Transcript The Cold War and Post-War Diplomacy: 1950s Superpowers  USSR and US were rivals now because they were trying to compete with one anotherknown as the Cold.

The Cold War and Post-War
Diplomacy: 1950s
Superpowers
 USSR and US were
rivals now because
they were trying to
compete with one
anotherknown as
the Cold War.
 Communism vs.
Capitalism
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West (US: free press and freedom of speech)
Western countries were suspicious of communism=fear of spread
The Soviet Union were suspicious that Western countries might try to invade
Soviet territory through Europe
Hostility increased between the Soviets and the Americans.
This was not traditional warfare= no shots or battles
Both sides built up huge stockpiles of sophisticated arms, including the atomic
bomb and other nuclear weapons and also spied on one another.
The Cold War at Home
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1945- a Russian citizen, Igor Gouzenko was
working in the Soviet embassy in Ottawa.
He went to a newspaper to prove that a
Soviet spy ring was operating in the
Canadian government. He then went to
the RCMP. Still no one believed him. He
finally got protection when the Soviet
agents broke into his house.
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This brought Canada into the Cold War.
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RCMP Special Branch watched those who
they suspected as communists. These
included artists, peace activists, union
leaders, and intellectuals who were against
the government in any way.
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Gouzenko clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM94nEQFXEM
Duck and Cover
• Canadians worried about an open
war between the Soviets and the
United States which would affect
Canada
• Cities prepared to protect their
populations- nuclear shelters in deep
basements or subway tunnels
• Schools ran drills to teach students to
“duck and cover” or to lie in ditches.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kdpAGDu8s
NATO and the Warsaw Pact
1949
 Canada joined US, Great Britain,
and other Western European
nations in military alliance.
 North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO)
 Nuclear weapons will be used as
last resort
1955
 Soviet Union establish the
WARSAW PACT=military alliance
with Eastern European countries
1956
Soviet troops stopped a revolution in Hungary.
1961
Communist-controlled East Germany built a wall
around West Berlin to keep East Berliners in and
West Berliners out
Berlin Wall= Symbol of Cold War
Symbol of divided world (east and west)
Division between NATO and Warsaw Pact
countries is known as the “Iron Curtain”
Canada’s Commitment to NATO
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Kept a full army brigade and
several air squadrons (in West
Germany)
Built and supplied military bases
overseas
Canadian ships and aircraft tracked
movement of Soviet submarines
participated in military exercises
Adapt its defence policy to those of
its allies
NORAD and the North American
Defence
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1958 PM Diefenbaker signed an agreement
with the US committing Canada to the North
American Air Aerospace Defence Command
(NORAD)
Fighter forces, missile bases, and air-defence
radar were controlled from a command station
deep within Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado
NORAD had a force of 1000 bombers at its
disposal at any one time
Canadian command post under joint control
was deep inside tunnel at North Bay, Ontario
Canadian Independence?
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Fear of Nuclear War
NORAD-responsible for three warning lines of radar stations across
Canada: DEW, Mid-Canada, Pinetree
These compromised Canadian sovereignty
To visit DEW Line, Canadian MPs and journalists had to fly to NY and
gain security clearance from U.S. authorities
superpowers developed Intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with
nuclear warheads
These can be launched from USSR and reach North America in 30
minutes.
Avro Arrow:Supersonic Jets
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Canada had many aeronautical engineers in
the early 1950s develop supersonic jets know
as the Avro Arrow.
These had state-of-the-art engines and faster
than any other jet of its kind.
The project was cancelled by the
Diefenbaker government in 1959 due to the
cost of making these jets.
Existing planes were scrapped, and most of
Avro’s designers and engineers moved to the
US.
Many Canadians felt they lost the
opportunity to establish a world-class space
and aeronautics industry in Canada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlrfGx4nc
gI
Planning for Peace
October 1945
 Delegates from 51 countries drew up a charter
for the United Nations.
 collective security.
UN powers include
 condemn aggressor through speeches and
resolutions.
 Economic Sanctions
 Military response
General Assembly
 forum for member nations to debate
 Each member is given a seat and the right to
vote on issues
Security Council
 Responsible for maintaining peace and security
 Five permanent members- “Big Five”
 Britain, France, US, USSR, and China
United Nations
10 non-permanent members
 2-year term
 Decisions need consent of 9
members
 Each of “Big Five” has power to
veto –reject actions with which they
disagree
United Nations
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abolish disease and famine and protect
human rights
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World Health Organization (WHO)
UNICEF (United Nations International
Children’s Fund)
International Monetary Fund
Canada supports UN.
Canada has helped refugees from war or
natural disasters and worked on
development projects in various
countries.
Canadian peacekeepers involved in
every UN operation since 1956.
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