1. wy moral/social reform movement emerges
a. transitional age
b. profound changes across Canada; social composition, politics, culture,
economy, religion
c. these changes are also happening in Britain and th US
d. general consensus that Canadian society is not adapting very well to the
rapid succession of changes that are happening
e. later 19 centruy sees Canada falling apar and breaking down
f. efforts to reform; create ideal behaviours and ways of living (reform
movement)
g. we see individuals that desire to purify and regenerate society, families
and individuals
i. concerned about canadas future prosperity
ii. zero in on the less desirable changes due to the transitional age
h. industrialization and urbanization both prompt a range of social issues and
concerns that are gaining some public attention
i. middle class Canadians really pay attention to these social issues
2. major concerns of reformers in urban Canada
a. church steps in to act as a moral guardian
b. problems are so vast and widespread its too much for the church to handle
c. groups are formed to help the problems
d. government steps in in some ways
e. housing; poor/working class housing
f. working conditions (low conditions, children in the workforce, womens
rights)
g. poverty is rampant in canadian urban centres
h. hygiene/cleanliness
i. there is a belief that more and more Canadians aren’t attending church in
the 20th century
j. fewer people are abiding by biblical principles and practices
k. protestant churchs have their own movement: social gospel
i. used religious teaching and spiritual activity to promote social
change
ii. believed people were born good and bad behaviour was caused by
the environment in which they lived
iii. improving social conditions would create a more moral and
religious society
l. j.s. woodsworth was a famous social gospeller
i. Methodist minister from Winnipeg
ii. Primary concern was urban slums and immigration
iii. Critiqued canadas semi-open door immigration policy
iv. Viewpoint was that immigrants are causing problems and they
need to be assimilated faster
v. Superintendant of the all=peoples mission in Winnipeg which was
set up to help poor immigrants to assimilate in Canadian society
m. Many social gospellers and reformers are women n. Women are viewed as very maternal beings, makes sense for women to
use their natural instincts to take care of others and it was a ‘hobby’for
women
o. Women are becoming more public, political, vocal—they are thought of as
inherent good beings
p. Most urban reformers are concerned with issues in urban centres which
are negatively affected by immigration, industrialization, etc
q. City beautiful movement
i. Called for municipal governments to pay more attention to
implementation of social programs, new facilities, street and
transportation planning and beautification (green spaces, parts, etc)
ii. Alot of the plans are very amibitious, time consuming
r. Begin to see the building of settlement houses
i. Some offer medical care, education, recreational facilities, library,
ii. Wealthy people would live in these with the poor so that the poor
could learn the habits of the rich
iii. 1902, Toronto was canadas first settlement house
s. creation of the salvation army
i. different branches would be set up in cities and towns to fight sin
and poverty
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