The Cold War

The Gouzenko Affair Igor Gouzenko was a Russian clerk who discovered a Soviet spy ring operating in Canada Took documents to Ottawa Journal, but was denied Took documents to RCMP, department of justice, and PM’s office but was also denied When Soviet agents broke into his apartment, the Ottawa police finally listened to his story

Gouzenko (cont.) Spy ring was probably trying to discover the secrets of the atomic bomb During WWII the US and the Soviet Union had been allies but that is all they had in common Tensions rose after the war between the two powers. Both sides began stockpiling conventional arms, powerful nuclear weapons, biological and chemical weapons, long-range bombers, missiles, and atomic submarines

The Cold War Begins Military strength of the Soviet Union and the US made them superpowers Superpowers competed for political influence in other parts of the world i.e. developing nations that were poorer and less politically stable than themselves Rival between the two superpowers = Cold War

Divisions Soviet Union was communist: the government controlled all industry and commerce US were capitalists: their economies are based on private enterprise, with individuals investing in business for profit. Soviet Union feared that Western countries might invade Soviet territory Western countries feared communism

Cold War continues… To create a buffer between USSR and US, Soviets took over the countries of Eastern Europe and established communist governments Communists took over China in 1949, and former government fled to Taiwan US stopped the spread of communism on homefront by establishing a Committee on Un-American Activities Chaired by Joseph McCarthy Anyone suspected of communism would be fired, blacklisted, and persecuted.

“Red Scare” In 1949, leader of the Conservative Party, Borden, accused the government of harbouring communists in the civil service. Workers suspected of communist beliefs were dismissed The RCMP Special Branch watched those who “might be or might become” a security risk. Premier Maurice Duplessis of Quebec took a hard stance against communism Padlock Law: shut down suspected organizations/newspapers

NATO and Warsaw Pact 1949: Canada joined the US, Great Britain, and other Western European nations in a military alliance known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Any attack on one NATO member was to be treated as an attack on all Agreed that if conventional weapons were not sufficient they would use nuclear weapons such as atomic bombs and artillery shells

NATO and Warsaw Pact (cont.) NATO accepted West Germany making the Soviet Union feel threatened So, in 1955 Soviet Union established the Warsaw Pact the alliance was made up of Eastern European countries A hostile division existed in the northern hemisphere

NATO and Warsaw Pact (cont.) In 1956, Soviet troops crushed 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 became a powerful symbol of the Cold War and tensions that divided East from West

Canada and NATO PM King defended Canada’s decision to join a military alliance in a time of peace Agreed to keep a full army brigade and several air squadrons in Europe. Built and supplied military bases overseas Ships and aircrafts tracked the movements of Soviet submarines

North American Defence Even though Europe would be the battleground if war broke out, when long range bombers were developed to carry warheads to distant targets, North America became vulnerable Built three lines of radar stations across Canada between : 1. Pinetree Line 2. Mid-Canada Line 3. DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line

North American Defence For Canadian Parliament to visit the DEW line, had to fly to NY and gain security clearance from US authorities Loss of Canadian independence Missiles launched from USSR could reach N. American cities within thirty minutes Radar stations in Canada would not be able to detect them in time for anything to be done

North American Defence (cont.) 1957: to meet the possible threat of Soviet attack on North America, Canada and US agreed to establish an integrated North American Air Defence agreement (NORAD) Include fighter forces, missile bases, air-defence radar, all controlled by command station built within Colorado Separate Canadian command post, established deep inside tunnels at North Bay, Ont.

Civil Defence Canadians feared that an open war between USSR and US would result in a rain of nuclear bombs and missiles on their cities Federal government developed civil defence plans, and citie prepared to protect their populations Nuclear shelters, school ran drills (“duck and cover”)

United Nations April 1945 delegates from 51 countries drew up charter for UN Based on idea of collective security, like the League of Nations General Assembly of UN provides forum in which member nations can debate issues of concern Each member is given a seat and the right to vote on issues

United Nations (cont.) Given three powers to use against aggressor: 1. Condemn the aggressor through speeches and resolutions 2. Use economic sanctions, urging members not to trade with the aggressor 3. Respond militarily be sending in an armed force

United Nations (cont.) The Security Council responsible for maintaining peace and security Council has five permanent members – “The Big Five” powers: Britain, France, US, Russia, China Ten other non-permanent members each holding two-year term Decisions need the consent of nine members, but each the five permanent members has the right to veto

United Nations (cont.) Founders of UN also pledged to abolish disease andf amine and protect human rights Created various agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF (United Nations Children Fund) UN also established the International Monetary Fund

United Nations (cont) Canada has been a strong supporter of the UN since its creation Aided refugees from war or natural disasters, and worked on development projects in various countries By 1999, Canadian peacekeepers had been involved in every UN operation since the start of these mission in 1956.