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Grade 10 History Unit Notes
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Grade 10 History Unit Notes
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Activity 2: Canada and the Cold WarThe Start of the Cold War
Following the end of World War II, Europe was divided between those countries liberated by the
“western” Allies (United States, Great Britain, and their allies, including Canada), and those
countries liberated by the Soviet Union. An effort was made in countries such as The
Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Austria to re-establish democratic governments and economies
based on private enterprise, whereas in countries such as Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Latvia,
there were Communist regimes with little or no democratic decision-making , and
government-run economies. The initial aims of Communism had been to achieve the greatest
good for the greatest number of people, done through equitable distribution of goods and
services, as well as an equitable division of labour. However, to many in these Communist
countries, there seemed to be a great deal of work to do with little given in return.
Germany itself was divided into two; it was there that the Soviet troops from the east had met
the Allied troops from the west. The capital city, Berlin, although it lay within East or Communist
Germany, was divided into four sections, each one administered by a different country: Great
Britain, France, The United States, and the Soviet Union. Many people tried to escape into
Western Europe from the Soviet bloc, and Berlin was a favourite place to try to slip across: in
1961 the Communists built the Berlin Wall to stem the tide of refugees.
Canada experienced its own Communist scare close to home: in September 1945, a cipher
clerk from the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa named Igor Gouzenko defected to the West, taking
with him documents indicating the existence of Soviet spies operating in Canada. This was
when Canada and the Soviet Union were allies in the war against Germany and Japan. As a
result of the Gouzenko affair and similar revelations elsewhere, the Western nations seemed
justified in their fear that the Soviet Union was a threat to their security.
NATO and NORAD
Canada’s involvement in international military alliances did not end with victory by the Allies in
World War II. With the defeat of Nazi Germany, there was a new enemy: the Soviet Union and
its Communist satellite nations. Western Europe eyed the solidification of eastern Europe into
the Soviet Bloc with misgivings: there was a widespread fear of continued Communist
expansion, by violent means if necessary. As a result, the nations of Western Europe, as well as
the United States and Canada, formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949.
The intention was to combat Soviet aggression: Article 5 stated that an attack on any member
,was an attack on all, and that all would retaliate. Ironically, Article Five was not used until 2001,
when the NATO nations joined with the United States in the invasion of Afghanistan following
the 9/11 attacks.
Meanwhile, early warning radar stations were constructed across Canada by the United States.
It was assumed that if the Soviets attacked the United States from the air, they would fly across
the North Pole and Canada, as that was the most direct route. Thus, the three lines, including
the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line, would give the United States an opportunity to detect and
disarm any Soviet aircraft before they could do damage.
Later, in 1957, Canada and the United States formed the North American Air Defence
Command (NORAD). This became necessary with the development of Inter-Continental Ballistic
Missiles (ICBMs), which could reach the United States in half an hour. NORAD had missile
bases, fighter planes, and troops, all ready to defend against Soviet attack. The headquarters
were under Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, and bases were spread out across the continent.
There were no nuclear warheads on Canadian soil. An American general was
commander-in-chief, and the deputy was Canadian. This was a permanent arrangement.
The United Nations
Canada was also a founding member of the United Nations, created in the spring of 1945 during
the last days of the war in Europe. This organization replaced the League of Nations, which had
failed to prevent the outbreak of World War Two. The charter of the United Nations pledged to
save the world from “the scourge of war”, as well as protect human rights and improve living
conditions for those around the world. One of the first UN agencies formed was the United
Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), to deal with the humanitarian crisis
in Europe following the end of the war. It soon expanded its activities to developing countries
where children were in need of assistance.
The Suez Crisis 1956
During the 1950's, the single greatest contribution made by Canada on the world stage was the
creation of the first peacekeeping force at the suggestion of Lester B. Pearson while he was the
Minister of External Affairs. In 1956 there was a conflict between Egypt and Great Britain,
France and Israel over Egypt’s nationalization of the Suez Canal. By providing a short cut
between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, the canal made it possible for ships to save
valuable time (and money) by not having to sail around Africa. France and Britain, on behalf of
their citizens who had invested in the canal, and Israel, which felt threatened by Egyptian control
of the waterway so close to their territory, were ready to go to war with Egypt. Meanwhile, the
, USSR was willing to give Egypt money and weapons. That would have brought in the United
States against the Soviets. Pearson suggested that a United Nations Emergency Force go in
and mediate between the two sides. A Canadian general led the mission, and it was successful.
Pearson received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Since then, Canadian troops have
participated in peacekeeping actions around the world.
Conflicts around the World
In Asia, the country of Korea suffered a similar fate to that of Germany at the end of World War
II. Occupied by the Japanese, the northern half was invaded by the Soviets and the southern
half by American troops. North Korea was Communist, and South Korea had a democracy
supported by the United States. In 1950 the North invaded the South. The United Nations sent
in a force primarily composed of Americans, but Canada also sent thousands of troops.
Meanwhile, at the United Nations, Lester Pearson was trying to get all sides to agree to a
cease-fire, which finally happened in 1953. A treaty has never been signed: there is still just a
cease-fire between the two countries today.
The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962
In1958, rebels under Fidel Castro overthrew the corrupt pro-American leader of Cuba, and
established a Communist state a mere 80 miles from the mainland of the United States. As a
result, the Americans entered into a state of prolonged conflict with Cuba, cutting off all
economic and diplomatic ties. The disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961 was a humiliating
defeat for the United States and its anti-Castro Cuban allies, and afterwards, Cuba turned to the
USSR to help prevent future attacks. By 1962, American surveillance photos seemed to show
evidence of a Soviet missile base being established in Cuba, representing a direct threat to the
United States. American President John F. Kennedy wanted Canada to participate in possible
action against Cuba: he wanted Canada to allow American planes stationed in Canada to be
loaded with nuclear warheads. Prime Minister Diefenbaker refused to cooperate, despite strong
public support for the request. The crisis was resolved without Canadian involvement when the
Soviet missile base was dismantled, but the United States has yet to officially recognize
Castro’s government.
Vietnam
Vietnam was yet another nation divided between a Communist state and one supported by the
United States. Unlike when the United States spearheaded the defense of South Korea in 1950,
when American involvement in Vietnam became more intense in the mid-1960's, Canada did
not participate. Instead, Prime Minister Pearson criticized American actions in Vietnam while
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