Chapter 6: Canada and the Post-War World

Big Idea: Canada becomes a Middle power.

= not a superpower, but has some influence; a junior member in alliances

Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War

End of the Cold War

• Gorbachev decided USSR could not afford arms race

• Perestroika – economic, social and political reforms; loosened censorship and allowed more freedom of speech

• Glastnost –openness• Soviet Union fell apart

The Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 symbolized the end of communism and the beginning of democracy in

Eastern Europe .

Tiananmen Square• China also allowed some capitalism• Chinese people also started to demand

political freedom, but brutally squashed; approximately 250 people killed

United Nations Created in 1945• Replaced the failed League of Nations that had

existed up until World War II; place for nations to debate issues

• Based on ‘collective security’.• Each member is given a seat and the right to

vote.• created various committees/councils/agencies

under the umbrella of the United Nations• Eg. World Health Organization (WHO); United

Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

UN’s 3 Powers

1. Condemn the aggressor through speeches and resolutions.

2. Use economic sanctions (means urging members not to trade with aggressor)

3. Respond militarily by sending in an armed force.

• The United Nations Security Council is the body of the UN responsible for maintaining peace and security in the world.

UN Security Council• Five permanent members: the USA, Great

Britain, France, China, Russia• Also ten non-permanent members elected for 2

year terms.• Canada has been on the Security Council once for

every decade since it was founded.• Each permanent member has a veto which mean

an action doesn’t happen (even if the majority of the Security Council approves).– A veto is the right to reject actions they don’t agree

with.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights• Drafted in early 1940s by Canadian John

Humphreys (Director of the UN’s Human Rights Division)

• Declaration seeks to protect race, religion, and political beliefs of people

• States that everyone has the right to healthcare, education and employment.

• The declaration was proclaimed by the UN in December 10, 1948 after “Canada clause” was rejected by NATO

After WWII Canada was no longer isolationist

• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) alliance aimed at protecting western European

countries from threat of invasion by the Soviet Union; Canada joined in 1949

an attack on one NATO member is considered an attack on all NATO members (a point G. W. Bush pointed out after September 11th attacks)

members agreed to use tactical nuclear weapons if conventional weapons weren’t sufficient.

• When West Germany was admitted to NATO as a member, it sparked the creation of the Warsaw Pact by the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries.

Canada’s Role in NATO

• Build, supply and man Military bases in Europe

• Participate in Military exercises with allies• Adapt defence policy to allies***

“Canada is the ham in the Soviet-American sandwich.”

- Soviet Ambassador to Canada at height of the Cold War.

North American Air Defence - NORAD

• During the 1950s a series of radar lines built across the Canadian territory.

• Also included fighter forces and missile bases

Pinetree paid for by US, Mid-Canada paid for by Canada and 2/3 of DEW paid by US

Canadians Feared Nuclear War and Communism

• See “Opening up Diefenbunker” – CBC Archives

• What did Canada do to protect themselves?• Built Diefenbunker• RCMP special branch watched those who

might be a security risk – artists, union leaders, intellectuals , peace activists

• Duplessis (Quebec)- created Padlock law– St Laurent refused to ban communism

• Joined International organizations

4 Crises During the Cold War

1. Korean War (1950-53)- North Korea invaded South Korea

• North Korea communist & backed by China and Russia

• South Korea democratic backed by US– UN force sent to help S. Korea; Mostly American,

but some Canadian troops sent

• 1953 war ended and the country was split at the 38th parallel

2.Suez Crisis• Suez canal was an important trade

route and was owned by French and English investors

• In 1956 Gamal Nasser, President of Egypt seized the Suez Canal

• Israel was upset because Egypt threatened to ban ships to and from Israel (tensions between Arabs and Jews over creation of Israel)

• France, British and Israeli forces invaded Egypt w/o consulting US and going against UN security council– USSR backs Egypt

Suez Crisis – Canada takes a lead role

• Solution was found by Canadian, Lester Pearson, who won a Nobel Peace Prize as a result

• Proposed a UN Emergency Force (UNEF) go in and negotiate between two sides

• “We need action not only to end the fighting, but to make the peace.”– Canada’s identity as a ‘peacekeeping’ nation was

born.

Lester B. Pearson• Liberal Canadian PM (‘63-

68)• Responsible for: Canadian

flag, Canada Health Act, Student Loan Plan, Canada Pension Plan and “colour blind immigration”

• Medicare was originally introduced is Sask by Tommy Douglas

• thought Bomarc would be OK under certain conditions

3. Cuban Missile Crisis

• Castro overthrew the US backed government of Cuba and allowed USSR to set up missile basis in Cuba (close to US); US were upset and threatened to go to war over it; likened to a game of nuclear chicken which US won

• Kennedy – US president• Krushchev-USSR president• Diefenbaker -PM

American –Canadian Relations were strained under Diefenbaker

administration (1957-63)• Diefenbaker refused to back US in Cuban Missile

Crisis • Diefenbaker appealed to Canadian nationalism

and wanted to be independent on nuclear issues• Introduced the Canadian Bill of Rights (1960)• Improved transportation – finished Trans-

Canada, promoted St. Lawrence Seaway, built roads to northern towns

• Not popular with French Canadians because of belief in “unhyphenated Canadiansim” (background German)

4. Vietnam War (1959 -1973) • North communist, South a dictatorship backed

by US; US (Johnson) involved because feared the spread of communism

• US public opinion quickly against continuation of the war and in 1973 US pulled out

• Communists eventually won and many refugees came to Canada; most to Malaysia or Hong Kong

Vietnam War

1st Televised War• Top is a little boy

looking after his sibling who has a medical problem

• Bottom is “the Napalm girl”

Trudeau• Policy of “trade and aid”• Wanted to promote world

peace and a “just society”• Link between East &West,

North and South• Canada part of the

Commonwealth and La Francophonie

• Increased aid (CIDA –tied aid)• Extremely popular –

Trudeaumania• Responsible for Charter of

Rights and Freedoms

Trudeau• Tried to be less

dependent on US – removed Bomarc missile sites, reduced involvement in NATO

• “Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt”

Mulroney• Conservative PM from ’84-’93 • created very close ties with

the US (friends with Reagan) – opposite of Trudeau

• involved in developing FTA and NAFTA (Mexico added)

• Many Canadians were against free trade because they thought branch plants would return to US and Canadians would lose their jobs, also threatened sovereignty

• Cut social programs to deal with debt, but recession in 90’s led to more debt

Kim Campbell• 1st and only female PM• Born in BC• Won race to be leader of

Progressive Conservatives after Mulroney retired; not elected by Canadian electorate

• Lost election to Chretien after mock ad of Chrétien's Bell’s Palsy facial paralysis

Canada became more dependent on /influenced by US

• Canadian officials couldn’t enter DEW sites without prior permission from command center which was in USA

• US recognizes Canada’s sovereignty over Arctic but not the Northwest Passage

• American pressure to cancel Avro Arrow?• Increased investment by US companies in

Canada’s Economy (especially by Mulroney)• American culture came to Canada through media

( Massey Commission)

Canada became more independent of Britain.

• In 1949, the Supreme Court of Canada was made the final Court of Appeal in Canada

• In 1952, Vincent Massey become this country’s first Canadian-born Governor General

• Newfoundland becomes a province of Canada.

Canada’s Response to increased Americanization

• 1939 – creation of National Film Board (NFB)• 1951 – creation of Canada Council – to support

arts• 1952 – creation of CBC• 1969 – CRTC (Canadian Radio Television and

Telecommunication Commission) – regulate foreign content

• 1973 – FIRA (Foreign Investment Review Agency)– protect Canadian economy

• 1980 – National Energy Program- reduce consumption of oil and make Canada self-sufficient; guard against high oil prices

• Being a ‘Middle Power’ is like bragging about being a ‘C’ Student”

Will Ferguson from Why I Hate Canadians