Why is this event important to Canadian history?
The SS St. Louis was not an isolated incident. This particular event was an example of a prevailing attitude that existed at the time. Although Canada was not the only country to reject the SS St. Louis at the time, it is important to understand the reasons why Canada took the stance it did. If an individual was to learn about the SS St. Louis without any contextual understanding of the time period within Canadian history, this would be a very difficult event to comprehend. There is an unspoken truth of the past in Canada. If we look at this event from our present understandings of racism and discrimination, it would seem as though Canada was extremely discriminatory against Jewish people. This is not unnecessarily true, but we do have to examine this time period further in order to understand what happened when the voyagers on the St. Louis were looking for refuge, and why Canada would not provide that for them.
The SS St. Louis is a great place to start in investigating anti-semitism and attitudes towards Jewish people within a Canadian context.
The Voyage of the SS St. Louis had a lasting effect on Canadian immigration policy during the Second World War, it was an indication of the status of Jews on the international scale, and it captured the attention of the world, both while it was happening and many years later.
Focus on the Historical Thinking Concepts
For this research, I have chosen to take on the historical thinking concepts proposed by Dr. Peter Seixas. As I investigate this issue, I want to take on the historical perspective of the people at the time and how we have looked back on this incident over time.
The Historical Perspective
"Taking historical perspective means understanding the social, cultural, intellectual, and emotional settings that shaped people’s lives and actions in the past." - Centre for the Study of Historical Consciousness
I will investigate the incident of the SS St. Louis within the bigger context of the time. In order to really understand the reasons that the Canadian government chose not to react to the pleas of the passengers of the SS St. Louis, we must understand the political, social, and economic aspects of the time. We can look back on the time and be critical about it, but we cannot reflect the values of the world that we live in today. I will explore more modern reactions to the event after I explore the attitudes as they were.
The SS St. Louis is a great place to start in investigating anti-semitism and attitudes towards Jewish people within a Canadian context.
The Voyage of the SS St. Louis had a lasting effect on Canadian immigration policy during the Second World War, it was an indication of the status of Jews on the international scale, and it captured the attention of the world, both while it was happening and many years later.
Focus on the Historical Thinking Concepts
For this research, I have chosen to take on the historical thinking concepts proposed by Dr. Peter Seixas. As I investigate this issue, I want to take on the historical perspective of the people at the time and how we have looked back on this incident over time.
The Historical Perspective
"Taking historical perspective means understanding the social, cultural, intellectual, and emotional settings that shaped people’s lives and actions in the past." - Centre for the Study of Historical Consciousness
I will investigate the incident of the SS St. Louis within the bigger context of the time. In order to really understand the reasons that the Canadian government chose not to react to the pleas of the passengers of the SS St. Louis, we must understand the political, social, and economic aspects of the time. We can look back on the time and be critical about it, but we cannot reflect the values of the world that we live in today. I will explore more modern reactions to the event after I explore the attitudes as they were.