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Quebec Padlock Law, CBC's a peoples history comfort and fear episode
An act that was made to prevent the dissemination of communist propaganda. CBC's A People's History: Fear and Comfort episode talked about the baby boom and the looming Cold War -
Spies in Canada: Gouzenko Affair
Igor Gouzenko, a Soviet trained spy worked for the Russian governemnt by spying on Canada. In 1945, when he was told that he and his family were to be sent back to Russia he defected.Gouzenko offered the Canadian government secret Soviet documents in return for permenant protection. He was seen as a traitor and a target for assassination by the Soviets, but in Canada he was seen as a courages figure to many. He spent the rest of his life in hiding. -
Berlin Blockade
In 1948 the Soviet Union attempted to force the western powers to give up their rights to occupy western Berlin. The blockade failed because the allies orginized airlift into the western Berlin to deliever supplies needed. -
International Alliance: NATO
Naorth Atlantic Treaty Orginization. NATO is a defence pact intented to protect all members against Soviet aggression. The 12 founding countries include Belguim, Canada, Britain, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy,Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, the Netherlands and the United States -
"The Foreigner War" The Korean War
Communist North Korea decided to attack South Korea. The United States supported South Korea and called upon the UN to help assist the South. Only 16 of the member countires aided the war effort. Ended July 27, 1953. -
Vietnam War and Draft Doggers in Canada
Vietnam communists try to take over southern Vietnam. France tried to reclaim which resulted in the Vietnamese turning to China to back them up. The US got involved by backing France. The war ended on April 30 1975.
Draft evasion is the decision to go against conscription. Draft dodgers were those that practiced draft evasion. Draft dodgers from America came to Canada during the Vietnam War -
UN Peacekeeping: The Suez Crisis and Pearson wins the Nobel Prize
Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal- which was owned by French and British companies- without compensation.In response France and Britain launched a military operation to secure the Canal.
Lester Pearson won the nobel prize for his solution to the Suez Crisis which was to form a UN peacekeeping group that would be sent to Egypt -
Sputnik and Canada's Space Program
The Soviets launched the first Sputnik satellite. The rocket that sent Sputnik into space could be used to drop a nuclear warhead on any spot in North America. The Americans feared military advantage had shifted to the Soviets and they built up long-range missles called intervontinental ballistic missles (ICBM'S) -
Continental Alliances: NORAD and DEW line
North America needed a better defense system against enemy missiles, so The North American Air Defence agreement was formed. Canada and America would protect each other. America built several defence installations in the Northwest Territories to create the Distant Eary Warning (DEW). Radars along the DEW line could pick up enemy missiles from 4800km away. -
Avro Arrow and its Cancellation
The Avro Arrow was an interceptor, supersonic, jet aircraft built by Canadians. It was cancelled by John Diefenbaker and it costed over 14 000 jobs. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
American spy planes phtoographed the construction of Soviet missile bases in Cuba which could be fired at North America. Kennedy (US president) quickly reacted by imposing a navel blockade to prevent Soviet ships from delivering missiles. Soviet ships turned back before reaching the blockade and the threat of war from the Cuban Missile Crisis was over (28 Oct, 1962) -
Diefenbaker, Bomarc Missiles and Nuclear Warhead in Canada
John Diefenbaker was a good speaker and promised prosperity in Canada when he was elected Prime Minister. Part of his downfall was his declaration of the support of nuclear warheads and bomarc missiles in Canada for defence purposes. Many western farmers supported him bt voters in Quebec and Newfoundland and big cities did not agree with him, -
Canada-Soviet Hockey Series
In 1972 a series was orginized for the top Russian hockey team and the Canadian team. The games had been won equally between the two teams (3-3) but during the last game in Moscow Paul Henderson scored the winning goal for Canada. Great moment in Canadian hockey history. -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The border seperating western and eastern Germany was opened. An eastern Germany official names Gunter Schabowski stated that travel through the border was open. It was a shock to the whole nation, and many traveled to Berlin to celebrate. -
Fall of Soviet Union
Reasons for the fall: the Soviet economy was worsening as the military spent an excessive amount. The Communism government was not promising enough to the citizens of the USSR. They attempted to remove Gorbachev from government. Overall people were starting to believe more in capitalism.