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Québec's Padlock Law
-An act to shut down any meeting places for groups that promoted Communism/Bolshevism.
-This act was controversary to Canada's system of justice, because it stated that any owners of a building suspected to hold communist/Bolshevik meetings were considered guilty until proved innocent. Perhaps it shows how fearful the Canadian government was of the communist philosophy taking control of Canada. -
Gouzenko Affair
Gouzenko on Seven Days-
The Gouzenko Affair is named after a defect Russian spy in Canada, Igor Gouzenko.
-Gouzenko exposed many Soviet spies working in Canada and Stalin's efforts to steal Canada's nuclear weapons research information. -
Berlin Blockade
-Soviet Russia attempts to block off all supply and transportation lines entering West Berlin in order to gain full practical control of Berlin.
-This plan fails due to the Western Allies' efforts in sending daily supplies and necessities to West Berlin through airlifts.
-When it becomes clear that the Blockade is failing, Germany splits into East and West Germany. -
International Alliances: NATO
-NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is an alliance made by the majority of the Western Alliance, including powers such as Britain, USA, Canada, Italy, France, Hungary, and Spain.
-This alliance ensured that upon an attack on any of the members of the NATO, a mutual defence would be executed. -
Korean War
After WW2, the Korean Peninsula was under the control of Soviet Russia and the US, each holding North and South Korea, respectively.
-Both parties had planned on uniting the South and North; however, the Soviet party created a communist government in North Korea.
-North Korea launches a full-scale attack on South Korea, as their belief was that military force was the ideal method of unification.
-26,000 Canadians participate in the Korean war; 516 Canadian casualties. -
International Alliances: Warsaw Pact
-The Soviet Union, in response to the formation of the NATO, created the Warsaw Pact, an alliance with similar structures to that of the NATO. This alliance consisted of the majority of the Eastern Europe. -
Vietnam War and Draft Dodgers
Stories of the Vietnam War-Nov. 1st, 1955, the Vietnam War begins with Vietnam's fight to regain independence from French rule. Vietnam seeks the US for support but replies that French have territorial rights of Vietnam.
-Vietnam seeks communist China for help, Vietnam is divided North and South - Communist and Democratic.
-North Vietnam attacks South, takes control of South Vietnam.
-Many U.S. soldiers draft dodge or desert the Vietnam War, escaping to Canada. -
Suez Crisis & Pearson Wins the Nobel Prize
-The Suez Crisis starts when Egyptian President Nasser takes control of the Suez Canal - one of the most important oil conduits of Britain.
-Both Britain and France take this as a great insult to their pride, and take months in preparing for a military attack on Egypt.
-Lester Pearson, Secretary of State for External Affairs of Canada, proposes that a U.N, force composing of neither Britain nor French guard the Suez Canal, -
Sputnik and Canada's Space Program
-Sputnik 1 is the first artificial human satellite sent to orbit.
-While the Sputnik itself did not prove to be a threat to the West Allies, it was a signal that the Soviets had acquired the technology necessary for a nuclear warfare from space.
-This relates to Canada because it caused Prime Minister Diefenbaker to make the choice of cancelling the Avro Arrow project, replacing it with inter-continental ballistic missiles. -
Avro Arrow and its Cancellation
-The Avro CF-105 was a Canadian interceptor fighter plane far ahead of its time. Its primary purpose was to shoot down any Soviet bombers incoming from the Atlantic.
-The Avro Arrow was cancelled in 1959, mainly due to overly high costs and the successful launch of the Sputnik 1. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
-By 1962, the Soviet Union was far behind the U.S. in the arms race and decided that placing shorter ranged missiles closer to the U.S. would increase their chances of victory.
-At the time, Cuba happened to be very wary of a second U.S. invasion and quickly agreed with the USSR on the placement of missiles in Cuba.
-On the 15th of October, a U.S. reconnaissance picture revealed the Soviet missiles on Cuba.
-On the 28th of October, both parties agreed to withdraw their missiles. -
Diefenbaker, Bomarc Missiles and Nuclear Warheads in Canada
-The Bomarc missile is a ground-to-air missile specifically designed to carry nuclear warheads. This was acquired from the United States in the 1950's.
-While Diefenbaker discussed with President John F. Kennedy about the transportation and storage of the nuclear warheads, Diefenbaker's cabinet was in a disagreeance of whether or not nuclear weapons should be used in the first place. This caused Diefenbaker's party to fall apart on February 3rd, 1963. -
Canada-Soviet Hockey Series
Last match of the Summit Series-In 1972, tension of the Cold War was made very clear to each party's citizens.
-The Canada-Soviet Hockey Series, or the Summit Series, was a series of hockey games between Canada and Soviet Russia. The final outcome was 5 wins/3 losses by Canada.
-While it may not seem as crucial in terms of importance to the Cold War, these series were games backed by nationalism and pride from each party due to the heights of the Cold War. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Fall of the Berlin Wall-The fall of the Berlin Wall occured extremely suddenly. As the communist powers in East Europe began to fall, on November 9th of 1989, an announcement was made that immigrations between West and East Germany was now permitted.
-This is largely symbolistic to the fall of the Soviet Union. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
-In 1989, the US and the USSR agreed on the end of the Cold War.
-2 years later in 1991, a new Soviet president, Boris Yelstin was elected. Yelstin changed many of the Soviet policies, soon reforming the Soviet Union into republics.
-The collapse of the Soviet Union leaded to the end of many other communist political powers.
