The Cold War Era This time period is marked by fear/paranoia Nuclear weapons are supposed to be a “deterrence” but instead increase tension between the countries Soviet Union and United States never go to war directly, they instead fight their conflicts in other countries (eg. Korea, Vietnam, etc). Recall, August 6, 1945- U.S dropped the world’s first atomic bomb In 1949, the Soviet Union tested its first nuclear bomb, triggering a nuclear arms race between the West and the Soviets

The Arms Race One of the main features of The Cold War area was a highly competitive Arms Race On November 1, 1952 the United States explodes the first hydrogen bomb at a test site in the Marshall Islands. The mushroom cloud was 8 miles across and 27 miles high; Less than a year later, the Soviets announce their first test of a hydrogen bomb in Kazakhstan

The U2 In 1960, U2 was a spy plane Able to fly 6000km at high altitudes Could take photos of Soviet bomber bases and missile sites

Results of the Race USA USSR 450 ICBMs 250 Medium range missiles 2,260 Bombers 16,000Tanks 32 Nuclear submarines 260 Conventional submarines 76 Battleships and carriers 76 ICBMs 700 Medium range bombers 1,600 bombers 38,000 Tanks 12 Nuclear submarines 495 Conventional submarines 50 Battleships and cruisers

Both sides built more and more… By 1980: The USA had more 9000 warheads. The USSR had more than 6000! MAD: Mutually Assured Destruction So many weapons in such a state of readiness that neither side would dare to launch a surprise attack (a first strike) Any conflict was sure to end in the utter annihilation of both sides. No rational person could start such a war, it was hoped.

The H-Bomb: (1952- USA) The Atom Bomb (fission) The Hydrogen Bomb (fusion) Yield 10 kiloton 10 megaton (smallish) (1000 times as powerful) Fireball 300 m. 4.8 km. Total Destruction radius 1.6 km. 17.7 km. Flash burns (2nd degree burns) 2.4 km. 32 km.

The Cold War in Canada Duck and Cover At the height of the Cold War, the possibility of a nuclear attack was a real concern not just in the United States but also in Canada The Canadian government created materials such as films and pamphlets to advise citizens what to do in case of a nuclear attack. Is the choice of a turtle an appropriate mascot to use to explain what to do if a nuclear attack occurs? How effective do you think the “duck and cover” response would be in the event of a nuclear attack? What does this suggested response reveal about 1950’s knowledge of nuclear weapons?

Canada’s Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker (1957-1963) This bunker was built to house gold reserves, military, scientific, and political personnel in case of nuclear attack The Diefenbunker

The Red Scare Propaganda – fear the dirty, rotten, commies. The western world feared the Soviets and spread of communism in their nations because…. Communism is equated with the fear of losing individualism and unique identity Aspect of sharing wealth so that everyone is the same was seen as a negative ideology Propaganda – fear the dirty, rotten, commies.

The Gouzenko Affair Espionage: Spying on one another for secrets. Igor Gouzenko worked at the Soviet embassy in Ottawa (as a spy for the Soviets) He found out in 1945 that he and his family were going to be sent back to Russia Turned himself in and alerted North America of a Soviet spy ring Took documents proving spy ring to Canadian government Gov’t did not believe him until the Soviet officials tried to capture and send him back to Russia COMMUNIST SPIES IN CANADA!

Rosenburg Spy Case - 1951 On March 29, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are convicted of selling U.S. atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. The Rosenbergs were sent to the electric chair in 1953, despite outrage from liberals who portrayed them as victims of an anti-communist witch hunt.

Canada and the Cold War Our political, economic and military alliance with other western nations through NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) 1949 The coordinated air protection of North America with the United States. This was called NORAD (North American Air Defence) . The two countries would cooperate to detect and intercept Soviet air craft

NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization -Military Alliance between: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the United States - Created to protect members from communist Soviet Union - An attack on one is an attack on all members Warsaw Pact: Established by the Soviet Union to counter NATO in 1955 - includes eastern European communist states. A collective defense treaty to control Eastern Europe with Soviet military forces U.S.S.R., Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Albania, East Germany

Air defense system (radar) between USA and Canada Located in the arctic Designed to alert us of possible soviet attacks NORAD, 1955

Early Warning Systems

Canada is strategically located! Soviet bombers could be stopped and shot down over Canada (nice if you’re American) Canadians would get the protection of the world’s largest military power