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Prehistory | 2 Worlds Meet | New France | England Arrives | Clash of Empires | Revolution | British America | Reform/Revolt | Responsible Government | Confederation | Nation Building | Laurier | The Great War | Roaring 20's | Great Depression | WWII | The Peace | Cold War | Trudeau | PC's in Power | Modern Canada
A New Leader | Maritimes Rights Movement | King Byng Affair | The Economy Booms | A New Culture | Stocks
The battle between the farmers of the country and the entrenched business interests of Ontario and Quebec had been an ongoing one ever since the first rail lines were pushed across the prairies and immigrants began to arrive in the west to settle and farm the land. High tariff rates had supported Canadian industry but made supplies, farm equipment and many manufactured goods expensive for the farmers. The railways had also been able to charge high shipping rates for getting the farmers produce to market which meant that in order to stay competitive the farmers were forces to accept lower prices.
The Liberals and Conservatives had continually supported the idea of better prices for farmers, tariff reductions and better shipping rates but rarely did much about it. The First World War had created a huge demand for Canadian wheat but by the end of the war with government spending dropping and normalization of affairs taking hold, the demand for wheat weakened and the farmers were thrown into a difficult situation.
In 1919 the "New National Policy" was published by the Canadian Council of Agriculture and this stimulated direct political action by the farmers. In 1919the United Farmers of Ontario was formed and ran in the provincial election against a strong incumbent Conservative government. The U.F.O. won a majority of seats and took power with their leader E.C. Drury as Premier.
The Canadian Council of Agriculture called a national convention in 1920 to organize and prepare for a national election under the banner of the National Progressive Party. They chose T.A. Crerar as their leader and prepared for the 1921 election. Mackenzie King was convinced that the farmers and former Liberals that constituted the majority of he new Progressive Party could be won over to the Liberal part due to their mutual political philosophies. King even went so far as to suggest that they not run against each other in certain ridings but should support each others candidates in order to defeat the Conservatives.
With in a short period, several provincial organizations where springing up in support of the Progressives. The United Farmers of Alberta won the 1923 provincial election, the United Farmers of Manitoba the election of 1922 and the farmers movement became deeply entrenched in the western provinces.
The 1921 Federal election changed the Canadian political landscape when the Liberals won 118 seats, the Conservatives 50 seats and the Progressives came second with 65 seats. King's strategy of absorbing, wooing, working with, and eventually swallowing the Progressive movement was aided by a high level of prosperity between 1921 and 1928 and the blurring of differences between the Progressives and the Liberals. By the end of the decade they had generally disappeared as a political force but many of their ideas and ambitions remained with the Liberal Party and would reappear again in he 30's as new parties were formed during the Great Depression.
