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Quebec's Padlock Law
This was a bill that was passed to protect the Province of Quebec against communist propaganda. A violation of the Act subjected such property to being ordered closed by the Attorney General - "padlocked" - against any use whatsoever for a period of up to one year, and any person found guilty of involvement in prohibited media activities could be incarcerated for three to thirteen months. It was significant because it would help Canada protect against Communism. -
Spies in Canada: Gouzenko Affair
He was known as, "The Man with the Hood". He wrote a book called, "The Fall of a Titan". This book portrayed the Soviet spies and secrets. He offered the Canadian Government secret documents exposing the work of Soviet spies and in return wanted permanent protection. The Government ended up accepting it and with the information 18 of the 39 people named were convicted of criminal activites related to spying. -
Berlin Blockade
It was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. During the multinational occupation of post–World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Allied control. This was isgnificant to Canada because the Western Allies had to organize the Berlin Airlift which was how they delivered supplies to Berlin. -
International Alliances: NATO
NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is a defense pact intended to protect members against further Soviet aggression. Countries like Canada were worried about the spread of Communism into the countries. All members are pledged to defend each other from enemy attacks.There were 12 founding members of NATO. This is significant because it protected Canada and the other countries from the Soviets and Communism. In response the Soviets created the Warsaw pact. -
"The Forgotten War" - The Korean War
Communist China attacked South Korea. The United States supported South Korea against the Communist aggression. The UN's Security Council condemned the attack by North Korea and called UN members "to render every assistance" to South Korea. Of all the member nations only 16 aided in the war effort in Korea. This was significant to Canada because nearly 25 000 Canadians saw action during the war, 406 were killed, 1000 were injured. -
Continental Alliances: NORAD and DEW line
NORAD was the collaberation between USA and Canada to defend our air space. Military technology continued to improve rapidly during the 1950s, The long-range missiles that could travel 16 000 km caused North America to create a better system of defence. Significant to Canada because they permitted the Americans to build defense installations in the Northwest Territiories to create the Distant Early Warning system (DEW line). This warned the NORAD headquaters of any enemy planes and missiles. -
Vietnam War & Draft Dodgers in Canada
The Vietnam war had two sides; North Vietnam and South Vietnam, US supporting the South. The US "drafted" citizens to take part in the miilitary and in this war but many protested against it and evaded the draft by coming to Canada, these people are called, Draft Dodgers. This is significant to Canada because people saw Canada as a more peaceful and free country. -
UN Peacekeeping: The Suez Crisis and Pearson wins Nobel prize
The fight to get control over the Suez Canal between Egypt and Israel. Other countries were allied with different sides, for example, Britain and France were closely aligned with Israel while Russia was on Egypt's side. It was significant to Canada because Lester Pearson, Canada's secretary of state for external affairs, came up with the resolution for the Suez Crisis; was awarded a Nobel Prize for Peace, 1957. Also because Canada provided 800 soldiers to United Nations Emergency Force. -
Sputnik and Canada's Space Program
In 1957, the Soviets launched the first Sputnik satellite. There was fear because the rocket that was used to launch Sputnik could be used to deliver nuclear warheads to any spot in North America. Americans built intercontinental ballistic missiles in reaction and so did the Soviets. Both sides continued to build up their missile arsenals. This caued paranoia throughout the continent thinking what the US did to Japan could happen at any moment. -
Avro Arrow and its Cancellation
Election of 1958, the Conservatives recieved the largest majority every given to a Canadian Prime Minister. John Diefenbaker, the leader, was very popular with western farmers and in Atlantic Canada. He was trying to do good things, but he scrapped the Avro Arrow, a supersonic, interceptor, jet aircraft, which was being developed by Canadians. This was significant because it was very bad for unemployment levels as it costed 14 000 Canadians their jobs. -
Diefenbaker, Bomarc missiles and nuclear warheads in Canada
Diefenbaker was the leader of the Conservative party in the late 1950s.He worked hard to relaize his dream of a strong,united,and independent Canada.Since he scrapped the Avro Arrow, the supersonic, interceptor aircraft,he ordered ready made American Bomarc missiles for Canada's defence.The Warheads were not allowed in Canada.This was signifcant because many poeple did not agree about the Avro being gone and it increased unemployment.The Conservatives went on to lose elections in 1963 and 1965. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
American spy planes photographed consruction of Soviet missile sites on the island of Cuba.The United States inplemeted a blockade around the island to stop Soviet ships from delivering missiles and warheads.Siginificant because Canada was supposed to support US but they suggested that all sites suspected as missile bases should be examined instead of a blockade.The blockade remained,Soviet ships turned around and threat of war was over. -
Canada-Soviet Hockey Series
In 1972, a series between the top Russian team and a Canadian team composed of NHL players was organized. Russians equalled the Canadian's performance and it was a shock, each team had 3 wins. Final game, Paul Henderson scored a goal in the last minutes of the game to break a tied game and give Canada the series. It was significant because it was a huge boost to national pride - many Canadians still remember where they were when Henderson scored the goal. -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
After WWII ended, Germany was split in half. Berlin was also split into West Berlin (USA, France, Britain-occupied sector of Berlin) and an East Berlin (Soviet-occupied sector of Berlin). A wall was erected and people did not have freedom to travel between West and East Germany. The wall was there until Novemeber 9, 1989, and was taken down due to a lot of political pressure in East Germany starting then. The wall coming down showed that democracy has prevailed, Canada already a democracy. -
The Fall of the Soviet Union
There were 15 Soviet republics in the Soviet Union. They met in the Kazakh city of Alma-Ata and announced that they would no longer be part of the Soviet Union. Instead, they declared they would establish a Commonwealth of Independent States. It was officially dissolved on 26 December 1991. The dissolution of the world's first and largest Communist state also marked an end to the Cold War. Significant to Canada becuase it made Russia less powerful, less of a threat.
