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The United Nations is Created
The United Nations was created because of the failure of League of Nations. Fifty countries led by Britain, Soviet Union, USA, and Canada met in San Francisco to create the United Nations. The four main goals for the UN was to keep peace, encourage cooperation, defend human rights and promote and improve living conditions for all nations. Canada was not a permanent member but slowly gained its own seat on UN Security Council in 1948. Canada serves as a peace keeper. -
V-E Day
Victory in Europe, when the “Germany has surrendered unconditionally.” stated on http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/ve-day/ after the death of Hitler in April 30, 1945. A military surrender agreement was signed. Crowds flooded out onto the streets in Canada and in Europe, and celebrations erupted. Canadian soldiers contributed by fighting fiercely on Juno Beach and pushing the Germans back along with the Allies. Our soldiers liberating Holland which allowed allied troops to march towards Germany. -
Cold War
After the end of WWII, a bipolar world emegered because there were two new superpowers: USA & Soviet Union. The Cold War went from 1945-1991, it was a ideological sturggle between Democracy and Communism. Soviet Union wouldn't leave Eastern Germany even when WWII was over because Soviet Union needed a divider between USA and other democratic countries that were considered as "monsters." -
V-J Day
Peace was eventually in Japan, China and the world. Japan surrendered willingly to the Allies ending WWII. The surrendered also brought the six years of hostility to an end. Canada was immensely involved in the Hong Kong trying to fight the Japanese. Canadian soldiers witnessed with the allied forces the signing of surrender documents. -
Gouzenko Affair
A young clerk with the Soivet Embassy in Ottawa, Igor Gouzenko asked Canada for ( political asylum) protection from Soviet Union in retrun giving Canadian Gov. documents proving Soviet Union had spy network rings in Canada. After handling over proof, he was threatened and given Canadian police protection. The Gouzenko Affair marked beginning of Cold War in Canada. -
Iron Curtain
The Domino Theory, concept that when one country becomes communistm other countires will fall into communism too, The Satellite States were the six countries controlled by Soviet Union created the Iron Curtain in 1946. The Iron Curtain fell across Europe dividing communist and democratic states. It divided the eat from the west Europe. -
Marshall Plan
USA futher developed the policy of containment passing the Marshall Plan. Offering billioms of dollars to aid to war-torn European economies to help them resist communism. Polices developed in resposne to Red Scare: massivefear of communism. -
Truman Doctrine
In 1947, USA declared Truman Doctrine, a policy to support those who were living in countries threatened by communism. First step in developing American policy of containment: which was American stratgey to "contain" communisim and prevent it from spreading. -
The Berlin Blockade and Airlift
Berlin divide into four zones. Western nations could only access into West(democratic) Berlin through East Germany only on specific highways & railways.Berlion Blockade Crisis occurred when western powers introuduced a new currency into West Germany,which Soviet Union didn't accept in Berlin. Soviet Union counteracted currency reform by blockading transportation corridors, which allowed West to send supplies to West Berlin. Dispute created 2 separate gov. for Berlin, results Allies to form NATO. -
Creation of NATO
The Americans created NATO, a stronger military presence to prevent communism expansion in Europe. NATO was formed in 1949 and each member was required to contribute to the NATO's defense force. The policy was "All for one, one for all." Canada was one of the major powers of NATO. Canadian soldiers quickly rushed to defend South Korea from the communism present in North Korea. Canada proved strong commitments to prevent spreading of communism in Eastern Europe and Asia. -
Communist take control of China
In 1949, communism reached China. Communists led by Mao Zedong also known as Chairman Mao took over the government of China. He wanted to base China's economy on Marxist socialism, and to accomplish that goal he killed many landlords and then divide the land among peasants. Canada was not involved in this event, but Canada recognized the communist government as China's official government while USA did not. -
The Korean War
The Korean was a war of two ideologies: democracy and communism. North Korea became communist partially because China was communist while South Korea was democratic. North Korea decided to spread communism, therefore invading South Korea. It was war for Korea, and Canada rushed to Korea defending democracy in South Korea. Canada demonstrated its support to the UN and willingness to fight for peace and democracy. -
Vietnam War
The Vienam War was a war between the Communist North and partially democractic South. Communist countries supported the Northand USA supported the South. Americans feared the domino theory whcih was if the South fell to the Communists, other nearby countries would folllow.
It was an impossible vicotry for Amercians and therefore, many became draft dodgers who took refudge in Canada. In 1975, Vietnam officially became Communist. Many brave Canadians fought for democracy in the Vietnam War. -
Creation of the WARSAW Pact
The WARSAW Pact was a defensive alliance of the Soviet and its satellite states, created in response to NATO and signed in Poland in 1955. It was a military treaty and if a member was a victim of foreign aggression, the other countries were to come to its aid. Canada was not involved because Canada was a member of the NATO. -
Lester Pearson diffuses the Suez Crisis
In 1956, the Egyptian President Nasser seizes the Suez Canal, a important trade route from Britain and France. Israel invades Egypt, Britain and France follow bombing Egyptian positions. The Soviet Union supported Egypt, demanding other countries to withdraw. Canada contributed greatly to the resolution of the crisis. Lester Pearson, Canada's Minister of External Affairs crated UNEF keeping combatants apart while settling the Suez Crisis. Battle forces were replaced with UN peacekeeping forces. -
Berlin Wall is Built
The Berlin Wall was built to stop East Berliners from escaping the Soviet-controlled East Germany into the democractic West Germany. The West Germans called the wall "Wall of Shame" which was rebuilt at least three times and each time bigger and stronger. It was a symbol of the Iron Curtain, a division between communism and democrcay; the new enemy of the world. Many Canadian soliders served in West Germany ready to defend Eastern Europe from the spread of communism. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The crisis was the closest the world had ever come to a nuclear war. The crisis started on October of 1962, nuclear missiles made by the Soviet Union were discovered in Cuba. President Kennedy decided to place a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent the Soviets from bringing more nuclear supplies. After thirteen intensive days, the leaders of the two superpowers compromised. Soviets dismantled the nuclear sites if USA would not invade Cuba. USA also agreed to remove nuclear weapons from Turkey. -
Assassination of Kennedy
John F. Kennedy was shot inside his car. Two days later the shooter, Lee Harvey Oswald was shot in Dallas police station by a nightclub owner. -
Cyprus
In 1964, a civil war broke out on Mediterranaean island of Cyprus between the Greek majority and Turkish minority. Canadian troops were send in 1964 and were not withdrawn until 1993 as peace keepers. Canada sent alomost $600 million to maintain forces in Cyprus & 30 coldiers lost their lives. -
The Middle East in 1970s
ongoing conflicts in Middle East between Israel & the Arab states seemed to change very little in 1970s. In 1973 a burtal war took place: Yom Kippur war. A few years later, Anwar Sadat leader of Egypt inistated peace talks with Israelis and the Camp David Accords were signed in 1979. In agreement, Egyptaisn were to recognize Israel's right to exist and in return Israelis negotiated occupied terriotories. But in 2001, the Palestinian uprising ended hope for resolution to Arab-Israeli conflict. -
USSR invades Afghanistan
The Soviets invaded Afghanistan because Afghan communists wanted to be liberated. The Soviet government claimed to be fighting for Islamic Extremists. But the main reasons were Soviets wanted to spread communism and better access to the Indian Ocean for trade and naval bases. Control of Afghanistan would provide important natural resources and aid in trading with the Middle East and India. Canada did not become involved in this event. -
The Fall of Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989. Berliners finally gained their freedom mostly because of USSR's new leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who believed in reformers and the policies of Glasnost and Perestroika. Therefore, he wanted the wall torn down and Berliners to gain their freedom. The fall of the wall symbolized the end of the Cold War, and the unification of West and East Germany. Canada as the member of the UN kept peace, and as member of NATO prevented communism from spreading in Berlin.
