Transcript Canada and the World - Northside Middle School

Canada and the World
Class Notes
Cold War: The Arms Race
 1949: Soviet Union tests an atomic
bomb
 1952: United States detonates a
more powerful hydrogen bomb
 1953: Soviet Union detonates a
hydrogen bomb
 Both countries stockpile military arms
Communism in China
 Mao Zedong announces a communist
government, the People’s Republic of
China, in Beijing after decades of civil war.
 The Chinese Nationalists fled to Taiwan and
were supported by the United States.
 Members of NATO refused to acknowledge
the communist government as legitimate
Korean War
 After WWII, Korea, which was occupied by Japan, was
split into two:
 North Korea (occupied by Soviet troops)
 South Korea (occupied by US troops)
 In 1950, North Korean troops armed with Soviet
weapons invaded South Korea
 The UN sent forces to protect South Korea, but these
forces were overwhelmingly American
 22,000 Canadians fought in the 3-year war; 300 were
killed
 At the end of the war, the country remained divided.
The Suez Crisis
 A new nationalistic government in Egypt
attempted to take control of the Suez canal
from the British and French.
 The British and French joined the Israelis to
launch an attack on Egypt to reclaim the
canal
 Lester B. Pearson, the external affairs
minister, suggested the creation of an
emergency task force to the UN
 UN peacekeepers were sent to Egypt, and
Pearson received the Nobel Peace Prize in
1957
Peacekeeping and Mediation
 As a middle power, Canada continued
to take on the role of peacekeeper
and mediator.
 Canada was involved in Zaire, the
island of Cyprus, Vietnam, Yemen,
and Kashmir
 The UN peacekeeping force, which
Pearson helped to create, continues
to wear blue helmets
Cuban Missile Crisis
 In 1959, Cuban communist forces, led by
Fidel Castro, overthrew a corrupt, proAmerican government in Cuba.
 The Soviet Union supported the communist
government in Cuba.
 In 1962, the United States discovered that
Soviet missiles with atomic warheads were
being installed in Cuba.
 The Soviets removed the missiles after
John F. Kennedy issued a warning of
nuclear war.
Canada-US Relations:
“Special Relationship”
 Canada supported American foreign policy in the postwar era.
 Canada had a special relationship with the US:
 Canada supported US foreign policy and American
investment.
 US did not pass legislation that could hurt Canada.
 No public confrontation; use of quiet diplomacy
 Canada was a member of NATO, contributed troops to
the Korean War, and participated in the NORAD
initiative.
 NORAD was joint project to protect the Canadian
north from a Soviet attack (use of radar and missiles).
Canada-US Relations
 The US wanted to arm the north with
nuclear warheads.
 Many groups in Canada, however,
were against having nuclear
warheads on Canadian soil.
 Lester B. Pearson eventually accepted
to have nuclear weapons to protect
the north from a Soviet attack.
Canada-US Relationships: The War
in Vietnam
 Pearson was critical of American
bombing raids in North Vietnam.
 Canadians more generally
disapproved of the war in Vietnam.
 American “draft dodgers” were
accepted in Canada.
Canada-US Relations: The Trudeau
Years
In 1968, PM Pierre Trudeau started
loosening ties with the US
 Trudeau was the first Western leader to
visit Castro in Cuba and restored trade.
 In 1970, Trudeau supported the admission
of the People’s Republic of China into the
UN.
 Trudeau promoted trade with Asian
countries and even toured the Soviet
Union.
Détente: A Relaxing of Tensions
 In the late 1960s and 1970s, the US and
Soviet Union engaged in talks about
limiting nuclear arms and disarmament.
 Still, even though direct confrontation was
unlikely, both countries opposed each other
in proxy wars.
 During the Vietnam War, the Chinese and
Soviets supported North Vietnam, while the US
fought to help South Vietnam.
 After the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979,
the US supported Afghan rebels, such as Osama
bin Laden, with military weapons and training.
Canada-US Relations: The 1980s
 Ronald Reagan, the US president, wanted
Canada to play a more active role in North
American defence.
 Trudeau agreed to allow the US to test
Cruise missiles in the north, despite
Canadian protests.
 Trudeau toured Europe and Asia to discuss
peaceful solutions to new Cold War
tensions.
 Brian Mulroney, Trudeau’s predecessor,
cultivated close ties with the US; he had a
special relationship with Ronald Reagan.
Post 9/11 Conflicts
 Invasion of Iraq
 US President George
Bush asked its allies
to help with the
invasion of Iraq.
 PM Jean Chrétien
declined the invitation
and was criticized in
the US and by certain
groups in Canada.
 War in Afghanistan
 NATO has been
engaged in fighting
the Taliban and
creating a stable
government in
Afghanistan for
almost a decade.
 Canada has played an
active combat role in
the south of
Afghanistan, where
Taliban soldiers are
concentrated.