Canada + the Cold War, 1945-1991

Propaganda: Popular Culture Propaganda was used heavily by both the USA and the USSR to convince the public, including Canadian citizens, that: 1. A “real” enemy existed that wanted to attack their society, their way of living, and their well-being.

Propaganda: Popular Culture 2. Ironically, the opposing side’s way of life was one filled with injustice, evil, and a lack of morality. 3. Media was the dominant place in which propaganda was disseminated.

Canada + the Cold War, 1945-1991

The Cold War “heats up” What triggered the escalation? 1. 1949 – The USSR detonates their first atomic bomb, the USA and Canada now have to fear a nuclear attack

The Cold War “heats up” 2. 1949 – The Chinese Communist Revolution takes place and Chairman Mao becomes leader of China. Almost 2 billion communists now in the world.

The Cold War “heats up” 3. Soviet spies are discovered in: Canada (Gouzenko - whistleblower), USA (Alger Hiss – accused Soviet spy) Great Britain = fear and paranoia affected everyone.

Atomic Café Ch. 10 - Duck and Cover “Beware of communist attacks!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-w0Up-212g Question: 1. How did propaganda films help to prolong the Cold War? Kept the fear alive.

Communist in the Canadian Government On Sept. 5, 1945, just after the end of the Second World War, a Russian cipher clerk named Igor Gouzenko fled the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa with 109 documents proving the existence of a Soviet spy ring in Canada.

The Gouzenko Affair Canada was placed at the centre of the Cold War in 1945 due to the Gouzenko Affair, which exposed a Soviet spy ring in the Canadian government.

The Gouzenko Affair Gouzenko exposed Stalin's efforts to steal nuclear secrets, and the technique of planting sleeper agents. The "Gouzenko Affair" is often credited as a triggering event of the Cold War.

The Gouzenko Affair Conservatives thought Communism should be outlawed in 1949. P.M. Louis St. Laurent refused, noting that such tactics were the trademarks of dictatorships, not democracies.

The Gouzenko Affair As a result of the Red Scare/Menace in Canada, RCMP carried out illegal and secret inquiries regarding potential communists in Canada. Potential immigrants were denied entry to Canada and members of the communist party were deported.

The Padlock Law The Padlock Law (officially called "Act to protect the Province Against Communistic Propaganda") (was an Act of the province of Quebec, passed on March 24, 1937 by the Union Nationale government of Maurice Duplessis.

The Padlock Law The Act made it illegal to "use [a house] or allow any person to make use of it to propagate Communism or Bolshevism by any means whatsoever" as well as the printing, publishing or distributing of "any newspaper, periodical, pamphlet, circular, document or writing, propagating Communism or Bolshevism." 

The Padlock Law A violation of the Act subjected such property to being ordered closed by the Attorney General - "padlocked" - against any use whatsoever for a period of up to one year, and any person found guilty of involvement in prohibited media activities could be incarcerated for three to thirteen months.

Cold War Military Alliances 1. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), 1949. Provided for the collective security of Western Europe against the threat of Soviet invasion/spread of communism. Founding Members: USA, Canada, Britain, others.

NATO: The Agreement NATO Agreement: Any attack on one NATO member was considered to be an attack on all. Tactical nuclear weapons could be used if conventional weapons failed. As a last resort, total nuclear war would be waged.

Cold War Military Alliances 2. The USSR created the Warsaw Pact in 1955 to counter/rival NATO. Alliance of Eastern European Communist countries was officially called 'The Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance.'

NATO/Warsaw Pact

Nuclear Arms Race As both superpowers developed nuclear capability, tensions continued to grow. Shelter

Canada is stuck in the middle of nuclear warhead stockpiles

How does Canada respond? Places Distant Early Warning Line Stations (DEW) in northern Canada. DEW Line US and Canada form NORAD (North American Defense Agreement); gets involved in Korean War (1950-53). Cheyenne Mountain

North American Defence The Lines were designed to give the USA time to launch a counterattack if Soviet long-range bombers were attacking over the North Pole: Pinetree Line Mid-Canada Line DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line

Defence and Canadian Autonomy These radar stations were manned by US military personnel on Canadian soil. Many Canadians feared this also compromised Canada’s autonomy, but most accepted this as the price of better security against a Soviet attack.

How does Canada respond? Avro Arrow – Canada builds warplanes in the 1950s. Plan eventually scrapped; many felt Canada had lost chance as technological leader during the Cold War. Many political debates occur over whether following American foreign policy was making us safer, or more at risk of going to war.

The Creation of the United Nations Created in 1945. Three powers to use: Condemn country Economic sanctions Respond militarily

United Nations Security Council UN Security Council: 5 permanent members (VETO power): USSR (Russia Today) USA Britain France China

Korean Conflict North Korea backed by USSR and China South Korea backed by the United States Video

Suez Crisis 1956 Lester Pearson won a Nobel Peace prize for proposing that a UN force separate and mediate between the two armies (Isreal/Britain/France vs Egypt) Importance of Canal video

Canada’s Independent Policy Early 1960’s Prime Minister John Diefenbaker U.S. President John Kennedy Disliked each other

Cuban Missile Crisis

Nuclear Issue in Canada BOMARC Missile Crisis: 1958 PM Diefenbaker announced an agreement with the US to deploy in Canada 2 squadrons of the American ramjet-powered "Bomarc" antiaircraft missile. This controversial defence decision came from the 1957 NORAD agreement with the US.

Nuclear Issue in Canada BOMARC Missile Crisis: Fifty-six missiles were deployed in Ontario and Québec. The Canadian government did not make it clear that the Bomarc-B, was to be fitted with nuclear warheads.

Nuclear Issue in Canada BOMARC Missile Crisis: When this became known in 1960 it gave rise to a dispute as to whether Canada should adopt nuclear weapons. Eventually they were delivered (after some bad relations between the US + Canada) but when Pierre Trudeau came to power in 1969 the warheads were removed/phased out.

Defence : ICBMs ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles): development meant nuclear missiles launched from the USSR could reach North American cities within 30 minutes.

Civil Defence Canadians prepared for nuclear war by: Building bomb shelters. Teaching students to “duck and cover.”

Civil Defence Canadians prepared for nuclear war by: Formulating the Tocsin B cross-Canada evacuation plan. Building the “Diefenbunker” = PM Diefenbaker had his own nuclear bunker built.

Defense: MAD In reality, the best deterrent against nuclear attack was the threat of all-out nuclear war.

Defense: MAD Later, both the USA and USSR would follow a policy of M.A.D. (Mutually Assured Destruction) = destroy each other equally.