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Period: to
Cold War
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Quebec's Padlock Law
The Padlock Law was an act in Quebec. It was passed by the Union Nationale government, and was intended to prevent the dissemination of communist propaganda. The act allowed any attorney general to confiscate and destroy any printed matter propagating communism. Anyone printing or publishing material propagating communism or bolshevism could be imprisoned up to a year. But in 1957 it was declared that the act was going against some of the standing laws, so they struck down the law. -
Spies in Canada: Gouzenko Affair
Gouzenko worked in the Soviet embassy in Ottawa and realized that there were many soviet spy networks in Canada and other western countries. Since he wasn’t satisfied with his soviet life he offered the Canadian government secret documents that exposed the spies. No one took him seriously until some of spies tried to kidnap him. With the information he provided 18 people were convicted of spying. Gouzenko had alerted the western world of a threat of soviet communism. -
Berlin Blockade
Video ClipThe Soviets wanted to take the allies’ western part of Berlin, so they tried to black their supply lines but it failed due to the allies organization skills. The allies had organized airlift to provide supplies to West Berlin. The only thing the blockade did for them was raise tension between the Soviet and allied forces. After this event the cold war’s existence had begun. -
International Alliances: NATO
Video Clip With the Soviets expanding communism, Canada had to step up their security. So CAnada and other nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization which was a defence pact against Soviet aggression. Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and United States pledged to protect each other. Later on more countries started to join. -
“The Forgotten War” - The Korean War
Video Clip North Korea had attacked South Korea, so the United Nations wanted to do everything they could to help South Korea. But only 16 members in the UN aided in the war effort, Canada being ranked third. 1000 Canadians were wounded while helping out, and 400 killed. After South Korea became its own independent country, Canadian troops stayed a little longer to make sure the border was maintained. -
Warsaw Pact
The Soviets were scared that the NATO would attack, so they decided to form their own pact with the nations behind the iron curtains. Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the Soviet came together to form the Warsaw Pact. Then the NATO and the Warsaw Pact started the arms race and tried to stockpile all their nuclear arms. -
The Suez Crisis
The UN recognized Israel as its own state in 1948, but the Arabs that previously lived in the same region refused to recognize it and wanted to destroy it. When the Egyptian Leader took full control over the Suez Canal in 1956, it meant a loss of power and wealth for the French and British owners of the canal. The French and British government's then secretly agreed to take back the canal with the Israeli forces and the English Troops. All of this could lead to serious international conflict. -
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Sputnik
The Soviets launched a Sputnik satellite using a very powerful rocket. Other nations feared that the rocket can be used for military purposes and feared the Soviets. The Americans then started to build a long-range missile which cause the Soviets to do the same. The Soviet missile site was on the island of Cuba where missile could be launched accurately to hit any major city in North America. U.S. started preparing themselves for missile attacks with blockades and emergency attack drills. -
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Pearson wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Suez Crisis was solved by the man named Lester B. Pearson, Canada’s secretary of state and external affairs. His plan was to immediately end all the shooting that was occurring and replace it with the creation of the UN peacekeeping force to monitor and patrol the bordering areas. His plan was accepted and Canada provided one of the largest contributions. Pearson was awarded with the Nobel peace prize in 1957 for his resolution for the Suez Crisis which was a huge honor for Canada. -
Diefenbaker, Bomarc missiles and nuclear warheads in Canada
The Conservative, John Diefenbaker, positioned 56 American-made Bomarc missiles in Ontario and Quebec. However a controversy arose over whether nuclear weapons were to be stationed on Canadian soil, which had an impact on the NORAD. The positioning of these missiles was very problematic for the two countries, and even more complicating matters the missiles would be useless if they were not armed with nuclear warheads. Canada’s indecision over installing the nuclear warheads left US unprotected. -
NORAD and DEW line
The development of missiles led The North American Air Defence agreement to be signed. They promised to defend each other and Canada allowing the Americans to build defence installations in the Northwest Territories to create the DEW Line. The DEW line consisted of radars that could detect any approaching aircrafts or objects. Canadians didn’t really support the plan because after all the years of building up the country’s independence, the defence plan was mostly under American control. -
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Canada’s Space Program
Canada’s space program began in 1958 and the launch of Canada’s first satellite, Alouette 1, in 1962. The satellite marked Canada's entry into the space age and was seen by many as initiating the most progressive space program of that era. Canada became the first nation, after the Russian and American superpowers, to design and build its own artificial Earth satellite. -
Avro Arrow and its Cancellation
Video Clip The Conservative leader John Diefenbaker canceled a very expensive Canadian project that involved a supersonic advanced fighter jet named the Avro Arrow. Instead Diefenbaker ordered ready-made American missile in its place for Canadian defence. The cancellation of the Avro Arrow had cost 14 000 Canadians their jobs and unemployment increased dramatically. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Video Clip The Soviets missile sites were located in Cuba and the United States starting preparing for a naval blockade. Canada suggested that they examine all sites as suspected missile bases rather than a blockade. But the blockade remained, and the Soviet ships turned around before reaching the threat of war. This threat called the Cuban Missile Crisis was then over. -
Canada-Soviet Hockey Series
Video ClipFor many years Canada’s amateur hockey teams were competing in the Olympics and World Championships, but they could never defeat the European teams. Canada believed that European’s couldn’t beat their NHL players, so in 1972 a series of organized between Canada and Russia. At first the Russians had a very strong performance, but in the final game in Paul Henderson scored a goal in the last minute and gave Canada the series. This win gave Canada a humongous boost in nation pride. -
Vietnam War & Draft Dodgers in Canada
Video Clip The Vietnam war was during 1959-1975. Many Americans, called draft dodgers, came to Canada to avoid conscription and the Vietnam War. After the war some returned to the states, but others chose to remain. Some Canadian activists volunteered to serve in the American forces in Vietnam to stop spreading Communism. About 100 Canadians died fighting in the Vietnam War. -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Video Clip The Berlin Wall that stretched through the center of Berlin was surround with thousands of East Germans protesting. The leadership of the Social Unity Party was not able to withstand the pressure, and the Berlin Wall falls. -
The Fall of the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union was broken up into fifteen separate countries. The collapse was looked at by the west as victory and a triumph of democracy. North America rejoiced as their enemy was brought down, thereby ending the Cold War.
