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Quebec's Padlock Law
Padlock LawQuebec government introduced Act intended to prevent the broadcasting and production of communist propaganda. This Act was introduced after the Winnipeg General Strike. -
Spies in Canada: Gouzenko Affair
Igor Gouzenko Igor Gounzenka, a Russian, supplied secret documents about atomic bombs from the Soviet Union to the Canadian government. He chose freedom over dictatorship and became a spy for Canada. He always wore a hood over his face to protect his identity. -
Berlin Blockade
Berlin BlockadeThe Societ Union attempted to force allies to give up their established rights to occupy the Western part of Berlin. Attempted to physically block all supply lines to West Berlin. This failed because allies organized an airlift to provide the food and supplies the people of Berlin needed. This was the first major international crisis in the Cold War. It started June 24th, 1948 and ended May 12th, 1949. -
International Alliances: NATO
Several nations fomed NATO, standing for North Alanctic Treaty Organizations. NATO was a defence pact to protect members against Soviet agression/nuclear warfare/and communism. The first countries to join NATO were; Italy, Luxembourg, US, Portugal, Norway, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, and the Netherlands. Both NATO and the Soviet Union stockpiled nuclear weapons in fear of Soviet-NATO attacks. Today there are 28 countries in NATO. -
"The Forgotten War" - The Korean War
Korean War documentry The Korean War was fought between North Korea and South Korea. North Korea and China, who were both communist countries, attacked South Korea, who was supported by the United States and the United Nations. Only 16 members of the UN supported South Korea. Canada ranked third for most support to South Korea, sending over 25,000 soldiers. 1,000 of them died. After the war was over on July 27th, 1953, the UN ensured independance of South Korea. Canada troops stayed until 1955 to help maintain truce. -
Vietnam War & Draft Dodgers in Canada
Vietnam WarOn November 1st, 1955, a war broke out between comunist North Vietnam and democratic South Vietnam. The Soviets were on the North side, and the US was on the Southern side. When the war started, many americans didn't want to be conscripted into the war. They became draft dogers and fled to Canada. Canada was a safe haven for Americans who did not want to participate in this 19 year war. Canadian troops also joined the US army to fight for South Vietnam. On April 30th, 1975, North Vietnam won. -
UN Peacekeeping: The Suez Crisis and Pearson wins Nobel Prize
The Suez Crisis Egypy took control of the Suez canal in 1956. France, Britain and Isreal agreed to regain control. Isreal attacks Egypt. Soviet Union comes to aid of Egypt. NORAD (US & Canada) supported Britain,France, and also Isreal. Agreed the attack on Egypt was wrong. Lester Pearson was Canada's secretary of state for eternal affairs. Presented at a meeting at the UN General Assembly, calling for an end to all shooting and the creaton of UN peacekeeping force to moniter peace in the middle east. -
Sputnik and Canada's space program
Sputnik The Soviets launched the first satelite to orbit in 1957. The rocket that put Sputnik into orbit around Earth could deliver nuclear warhead to any spot. Within hours of its launch, John Chapman and fellow scientists at Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment are the first to record Sputnik 1's beeps. In March, 1959, Nasa agrees to launch the Alouette 1 as Canada's first satelite. -
Continental Alliances: NORAD and DEW line
Norad website Canada and the USA created the NORAD agreement to help defend the North American aerospace from any threats (combined air defences). DEW (Distant Early Warning) was used in NORAD and could pick up approaching ememy aircrafts and missiles up to 4,800 km away. -
Diefenbaker, Bormarc missiles and nuclear warheads in Canada
In the fall of 1958 Prime Minister John Diefenbaker announced an agreement with the US to deploy two US Bormarc missiles into Canada for protection against the Soviets. Diefenbaker did not allow nuclear warheads into the country of Canada, which angered the United States. Bormarc was phased out of service by 1971. -
Avro Arrow and its Cancellation
Avrow ArrowWill the Arrow ever fly again? Introduced on October 4th, 1957 and having its first flight on March 25th, 1958, the Avro Arrow was a technically advanced fighter jet designed and built by Avro Canada. It's cancellation was on February 20th, 1959, and it was known as "Black Friday" in the Canadian aviation industry. The vote put an end to the jets, leaving 14,000 jobless. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile CrisisIn October of 1962, the world was on the brink of war. The Soviets developed long range missiles that could hit any city in North America from the Soviet Missile site in Cuba. The United States took action right away by putting together a naval blockade. The aim of this "quarantine" was to prevent the Soviets from bringing in more military supplies. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker delayed for a period of days before taking action with NORAD. This angered the United States. -
Canada-Soviet Hockey Series
Paul Henderson Winning GoalIn 1972, an eight game hockey series was held between the top Russian and top Canadian team. Each team had won 3 games after the sixth game, but Canada won the series by winning game 7 and 8. Paul Henderson scored the winning goal in the final game. -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Celebration at Berlin WallThe Berlin Wall seperated West Berlin and East Berlin for almost 30 years. West Berlin; run by Britain, France, and the US was capitalism. East Berlin was run by the USSR and was communist. The Berlin wall was demolished on November 8th, 1989. This let people cross and communicate West Berlin to East Berlin, or vise versa. The physical wall came down in 1990. This was one of the events that ended the cold war. -
The Fall of the Soviet Union
In December of 1991, the Soviet Union seperated into 15 countries. Its collapse was the end of the cold war, and democracy had won over communism. The Soviet Union was no more but still America's #1 enemy.
