After much investigation of the time period, not only for the purpose of this assignment, but from previous exploration of the topic of Anti-Semitism in Canada, I want to conclude that the SS St. Louis was rejected from docking in Halifax, Nova Scotia in June of 1939, mainly because of strong anti-Semitic attitudes within the Canadian government.
The issue of anti-Semitism is vast and deep in this period of Canadian history. Understanding the immigration policies of the time specific to Jewish people is a difficult process that requires looking at the economic, social and political situation at the time, while also exploring the influence on those aspects from outside of Canada.
The main reason that the SS St. Louis was turned away from Canada was because of Prime Minister Mackenzie King and his Director of Immigration, F.C. Blair. These two men, who possessed the power to create a different outcome, did not want to allow the Jews into Canada. The strong immigration policies that were in place, along with F.C. Blair's anti-Semitic sentiments, allowed for the SS St. Louis to be rejected as neither of these very powerful men wanted to deal with the consequences of allowing Jewish people into Canada. The Canadian government was more concerned about the effects of letting the Jews into Canada than they were about what would happen to the Jews if they were not let in.
Going beyond the scope of this research, we would need to look at the many factors that contributed to Mackenzie King and F.C. Blair's attitudes towards the Jews. They were not the reason the anti-Semitism existed in Canada, but they did play a role in continue on the pattern of anti-Semitism.
Although there were many factors that led to strong anti-Semitism and strict immigration policies in Canada in the 1930s, the main reason why the SS St. Louis was not allowed to dock in Halifax, despite the desperation of the Jewish refugees on board, was because of the Prime Minister of Canada and his Director of Immigration. Had they wanted to help these Jews out, they could have...they chose not to.
Luckily, we have moved forward in our understanding of different ethnic and cultural groups in Canada. We do not live in a perfect society and many things do still happen but Canada was learned from its mistakes. When we view this incident from an historical perspective, we can begin to examine why the Canadian government rejected the ship, rather than just judge them for their inaction. This is what the historical perspective is all about and this is how I would approach teaching this.
I would have to say that my understanding of the causes of the incident of the SS St. Louis are similar to other historians and much of the literature about this time period. Although there are many other factors that I did not have a chance to discuss here, the leaders of the Canadian government and their attitudes are explored in every source I have encountered about the St. Louis. Immigration policy and F.C. Blair's anti-Semitic views have generally been accepted as a way to explain what happened in June of 1939. I do not deviate away from this idea.
The issue of anti-Semitism is vast and deep in this period of Canadian history. Understanding the immigration policies of the time specific to Jewish people is a difficult process that requires looking at the economic, social and political situation at the time, while also exploring the influence on those aspects from outside of Canada.
The main reason that the SS St. Louis was turned away from Canada was because of Prime Minister Mackenzie King and his Director of Immigration, F.C. Blair. These two men, who possessed the power to create a different outcome, did not want to allow the Jews into Canada. The strong immigration policies that were in place, along with F.C. Blair's anti-Semitic sentiments, allowed for the SS St. Louis to be rejected as neither of these very powerful men wanted to deal with the consequences of allowing Jewish people into Canada. The Canadian government was more concerned about the effects of letting the Jews into Canada than they were about what would happen to the Jews if they were not let in.
Going beyond the scope of this research, we would need to look at the many factors that contributed to Mackenzie King and F.C. Blair's attitudes towards the Jews. They were not the reason the anti-Semitism existed in Canada, but they did play a role in continue on the pattern of anti-Semitism.
Although there were many factors that led to strong anti-Semitism and strict immigration policies in Canada in the 1930s, the main reason why the SS St. Louis was not allowed to dock in Halifax, despite the desperation of the Jewish refugees on board, was because of the Prime Minister of Canada and his Director of Immigration. Had they wanted to help these Jews out, they could have...they chose not to.
Luckily, we have moved forward in our understanding of different ethnic and cultural groups in Canada. We do not live in a perfect society and many things do still happen but Canada was learned from its mistakes. When we view this incident from an historical perspective, we can begin to examine why the Canadian government rejected the ship, rather than just judge them for their inaction. This is what the historical perspective is all about and this is how I would approach teaching this.
I would have to say that my understanding of the causes of the incident of the SS St. Louis are similar to other historians and much of the literature about this time period. Although there are many other factors that I did not have a chance to discuss here, the leaders of the Canadian government and their attitudes are explored in every source I have encountered about the St. Louis. Immigration policy and F.C. Blair's anti-Semitic views have generally been accepted as a way to explain what happened in June of 1939. I do not deviate away from this idea.