Returning Home from the War - Questions
1. When did the strike begin and when did it end?
The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 was the largest strike in Canadian history, between 15
May and 25 June 1919. The entire city of Winnipeg went on strike for 6 weeks.
2. What exactly is a "general strike"? Are there any advantages?
A general strike is a mass strike in all or many trades and industries, the advantage is that no
work is done which pressures the government to accept the workers’ demands.
3. In what ways was the city split or divided?
Distrust and divisions between the working class and businesses grew deeper.
4. What did government officials fear most? Was this justified in your mind?
The government officials were worried that the formation of trade unions might lead to
revolutions and the same violent uprisings that happened in Russia. The committee saw the
union leaders as part of a communist conspiracy to overthrow the government.
5. What were some of the problems facing the workers?
The workers demanding higher pay, better working conditions, and an eight-hour workday.
6. Describe the specific dispute and the events that eventually to the calling of a “general strike”.
It was called a general strike because all working individuals were affected, they all wanted an
8-hour workday, better working conditions and higher pay, they wanted to show that the strikers
were running Winnipeg, instead of the legally elected civic government.
7. How did the actions of the gov’t lead the workers to believe that the gov’t was prejudiced
against the workers?
The government formed its own committee, and they also led to violent attacks, the federal
government sent troops to Winnipeg to try to restore order. Royal North-West Mounted Police
and the city’s special force, armed with clubs and pistols, charged the crowd, one striker died,
30 were injured, and scores were arrested. They changed the Criminal Code so that foreign-
born union leaders— and anyone whom it believed was trying to start a revolution— could be
arrested and deported without trial.
8. Describe the events of "Bloody Saturday".
Bloody Saturday was on June 21, 1919, when the Royal North-West Mounted Police charged
a crowd of protesters during the Winnipeg General Strike.
9. Why did the strike collapse within four days after “Bloody Saturday”?
The strike collapsed because many workers/strikers were harmed, as many were injured by the
violent clash of the police.
10. Even though the strikers lost, was anything accomplished in the long run?
1. When did the strike begin and when did it end?
The Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 was the largest strike in Canadian history, between 15
May and 25 June 1919. The entire city of Winnipeg went on strike for 6 weeks.
2. What exactly is a "general strike"? Are there any advantages?
A general strike is a mass strike in all or many trades and industries, the advantage is that no
work is done which pressures the government to accept the workers’ demands.
3. In what ways was the city split or divided?
Distrust and divisions between the working class and businesses grew deeper.
4. What did government officials fear most? Was this justified in your mind?
The government officials were worried that the formation of trade unions might lead to
revolutions and the same violent uprisings that happened in Russia. The committee saw the
union leaders as part of a communist conspiracy to overthrow the government.
5. What were some of the problems facing the workers?
The workers demanding higher pay, better working conditions, and an eight-hour workday.
6. Describe the specific dispute and the events that eventually to the calling of a “general strike”.
It was called a general strike because all working individuals were affected, they all wanted an
8-hour workday, better working conditions and higher pay, they wanted to show that the strikers
were running Winnipeg, instead of the legally elected civic government.
7. How did the actions of the gov’t lead the workers to believe that the gov’t was prejudiced
against the workers?
The government formed its own committee, and they also led to violent attacks, the federal
government sent troops to Winnipeg to try to restore order. Royal North-West Mounted Police
and the city’s special force, armed with clubs and pistols, charged the crowd, one striker died,
30 were injured, and scores were arrested. They changed the Criminal Code so that foreign-
born union leaders— and anyone whom it believed was trying to start a revolution— could be
arrested and deported without trial.
8. Describe the events of "Bloody Saturday".
Bloody Saturday was on June 21, 1919, when the Royal North-West Mounted Police charged
a crowd of protesters during the Winnipeg General Strike.
9. Why did the strike collapse within four days after “Bloody Saturday”?
The strike collapsed because many workers/strikers were harmed, as many were injured by the
violent clash of the police.
10. Even though the strikers lost, was anything accomplished in the long run?
