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The United Nations is Created
As WWII came close to an end, coutries began to seek the development of a new world organization of nations that would have more strength than the League of Nations. In April 1945, 50 countries led by Britain, the Soviet Union, the US and Canada, met in San Francisco to create the U.N. The United Nations had 4 goals: keeping world peace and preventing new wars; encouraging cooperation among nations; defending human rights and helping to promote equality; and improve standard of living. -
WWII ends: Germany surrenders
On 30 April Hitler committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin, and so the surrender of Germany was authorized by his replacement, President of Germany Karl Dönitz. On May 8 the WWII Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. -
WWII ends: Japan surrenders
Even though 2 atomic bombs were dropped in Japan at Hiroshima and Nagaski, they would still not surrender. The combination of the atomic bombings with the potential threat of a full-scale invasion of Japan by the USSR was enough to remove any hope that Japan may have held for continuing the war. On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s capitulation in accordance with the Potsdam Declaration. A formal surrender was signed on September 2 aboard the battleship USS Missouri. -
Creation of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO)
West Berlin countered w/a massive airlift supplying them for 15 months with all necessary supplies. The Soviets realized that the bloackade was not working. The end of the dispute resulted in 2 seperate governments for Berlin. As a result, the western Allies decided to form NATO. It was established by the US and consisted of 12 countries, which included Canada. These countries agreed to come to the aid of any member who was attacked. -
Communist Take Control of China
The communists, lef by Mao Zedong, took over the gov. of China. Mao made the decision to send the People's Volunteer Army into Korea and fight against the United Nations forces led by the U.S. Along with land reform, during which landlords and peasants were beaten to death at mass meetings organized by the Communist Party as land was taken from them and given to poorer peasants. While some countries(including Canada) recognized the communist gov. as the offical gov. of China, others refused to. -
The Korean War
During WWII, Korea was held by Japan. After Japan surrendured in 1945, Korea was divided. The N became communist, and the S democractic. In 1950, over 100,000 N Korean troops, invaded S Korea. A UN force was sent to Korea, and over 26,500 Canadians served in the UN action in Korea. By the time the war was over in Juy 1953, although both sides agreed to an armistice, Korea remained divided btwn the North and South. This war was significant for Canada because it showed that Canada supported the UN -
The Vietnam War
Vietnam was divided btwn the North, held by communist gov.(Ho Chi Minh), and the South, which was anti-communist and part democratic. South was supported by the US and soon the fighting escalated to include communist countries that supported the N, and non-communist countries that supported the S. Millions of Americans fought for the Vietnamese, but were unable to win. Anti-war protests were held in the US. People did anything to avoid the draft, including moving to Canada. -
Creation of Warsaw Pact
the Warsaw Pact was a response to a similar treaty made by the Western Allies in 1949 (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, or NATO in which Canada was a part of) as well as the re-militarization of West Germany in 1954, both of which posed a potential threat to the Eastern countries. The Pact quickly became a powerful political tool for the Soviet Union to hold sway over its allies and harness the powers of their combined military. -
Lester Pearson diffuses the Suez Crisis
The Egyptian President Nasser seized the Suez Canal(a vital trade route) from Britain and France. In response, Br and Fr joined with Israel to attack Egypt. Lester Pearson, acting as Canada's Minister of External Affairs, went to the UN and suggested in creating a UN Emergency Force that would keep the combatants apart while a settlement to the Suez Crisis worked out. As a result, battle forces were withdrawn and replaced the UN peacemaking forces. -
The Berlin Wall is Built
It was a was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic , that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin. The Wall served to prevent the massive emigration and defection that marked Germany and the communist Eastern Bloc during the post-World War II period. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
The US and Soviet Union stockpiled their nuclear weapons in various countries around the world. In 1962, the US spotted Soviet missiled in Cuba through aerial surveillane and a possible Soviet nuclear attack was coming! The US set up a naval blockade around Cuba, denying Soviet ships bringing missles into Cuba. Everyone was concerned this criss could lead to a nuclear war. Canada gave political and military response to this crisis. As a reult of the blockade, the Soviet ships turned back. -
The USSR Invades Afganistan
The Soviet people were told that they were going to liberate Afghan communists. The Soviet government also said they were fighting Islamic Extremists. The Soviet Union wanted better access to the Indian Ocean for trade and their naval fleet. Control of Afghanistan would make trade with India and the Middle East easier. The Soviets were supported by Canada. -
The Berlin Wall is Torn Down
"Tear down this wall!" was the challenge from United States President Ronald Reagan to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to destroy the Berlin Wall. It represented the imprisonment of the people of East Germany. The moment the East German government lost the power to enforce the existence of the wall the people literally ripped it down reuniting Germany.
