asking for and the emotional toll the crisis was taking on families.

Prepare & details

Explain the motivations behind the introduction and eventual failure of prohibition.

Facilitation Tip: In the 'Think-Pair-Share' on the causes of the crash, listen for students to move beyond blaming the stock market to identify interconnected factors like tariffs and overproduction.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Stations Rotation

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Stations Rotation: The 'Dirty Thirties'

Set up stations on the Dust Bowl, the relief camps, and the 'on-to-Ottawa' trek. At each station, students use photos and diary entries to understand the specific challenges faced by people in different parts of the country.

Prepare & details

Analyze the impact of rum-running on Canada-US relations and organized crime.

Setup: Tables/desks arranged in 4-6 distinct stations around room

Materials: Station instruction cards, Different materials per station, Rotation timer

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The Causes of the Crash

Students read a simplified explanation of the causes of the 1929 crash (e.g., overproduction, buying on margin). They discuss with a partner which factor they think was the most significant and why it led to such a long-lasting depression.

Prepare & details

Evaluate the role of women's organizations in the temperance movement.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Experienced teachers approach this topic by grounding discussions in primary sources that reveal human stories behind economic policies. Avoid treating the Depression as a distant historical event; instead, use role-play to help students feel the weight of decisions made by governments and individuals. Research suggests that connecting economic theories to lived experiences deepens understanding and fosters empathy.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students moving beyond surface-level facts to analyze systemic causes, empathize with historical figures, and recognize how policy choices shape human suffering. Evidence of learning includes clear connections between economic policies, personal stories, and long-term social changes.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the 'Think-Pair-Share: The Causes of the Crash,' watch for students who oversimplify the stock market crash as the sole cause. Redirect them to examine the station rotation materials on overproduction and tariffs.

What to Teach Instead

Use the station rotation's 'economic vulnerability' section to prompt students to trace how Canada's reliance on wheat and lumber exports created fragility before 1929.

Common Misconception

During the simulation in 'Station Rotation: The 'Dirty Thirties',' watch for students who assume government relief was generous. Redirect them to review the 'relief application' station materials.

What to Teach Instead

Have students complete the mock relief application and discuss the questions about assets and family size to reveal how minimal and conditional relief payments were.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

After the class debate on prohibition, assess students' ability to use evidence by collecting their key arguments and supporting statistics on a shared chart during the discussion.

Quick Check

During the 'Dirty Thirties' station rotation, assess students' understanding of government relief by asking them to summarize the main challenges described in the relief application station on an exit ticket.

Exit Ticket

After 'Letters to the PM,' collect the letters and assess how well students connected their arguments to specific policies or events from the Depression era.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge early finishers to compare Canadian Depression experiences to those in another country using provided primary sources.
• Scaffolding for struggling students: Provide a sentence starter frame for the 'Letters to the PM' activity to help them structure their arguments.
• Deeper exploration: Have students analyze a political cartoon from the 1930s and explain how it reflects public attitudes toward government relief or prohibition.

Key Vocabulary

Temperance Movement	A social reform movement advocating for the moderation or complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages, often driven by religious and moral concerns.
Prohibition	The period in Canadian history when the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages were legally prohibited, primarily between 1916 and 1920 in most provinces.
Rum-running	The illegal smuggling of alcohol, often across the Canada-United States border, to circumvent prohibition laws and meet demand.
Bootlegging	The illicit production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages during prohibition.
Social Reform	Organized efforts to improve aspects of society, often addressing issues like poverty, public health, and morality, as seen with the temperance movement.