King and Chaos - The 1935 Canadian General Election (Paperback)

In 1935, Canadians went to the polls against a backdrop of the Great Depression and deteriorating international conditions. This election was like no other. As the Conservative government splintered under the weight of outdated policies, the opposition Liberals watched the destruction. Meanwhile, the newly minted Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and Social Credit Party transformed the electoral base, bringing working-class Canadians – and working-class issues – more directly into the political process. Although the Liberals ultimately swept back to power under William Lyon Mackenzie King’s leadership, King and Chaos demonstrates that the 1935 election marked a true turning point, ending the dominance of the two-party system and making room for additional parties to win seats and influence government policy.