Unit Six: Canada Matures: Growth in
the Post-War Period (1945-1970)
6.4: Canada’s role on the international
stage:
emergence as a “middle power”,
Meeting the Aliens
Soviet and American troops met at the Elbe River in Germany in April 1945.
Both were surprised at how “normal” the others were...
The Cold War Defined
•
Period of
high tension
between the 2
superpowers, the US
and the USSR, from
1945-1990
•
Often considered a war
between communism
and capitalism
•
Involved
threat of war
Rise of the Superpowers
•
Both the USSR & the USA emerged from WWII
more powerful than all other nations
•
Their large populations, massive land & resource
wealth, & military strength had made them
superpowers
•
A democracy
with free
elections, led by an
elected president
•
Freedom
of speech and
belief
•
Capitalism -
private
ownership and the right
to make money.
•
A one-party state
led by a
dictator. There were
elections, but you could
only vote for the
Communist Party
•
State control
:
censorship,
secret police, terror and
purges.
•
Communism
- state
ownership of the means
of production, and the
belief that wealth should
be shared.
•
Led by
Truman
,
who
believed that
Communism was evil.
•
Had the
atomic bomb
-
but was scared of Russia's
conventional army.
•
Angry about the
Nazi-Soviet Pact
that was a
major factor in starting
the Second World War.
•
Led by
Stalin
, who
believed that capitalism
was evil.
•
Had the
biggest army
in
the world - but was angry
that Truman had not
warned that he was going
to drop the atomic bomb.
•
Believed that America and
Britain had delayed
opening the
second front
(attacking France) to let
Germany and Russia
destroy each other on the
eastern front.
•
As the 2 superpowers after WWII, the US and
the USSR affected every country in the world
•
They both thought THEIR way was the best
way
•
When they got along, everyone exhaled. But
when they clashed over an issue, the world
held its breath.
Canada during the Cold War
•
During the Cold war Canada was a “
middle power
”. Smaller
than a great power but wealthier and more powerful than
smaller or poorer nations.
•
Canada was on the same side as the US because:
–
They were both capitalist and feared the spread of communism
–
Canada`s economy was tied to the US`s
–
They shared a border
*Canada had a difficult balance—not ``lose itself`` and be
•
The US had a policy of containment—they
would not let the Soviet Union (and
communism) expand any further
•
This angered the Soviets (obviously!) and both
sides began building up their nuclear weapons
in case they went to war
Canada and the Cold War: Defense Strategies
1. The
North Atlantic Treaty
Organization
:
– NATO was formed in 1949 as a defensive alliance against the spread of Soviet communism into Western Europe.
– Founding members were Canada, the US, Britain and France.
– An attack against one member was considered an attack against them all.
Canada and the Cold War From 1945-1969
•
The Warsaw Pact
–
Formed by the Soviet
Union in 1955 as a
response to NATO
Defence strategies
2. NORAD-(
North American Radar Defence
Systems
)
•
Radar lines constructed in Canada’s North
and far North to warn of a Soviet missile
attack (see map p. 262)
•
Funded largely by the US
National Geo Megastrutures
NORAD
Cold War Economy
•
The CW strengthened Canada’s economy
because of the new focus on defence:
–
Mining
: titanium and aluminum used for aircraft
and missiles; uranium used for atomic bombs
A Changing World
–
The Korean War had occurred between 1950 -53
between Communist North Korea (USSR & China)
& Democratic South Korea (U.S.-led United
Nations coalition including Canadian forces)
–
The Soviets acquired atomic weapons (1949)
which triggered an arms race for nukes with the
USA
–
By the mid 1950s, Nuclear paranoia & a fear of
communism had become firmly established
Life in the Atomic Age
•
Fears of nuclear war & communism impacted
ordinary life & activities for Canadians
•
Youtube “Atomic Cafe” 50 mins – 1:05)
•
Youtube “Duck & Cover (Civil Defence)” 4 mins
til end)
Canada and the Cold War From 1945-1969
•
The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
– In October 1962, the Americans photographed missile bases being constructed in Cuba, only 140km from Florida.
– The US (Kennedy) started a naval blockade of Cuba, to prevent Soviet ships carrying nuclear missiles from reaching Cuba.
– After some very tense negotiations, the Soviets (Khrushchev) backed down and recalled their ships. The world had barely escaped nuclear war.
– All other NATO allies responded quickly to the situation but Canada (Diefenbaker) did not. The Americans were furious at this slow
Canada and the Cold War From 1945-1969
• The Cold War and the Everyday Lives of Canadians
– Canadians lived in constant fear of nuclear war.
– Many schools (including mine) had regular air raid drills.
Canada and the Cold War From 1945-1969
•
Banning the Bomb
– By the 1960s many people in Canada were marching in protest of nuclear weapons, and demanded that Canada not support any nuclear weapon policies
– Canada never ‘officially’
owned nuclear weapons, but American ones were
stationed on our soil.
Canada and the Cold War From 1945-1969
•
Détente= easing of
tensions.
– After the Cuban missile crisis, the US and the Soviets began talking more.
– In 1968, they agreed to stop helping non-nuclear countries to develop such weapons. – The fall of the Soviet Union in
From League of Nations to United Nations
•
The United Nations was
created in April 1945 by 50
countries, including Canada.
Its goals included:
•
bring an end to war
•
encourage co-operation
•
improve standards of living
From League of Nations to United Nations
•
Some of the UN's main
agencies are:
–
UNICEF
(UN International Children’s
Emergency Fund.
–
WHO: World Health
Organization
–
ILO: International Labour
Organization
–
UNESCO: UN Educational,
Scientific and Cultural
Organization
UN Declaration of Human Rights (1948): a
sample...
•
-everyone is born free and equal
•
-everyone has the right to life, liberty, and freedom
from fear and violence
•
-everyone has the right to protection under the law
without discrimination
•
-everyone has the right to equal pay for equal work
Peacekeeping
(a Canadian 'invention', thanks to Lester B.
Pearson):
•
any UN military action to separate hostile
forces, maintain truces and get food to hungry
people
The Korean War (1950-1953)
•
Started when Soviet-backed,
Communist North Korea
invaded US-backed, democratic
South Korea on June 25, 1950
•
The UN responded by sending a
force made up of 32 countries,
led by the US to help South
Korea.
•
Canada sent about
The Suez Crisis (1956)
• Occurred when Egyptian President Nasser seized the Suez Canal from the French/English company that controlled it.
• Britain, France and Israel attacked • The Soviet Union declared support
for Egypt and the world seemed to be on the brink of world war.
• Lester Pearson suggested that a UNEF (UN Emergency Force) be positioned between the opposing forces until a solution could be worked out.
