Transcript File

Canada and the Cold War
Canada and the Cold War
 When the fighting ended in
Europe it was clear that the
“uneasy alliance” between the
Soviet Union and the western
democracies would not last.
 The explosion of the atomic
bomb in 1945 made the secrets
of this weapon of vital
importance to the Russians.
 A spy ring was uncovered in
Canada in September of 1945
when Igor Gouzenko a Soviet
cypher clerk handed vital
information to the RCMP.
North American Air
Defence
 The cold war led to an
expansion of the arms race
and the development of
Intercontinental Ballistic
Missiles.
 North America was now just
as vulnerable to Soviet
attack as was western
Europe.
 In 1958 the United States
and Canada formed NORAD
to co-ordinate the air
defence of the continent.
North American Air
Defence II
 The headquarters of this
organization were located
in Colorado Springs.
 An American was placed
in overall command but
supported by a Canadian
deputy commander.
 Radar warning systems in
Canada’s arctic were
constructed to provide
early warning of
impending Soviet attack.
The United Nations
and
the Korean Conflict
The United Nations
 Canada was a very
involved member of the
United Nations
Organization.
 We were members of all
thirteen of the
Specialized Agencies.
 Between 1947 and 1967
we were three times a
non-permanent member
of the Security Council.
The Korean Conflict
U. S. S. R .
RUSSIA
KA
OpoKro
HSap
IDO
KYUSHU
O sum i Is.
N
NORTH
KOREA
Akit a
P'YOGYANG
N
T
O
SEOUL
Ki takyu shu
Nag asaki
Hi rosh ima
S
J
O
HIK
Kyo to
H
O
SH
I
A
N
SE
N
U
H
S
Yokohama
N
P
A
O
A
SOUTH
KOREA
KY
US
HU
In 1945
Korea had
been
divided at
the 38th
parallel of
latitude.
A
CHIN
Kyo to
TOKYO
Nag oya
Ko be
Osaka
KU
JAPAN and KOREA
0
0
O sum
i S tr ai
Os umi I s .
t
50
50 100
Cities and
Towns
100
200
150 MI
300KM
Co un try Cap ital1,000, 000 an d o ver-
A
AW
IN DS
OK AN
ISL
The Korean Conflict II
 In the north a Communist
government held power
while in the south the
Americans supported the
government of Syngman
Rhee.
 On June 25, 1950 the
forces of North Korea
struck across the border
in an effort to unite the
country under a
Communist government.
Korea and the United
Nations 1950 - 1953
 The United Nations Security Council
was able to act without fear of the
Russian veto because the Russian
representative had absented
himself.
 Troops were authorized in a “police
action” to drive the North Koreans
out of South Korea.
 The major contributor of troops was
the United States but Canada, along
with many other nations, sent over
25,000 soldiers and sailors to fight
in Korea.
Chinese Communists
counter attack driving UN
troops back across 38th
parallel, November, 1950.
UN forces
attack and
capture Inchon,
September,
1950.
North Korea
occupies most
of South
Korea.
Korea 1950 - 1954
UN forces
advance to
Yalu River.
North
Korean
attack
across 38th
parallel,
June, 1950.
Pusan
perimeter
held by UN
forces.
Suez Crisis 1956
Suez Crisis 1956
 Egypt under the leadership
of Colonel Nasser
nationalized the Suez
Canal Company and began
guerrilla attacks on
neighboring Israel.
 The Israelis struck back in
October of 1956 and were
supported in this military
action by Britain and
France.
 Canada refused a British
request for support in this
very unpopular conflict.
The Suez Crisis 1956
Suez Crisis 1956 II
 Lester Pearson was Canada’s
Secretary of State for
External Affairs and very
opposed to the British and
French decision to go to war
in Egypt.
 He believed that the United
Nation’s motion for a ceasefire was inadequate and
proposed that an
international United Nations
force be sent to the region.
Suez Crises III
 Pearson’s idea for a United
Nations Emergency Force
(UNEF) was accepted and
our contribution of 800 men
and the first force
commander - General E.L.M.
Burns - was of great
importance.
 Lester Pearson’s role in this
crisis earned him the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1957.
 The crisis marked a further
distancing of Canada from
Britain.
Pearson returning home
after accepting his Nobel
Peace Prize in 1957.
Canada’s Importance as a
Peace Keeping Nation
 Since 1956 Canada has
continued to contribute
small numbers of troops
to various parts of the
world where problems
have been experienced.
 These included Lebanon 1958, Cyprus – 1964, and
North Atlantic Treaty
Organization
The North Atlantic Treaty
Organization
 The response of the West
to the growing fear of
Soviet power and the
rhetoric of the cold war
resulted in the formation
of NATO in 1949.
 Canada was one of the
organizers of this alliance
and an original member.
 Membership in the
alliance forced Canada to
dramatically increase its
military budget.
Newfoundland
Newfoundland Joins
Canada 1949
 Newfoundland and Labrador
became the tenth province of
Canada on April 1, 1949.
 Newfoundland’s entry into
confederation was led by Joey
Smallwood - in the face of
considerable resistance from the
anti-confederationists.
 The “baby bonus” was very
attractive to large Newfoundland
families and this allowed Smallwood
to convince Newfoundlanders of the
economic benefits of joining
Canada.