-
Quebec's Padlock Law
-The Padlock Law was an act of Quebec passed by Maurice Dupplessis, the Premier of Quebec
-This act permitted sheriffs under the Attorney-General's authority to close down meetings that may have been promoting communism or Bolshevism
-This law gave the Attorney-General so much power, that it was used to oppress Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, trade unionists, communists, and others -
Spies in Canada: Gouzenko Affair
The Gouzenko Affair-Igor Gouzenko was a soviet spy assigned in the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa in 1943
-Gouzenko learned that he and his family were going to be sent back to Russia
-He offered the Canadian government secret documents showing the work of Soviet spies in return for permanent protection
-He and his family went in hiding, living under new identities -
Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade-The Berlin Blockade or the "Iron Curtain" was a boundary between countries under Soviet influence and other countries of Europe
-It blocked the movement of information and products between Western and Eastern Europe
-Soviet spies were found operating in Ottawa, Washington, and other western capitals and appeared suspicious
-This raised tension between Soviets and Allies
-Canada and the U.S. discussed plans to protect North America from Soviet aggression -
International Alliances: NATO
-In 1949, several nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for fear of the Soviet Union spreading communism
-The rival military alliance that the Soviet Union organized against NATO was formed in 1955 and was called the Warsaw Pact
-Both sides began to stockpile nuclear arms and developed the hydrogen bomb
-In 1962, the Canadian government refused to allow nuclear weapons on Canadian soil because of safety concerns -
"The Forgotten War" - The Korean War
-In 1950, Communist North Korea and Communist China decided to attack South Korea
-The U.S. supported South Korea
-16 members of the United Nations aided the war effort in Korea under American influence
-1000 Canadians wounded and 406 died
-The UN ensured North Korea's independence
-Canadian troops stayed in Korea until 1955 to maintain truce -
Vietnam War & Draft Dodgers in Canada
-The Vietnam War set Communist North Vietnam against South Vietnam with the U.S.
-More than 3 million people were killed during the Vietnam war, and more than half of them were Vietnamese civilians
-Draft dodgers were people who refused to comply with conscription during the war
-Around 30,000 draft dodgers fled to Canada to avoid the draft while anti-war movements were going on in the U.S.
-In 1975, the war finally ended with the victorious Communist North Vietnam -
The Suez Crisis
-The Suez Canal, in Egypt, was a waterway connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas on the way to the Indian Ocean
-Egyptian leaders took over the Suez Canal meaning Britain and France lose control over the region
-Israeli forces, along with French and English troops, attacked Egypt to regain control over the canal
-Lester Pearson found a solution for the crisis, and this plan was accepted, with Canada providing 800 soldiers -
Sputnik and Canada's Space Program
Launch of Sputnik-The Soviet Union successfully launched the world's first artificial satellite in 1957 called Sputnik
-It was about the size of a beach ball, and took 98 minutes to orbit around the earth on its elliptical path
-The launch of Sputnik led to the creation of NASA and Canada's space program
-sparked the Space Race which was between the USSR and the U.S. for space exploration dominance
-Canada entered the race in 1962 when Aloutte 1 was launched -
Pearson Wins Nobel
-Lester B. Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for finding a solution to the Suez Crisis
-was a great honour for Canada
-Led to him becoming the Prime Minister in 1963 -
Continental Alliances: NORAD and DEW
-Military technology improved rapidly in the 1950's with the development of long-range missiles
-The North American Air Defence (NORAD) was signed in 1958 and stated that Canada and the U.S, would defend each other
-Americans built several defence installations in the North West Territories to create Distant Early Warning or the dew line which can pick up approaching enemy aircraft and missiles from 4800 km away -
Avro Arrow and its Cancellation
Avro Arrow
-The Avro Arrow was a supersonic, interceptor, jet aircraft being developed and built by Canadians
-The Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker cancelled the Avro Arrow
-The main reason for its cancellation was its high cost for the program
-Thousands of Canadians were instantly unemployed and the economy slowed down -
Diefenbaker, Bomarc missiles, and nuclear warheads in Canada
-John Diefenbaker was an excellent public speaker that charmed Canadians with his powerful speeches and promises of a bright future for Canada
-He won the election of 1958 and became the Prime Minister of Canada
-Diefenbaker replaced the Canadian Avro Arrow aircraft with the ready-made American Bomarc missiles for Canada's defence
-Warheads were not allowed into Canada -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
-From Communist Cuba, missiles could be accurately launched to hit any major city in North America
-U.S. President Kennedy quickly enforced a naval blockade around the island to stop the Soviet ships from delivering missiles and warheads
-The Canadian government suggested that instead of a blockade, all sites that may have been missile bases should be examined
-The Soviet ships turned back and the crisis was over -
Canada-Soviet Hockey Series
Paul Henderson Scores Winning Goal
-Canadians believed that no European team could defeat a Canadian team of NHL players
-A series was organized between a top Russian team and a Canadian team
-Russians shocked the Canadians with their stellar performance
-In the final game, Paul Henderson scored a goal in the last few minutes, breaking the tied game and giving Canada the series -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Celebration at the Berlin Wall
-Communism began to falter in Poland, Hungary, and Czechosolvakia in 1988 and 1989
-On November 9, 1959, an East German government official announced that the borders were open
-People were shocked and began chipping at the Berlin Wall with hammers and chisels, keeping its pieces as collectibles
-East and West Germany reunified into a single German state on October 3, 1990 -
The Fall of The Soviet Union
The Fall of The Soviet Union-The immediate reason for the collapse of the Soviet Union was because they had lost the arms race and the international competition with the West
-The Communist Party president Mikhail Gorbachev wanted to speed up and develop the economy
-He worked with U.S. President Ronald Reagan to resolve the conflicts between the countries that had escalated over the years
-The Soviet Union was officially decimated in 1991 and split into republics
