Cluster 4: Achievements & Challenges 4.3 …& Beyond

Creation of the United Nations (1945) •Representatives from 50 countries meet in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter • The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 member states. • The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of other signatories 4.3

There is a fundamental link between human rights and peace… There will be peace on earth when the rights of all are respected. -John Peters Humphrey, Drafter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1949

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (1948) • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. • 1948 - The first and most important international statement on human rights and the principles of equality, dignity and freedom was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948. • The first and most important international statement on human rights and the principles of equality, dignity and freedom was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948. 4.3

Why was the first priority of the United Nations to create a charter of rights?

‘Minds On’ – warm up Imagine you were forced to go into hiding in preparation for a nuclear attack. What would you take with you? (Discuss your answer with a partner…) Here’s what the Canadian Civil Defence Organization recommended in 1960: Battery operated radio; emergency food and water supplies for 14 days; bedding; flashlight; first aid kit

Postwar Tensions U.S. vs. U.S.S.R. Both countries did not trust one another – major ideological differences Both emerged as ‘superpowers’ after WWII – one communist and one capitalist

Did you know? The term ‘Cold War’ was 1st used in 1945 by writer George Orwell in an essay

The nuclear ‘arms’ race… What was the ‘Cold War’? Period of tension between U.S. and USSR – no direct war though How was the Cold War fought then? threats; propaganda competition (sports –Olympic Games, race for space, arms race) indirect ‘hot’ wars (Vietnam, Korea…) spying The nuclear ‘arms’ race…

The nuclear arms race…then…

…and now

What are the ethical issues in using innocent-sounding terms such as “arms race” to describe situations with potentially lethal consequences?

What happened? Communism was spreading in Europe – and Stalin repressed any opposition (ex. gulags) America and Great Britain follow a policy of ‘containment’ – to try to stop this spread Key Term: Iron Curtain – an imaginary dividing line in Europe between democracy and dictatorship

Did you know? The term ‘Iron Curtain’ was coined by Sir Winston Churchill in a 1946 speech about the growing rift between the East and West.

Collective Security Many countries formed alliances due to fear of nuclear war: NATO – U.S., Canada, GB, France NORAD – U.S., Canada to protect against Soviet attack Warsaw Pact – USSR, other communist countries

Canada’s involvement How were Canadians affected by the Cold War? cancelled Avro Arrow in favour of the Bomarc B missile attack-warning systems (radar) setup across Canada fought w/U.S. in Korean War

“Duck and Cover” Video: 9m51s

Igor Gouzenko – spy scandal Igor Gouzenko (Soviet Spy) stole secret documents from the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa Exposed Russia’s efforts to steal nuclear secrets from us and the U.S. Significance? Launched the Cold War for the general public…

How did it end? In 1989, the USSR agreed to take down the Berlin Wall which had divided East and West Germany Both sides began to co-operate This symbolized the end of the Cold War Video: Fall of the Berlin Wall (3:54)

In the years leading up to the Second World War, many governments, including Canada’s, used appeasement to deal with aggression by countries such as Germany, Italy and Japan. They did little to try to stop Hitler’s expansion in Europe, the Nazi persecution of Jews and others, Japan’s expansion in Southeast Asia, and other acts of aggression, such as Benito Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia.

How much responsibility, if any, do these governments have for the deaths and destruction of the Second World War?

What lessons do you think these governments learned as a result of the Second World War?