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Quebec's Padlock Law
The Quebec Padlock Law:
- It was introduced after section 97 was revoked by Maurice Duplessis in 1936.
- This act gave local sherrifs, who were under the authority of the Attorney-General, the power to shut down places that were involved with or thought to be involved with communism. The longest amount of time the building could be shut down was a year and no more.
- Owners of these buildings could only reverse this by demonstrating that it was not used for such reasons, which was difficult. -
Spies in Canada: Gouzenko Affair
- Igor Gouzenko was a Russian immigrant. He knew of spy networks that the Russians had in Canada, and he was about to be defected back to Russia, a place he did not wish to return to.
- He tried to warn them and tell them of the spy networks that they had used but was turned away.
- His home was attacked and him and his family were helped by a neighbor and the government then listened. 16 out of 31 of the named spy suspects were caught and Gouzenko was named a hero.
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Berlin Blockade
Berlin Airlift- The Soviet Union created the Berlin Blockade to prevent the United States, France and Great Britain from entering West Berlin. The reason for this was because the Soviet Union wanted the western countries to hand over their half of Berlin to the union.
- It cut off roads that were used by vehicles, but left out air travel. Citizens were not able to get food and other necessities.
- Eventually all three western countries issued an airlift. It provided the food and relief the citizens needed. -
International Alliances: NATO
- A military alliance formed between Greenland, Iceland, Canada, the U.S., Norway, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the U.K, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France and Luxemburg.
- It was created to prevent the spread of further Soviet aggression.
- The members thought that if they held a united front in front of the enemy that it would discourage any enemy attacks and stop the spread of communism.
- In return the Warsaw Pact was created by Eastern countries.
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The 'Forgotten' Korean War
- Communist North Korea attacked Democratic South Korea. They tried to take over.
- The United Nation supported South Korea after it started to lose, this resulted in the complete change of the situation, and allowed South Korea to win the war.
- There has been no official Peace Treaty between the two countries, only a ceasefire, which is why it has been called the 'Forgotten War' because it has not ended even to this day.
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UN Peackeeping: The Suez Crisis and Lester B. Pearson's feat that wins him the Nobel Prize
- Britain and France both wanted to take over the Suez canal located in Egypt. Egypt's leader at the time, Nasser, did not like this and refused to hand it over.
- This angered both Britain and France. Tension arose and chances of a war also increased.
- Lester B. Pearson came up with the idea of sending soldiers as peacekeepers to prevent war. The idea was that soldiers would stop the countries from clashing.
- Lester B. Pearson was then awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize for keeping peace.
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The Sputnik and Canada's space program
- The Sputnik was a satellite sent by the Soviets to orbit space.
- The United States and Canada were worried that soon they would be able to launch missiles from space, meaning they could hit anyone in the world that they wanted giving them, the communists, the military advantage.
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Continental Alliances: NORAD and DEW line
- An agreement signed by Canada and the US. Promise to defend eachother.
- Not all Canadians were happy with this decision.
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Diefenbaker, Bomarc missiles and Nuclear warheads in Canada
- Diefenbaker had Bomarc missiles replace the Avro Arrow after it was scrapped by him.
- Nuclear warheads were no longer allowed in Canada. This lowered the control the United States had over Canada, and when its missiles would be used.
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Avro Arrow and its cancellation
- The Avro Arrow was a supersonic jet. Its purpose was to be used to fight against Soviet bombers.
- The Avro Arrow was sadly scrapped. The Soviet's accomplishment of sending the Sputnik satellite meant that even if the Avro Arrow existed, if the Soviets launched missiles with the technology they created, it would be completely useles.
- 14,000 of the brightest minds of Canada worked on the Avro Arrow, and when it was scrapped, all lost their jobs. Many would go to the United States of America.
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Cuban Missile Crisis
- The US got pictures of Soviets constructing missile sites on Cuba.
- From there missiles could be launched to any major city in North America.
- The US wanted to deal with the situation immediately, but Canada wanted more proof. The US went ahead anyway and had a blockade created. This would prevent the delivery of warheads and missiles.
- When the Soviet ships saw the blockade they turned back and a war was avoided, also putting an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
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Vietnam War and Draft Dodgers in Canada
Draft Dodgers, Canada and the Vietnam War
- The US and Vietnam were having a war, the US having started it.
- Many US citizens disapproved of the war and did not wish for it to continue and issued protests.
- The US government gave drafts to people, if you were given a draft you had to fight in the war, it was illegal to do otherwise. -
Vietnam War and Draft Dodgers in Canada (cont.)
- Some people who got these drafts did not wish to fight and did as they wished. This resulted in them being pursued by the US government. These people were called draft dodgers.
- Draft Dodgers ran to Canada to avoid being caught. When the US tried to get a hold of them, Canada's government said 'NO'. The Draft Dodgers were now Canadian citizens.
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The Fall of the Soviet Union
- The Soviet Union broke down into 15 countries. The fall symbolized to the West, Democracy winning over Communism.
- Their government collapsed, Gorbachev conceded power, realizing that he was not able to contain and care for the population any longer. He resigned on the day of December 25, 1991.
