Subjective Factors
1. Groups and individuals who claimed that there was a social problem that needed to be addressed or resolved
The continuing discrimination and unfair conditions of Jewish immigrants in Canada did not go unnoticed, and soon it became a major concern which people would ask to be immedietly adressed. Mainly, the Jewish community itself identified the existance of a social problem. Jewish organizations and the Jewish press tried to increase the public's awareness of anti-Semitism, in hopes it would become more apparent to the Canadian public.
The press was considered to have the most important role in combating anti-Semitism. Just as anti-Semitism originated from its spread through the Canadian media, people felt they could fight the social problem by informing others of the severity of the situation. For example, The Jewish Post and the Israelite Press attempted this by publishing articles on the latest act of vandalism or party meetings against Jews. Soon the Government took note of the social problem, and The Canadian Jewish Congress held meetings to discuss what could be done.
2. How the social problem was described by the groups and individuals involved
Because the problem was mostly identified by members of the Jewish community, who wouldv'e experianced the effects of anti-Semitism firsthand, the problem was described as something extremely unfair and detrimental to the ability for Canadian society to function positvely or progress. The most important result of the Canada's anti-Semitic views was the harsh immigration policies they enforced, which prevented thousands of Jews from finding refugee in Canada during WWll. Countless Jewish families were distressed by this decision, as well as several politians and newspapers. For example, The Free Press stated that “Anti-Semitism ... has too large footing among Canadians ... Gross prejudices and ... exaggerations sadly mark every discussion of the historically fateful Jewish problem.”
3. Individuals or groups who were held responsible for the social problem
Behind the descriminatory actions and conditions plaguing Jews of the 19th/20th centuary, were various anti-semetic organizations and individuals. They produced hateful articles, books, journals, signs, and speeches, as well as commiting many violent actions. Usually fueled by feelings of religious superiority, their goals ranged from slight apprehension to accept or involde Jews in the community, to the outright belief that all Jews should be executed. Despite these differences, the views and actions of such people is what was responsible for the struggles of Jewish immigrants throughout Canadian history.
Ku Klux Klan
The Klan was a conservative organization started in 1865 by veterans of the confederate army. They were dedicated to the supremacy of an Anglo-Saxon, Protestant society, and where therefore against all other races or religious. Fortunetly, their use of violent methods threatened their existance, and the Klan was in decline from 1868 to 1870. Although the Klan was temporarly outlawed by the Civil Rights Act of 1871, they began to resurface again in 1915, and by 1921 they had spread to Canada. They were reported active in Montréal, and by 1925 various divisions were established throughout the Country. The KKK were considered most active in Saskatchewan, apparent in more than 100 different towns. Canadian Klansmen were extremely anti-Semitic, and thought the purity of the Anglo-Saxon race was being jeopardized by new immigration. Although the political influence of the Klan was not as strong as in the United States, they were still capable of persuading voters in the 1929 Saskatchewan election, ending 24 years of Liberal rule. The Klan would continue being active until The Great Depression, where once again they would begin to decline.
Political Organizations
In English speaking Canada there were many political organization that supporeted anti-semitism, such as the Social Credit Party, the Orange Order and the Native Sons of Canada. The credit ratings compiled by R.G. Dun and Company can also be held responsible for the prevelance of anti-Semitism, as they were filled with derogatory comments and stereotypes about Jewish businessmen.
Other anti-Semitic and facist organizations include the ones created in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Maritime provinces, starting in 1933. These groups were known by various names, such as the "Blue Shirts", the "White Shirts", Nationalist State Party, Canadian Union of Fascists, and Canadian Nationalist Party.
In Quebec, Jews made up only 1% of the population, and were therefore heavily discriminated against. Anti-Jewish organizations such as the Federation of Labour Clubs of Quebec and "Le Jeune Canada" were prominent in 1933, and gave way to the creation of the National Socialist Christian Party.
The Catholic Church associated Jews with modernism, liberalism and other supposedly dangerous doctrines. People often displayed their hatred in various Quebec newspapers or journals, such as La Vérité, La Semaine réligieuse and L'Action sociale . Newspapers printed statements such as “The Jew is a thief to be avoided” and “The Jew, Disgusting Creature who dreams of dominating the World.” Many Quebec politicians supported such claims and heavily opposed Jewish immigration.
Specific Individuals
During the 19th centuary, most of the anti-semitic influence came from specific individuals whose opinons were highly regarded, such as writers, politicians and other elite members of Canadian society. Below are a few of the individuals who are considered to have influenced the social problem.
Goldwin Smith
The prominent writer and critic Goldwin Smith was a well known anit-semite, who portrayed his hatred in several books, articles and letters. He called Jews "parasites" who were "dangerous" to their country and "enemies to civilization". Such comments would end up convincing future politicians, such as William Lion Mackenzie King, Henri Bourassa and Vincent Massey, to regard Jewish immigration negatively.
Abbé Lionel Groulx, Jules-Paul Tardivel and Adrien Arcand
In Quebec there were several individuals who spread anti-Jewish sentiment throughout the province. The French-Canadian Abbé Lionel Groulx for example, influenced the creation of the "Achat Chez Nous" movement. Journalists such as Jules-Paul Tardivel and Adrien Arcand were responsible for the creation of several Anti-Semitic newspapers, such as La Verite, Le Goglu, Le Miroir, Le Chameau, Le Patriote, Le Fasciste Canadien and Le Combat National. Adrien Arcand also established the Christian National Social Party, which models itself closely to the Nazi party, and was known for distributing a large amount of anti-Jewish propaganda or literature imported from Germany. His party’s actions, and the participation in anti-Semitic rallies and boycotts, would ultimetly inspire the creation of several other Nazi-like organizations throughout Canada.
Frederick Charles Blair
Several English politions were also known for their anti-semitic views, such as Frederick Charles Blair. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King appointed Blair to the position of Director of the Immigration Branch in 1935. He developed and enforced a new immigration policy that's main goal was to keep Jewish Refugee's out of Canada. Blair is also considered to be the author of the famous quote "None is too many" which was a response to the question "How many Jews should be allowed into Canada?". Even if Blair was not the one who anwsered the question, his opinions on Jewish immigration were quite similar, for example in a letter to the undersecretery of internal affairs, he wrote that “No country should open its doors wide enough to take in the hundreds of thousands of Jewish people who want to leave Europe: the line must be drawn somewhere.”
Therefore, although William L. Mackenzie was ultimetly responsible for Canada's original closed door policy, Blair's impossible restrictions can be held accoutnable for Canada having the lowest Jewish immigration rate during the 1930's and 1940's.
William Lyon Mackenzie King
W.L Mackenzie King was Prime Minister of Canada from 1921-1926. He was strongly against Jewish immigration, and is known for his involvement in the Voyage of St. Louis, where he did not allow a Jewish Refugee ship to dock in Halifax, forcing it to return to Europe where an estimated 227 passengers would die as a result of the Holocaust.
The continuing discrimination and unfair conditions of Jewish immigrants in Canada did not go unnoticed, and soon it became a major concern which people would ask to be immedietly adressed. Mainly, the Jewish community itself identified the existance of a social problem. Jewish organizations and the Jewish press tried to increase the public's awareness of anti-Semitism, in hopes it would become more apparent to the Canadian public.
The press was considered to have the most important role in combating anti-Semitism. Just as anti-Semitism originated from its spread through the Canadian media, people felt they could fight the social problem by informing others of the severity of the situation. For example, The Jewish Post and the Israelite Press attempted this by publishing articles on the latest act of vandalism or party meetings against Jews. Soon the Government took note of the social problem, and The Canadian Jewish Congress held meetings to discuss what could be done.
2. How the social problem was described by the groups and individuals involved
Because the problem was mostly identified by members of the Jewish community, who wouldv'e experianced the effects of anti-Semitism firsthand, the problem was described as something extremely unfair and detrimental to the ability for Canadian society to function positvely or progress. The most important result of the Canada's anti-Semitic views was the harsh immigration policies they enforced, which prevented thousands of Jews from finding refugee in Canada during WWll. Countless Jewish families were distressed by this decision, as well as several politians and newspapers. For example, The Free Press stated that “Anti-Semitism ... has too large footing among Canadians ... Gross prejudices and ... exaggerations sadly mark every discussion of the historically fateful Jewish problem.”
3. Individuals or groups who were held responsible for the social problem
Behind the descriminatory actions and conditions plaguing Jews of the 19th/20th centuary, were various anti-semetic organizations and individuals. They produced hateful articles, books, journals, signs, and speeches, as well as commiting many violent actions. Usually fueled by feelings of religious superiority, their goals ranged from slight apprehension to accept or involde Jews in the community, to the outright belief that all Jews should be executed. Despite these differences, the views and actions of such people is what was responsible for the struggles of Jewish immigrants throughout Canadian history.
Ku Klux Klan
The Klan was a conservative organization started in 1865 by veterans of the confederate army. They were dedicated to the supremacy of an Anglo-Saxon, Protestant society, and where therefore against all other races or religious. Fortunetly, their use of violent methods threatened their existance, and the Klan was in decline from 1868 to 1870. Although the Klan was temporarly outlawed by the Civil Rights Act of 1871, they began to resurface again in 1915, and by 1921 they had spread to Canada. They were reported active in Montréal, and by 1925 various divisions were established throughout the Country. The KKK were considered most active in Saskatchewan, apparent in more than 100 different towns. Canadian Klansmen were extremely anti-Semitic, and thought the purity of the Anglo-Saxon race was being jeopardized by new immigration. Although the political influence of the Klan was not as strong as in the United States, they were still capable of persuading voters in the 1929 Saskatchewan election, ending 24 years of Liberal rule. The Klan would continue being active until The Great Depression, where once again they would begin to decline.
Political Organizations
In English speaking Canada there were many political organization that supporeted anti-semitism, such as the Social Credit Party, the Orange Order and the Native Sons of Canada. The credit ratings compiled by R.G. Dun and Company can also be held responsible for the prevelance of anti-Semitism, as they were filled with derogatory comments and stereotypes about Jewish businessmen.
Other anti-Semitic and facist organizations include the ones created in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Maritime provinces, starting in 1933. These groups were known by various names, such as the "Blue Shirts", the "White Shirts", Nationalist State Party, Canadian Union of Fascists, and Canadian Nationalist Party.
In Quebec, Jews made up only 1% of the population, and were therefore heavily discriminated against. Anti-Jewish organizations such as the Federation of Labour Clubs of Quebec and "Le Jeune Canada" were prominent in 1933, and gave way to the creation of the National Socialist Christian Party.
The Catholic Church associated Jews with modernism, liberalism and other supposedly dangerous doctrines. People often displayed their hatred in various Quebec newspapers or journals, such as La Vérité, La Semaine réligieuse and L'Action sociale . Newspapers printed statements such as “The Jew is a thief to be avoided” and “The Jew, Disgusting Creature who dreams of dominating the World.” Many Quebec politicians supported such claims and heavily opposed Jewish immigration.
Specific Individuals
During the 19th centuary, most of the anti-semitic influence came from specific individuals whose opinons were highly regarded, such as writers, politicians and other elite members of Canadian society. Below are a few of the individuals who are considered to have influenced the social problem.
Goldwin Smith
The prominent writer and critic Goldwin Smith was a well known anit-semite, who portrayed his hatred in several books, articles and letters. He called Jews "parasites" who were "dangerous" to their country and "enemies to civilization". Such comments would end up convincing future politicians, such as William Lion Mackenzie King, Henri Bourassa and Vincent Massey, to regard Jewish immigration negatively.
Abbé Lionel Groulx, Jules-Paul Tardivel and Adrien Arcand
In Quebec there were several individuals who spread anti-Jewish sentiment throughout the province. The French-Canadian Abbé Lionel Groulx for example, influenced the creation of the "Achat Chez Nous" movement. Journalists such as Jules-Paul Tardivel and Adrien Arcand were responsible for the creation of several Anti-Semitic newspapers, such as La Verite, Le Goglu, Le Miroir, Le Chameau, Le Patriote, Le Fasciste Canadien and Le Combat National. Adrien Arcand also established the Christian National Social Party, which models itself closely to the Nazi party, and was known for distributing a large amount of anti-Jewish propaganda or literature imported from Germany. His party’s actions, and the participation in anti-Semitic rallies and boycotts, would ultimetly inspire the creation of several other Nazi-like organizations throughout Canada.
Frederick Charles Blair
Several English politions were also known for their anti-semitic views, such as Frederick Charles Blair. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King appointed Blair to the position of Director of the Immigration Branch in 1935. He developed and enforced a new immigration policy that's main goal was to keep Jewish Refugee's out of Canada. Blair is also considered to be the author of the famous quote "None is too many" which was a response to the question "How many Jews should be allowed into Canada?". Even if Blair was not the one who anwsered the question, his opinions on Jewish immigration were quite similar, for example in a letter to the undersecretery of internal affairs, he wrote that “No country should open its doors wide enough to take in the hundreds of thousands of Jewish people who want to leave Europe: the line must be drawn somewhere.”
Therefore, although William L. Mackenzie was ultimetly responsible for Canada's original closed door policy, Blair's impossible restrictions can be held accoutnable for Canada having the lowest Jewish immigration rate during the 1930's and 1940's.
William Lyon Mackenzie King
W.L Mackenzie King was Prime Minister of Canada from 1921-1926. He was strongly against Jewish immigration, and is known for his involvement in the Voyage of St. Louis, where he did not allow a Jewish Refugee ship to dock in Halifax, forcing it to return to Europe where an estimated 227 passengers would die as a result of the Holocaust.