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(1) Padlock Law
Info
• The Quebec government introduced an act to protect the province against Communist Propaganda (Padlock Act) in 1937.
• The legislation was challenged in the Supreme Court of Canada in 1957.
• The only issue for the court was whether or not the legislation fell within the proper jurisdiction of the provinces. Majority found the Padlock Act to be criminal law and beyond the legisture of Quebec. -
(2) Padlock Law
• Justices Fauteux and Abbot insisted on constraining the provinces’ ability to legislate against freedom of expression.
• Abbot claimed that no province could violate a freedom necessary for the continued viability of Canadian democracy.
• The decision may not have established a precedent for protecting freedom of speech, but it was successful in eliminating one of the most draconian laws ever introduced in Canada. -
Gouzenko Affair
Video
·Gouzenko realised that undercover spies would bring him back to Russia.
· He did not want to return because he knew there would be punishment.
· He offered the Canadian Government secret documents exposing the work of Soviet spies on September 5, 1945.
· Info was passed onto the United States and Britain to expose the work of the spies.
· 18 out of the 39 exposed spies were caught and convicted. -
Berlin Blockade
Video
· The Soviet Union broke an agreement with the allies & tried to force them to give up their established rights to occupy the western part of Germany & Berlin.
· The attempt by the Soviets was to physically block all supply lines that supported the British, French, and Americans.
· The Blockade had failed because of the allies’ organization and airlift technology that gave them supplies over the blockade.
· The blockade raised tensions and the fact of the failure increased world tension. -
NATO
Video
· Several nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (NATO)
· This was a defensive pact that intended to protect members against further Soviet aggression.
· All members pledged to defend each other.
· Members include (1949):
Belgium
Canada
Croatia
Czech Rep
Denmark
Estonia
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States -
Korean War - "Forgotten War"
Video
· June 25, 1950 – Communist North Korea & China attacked neighbouring South Korea
· The UN ordered countries within its organization to support South Korea.
· Canada ranked the third in total to aid South Korea with 6,150 men.
· July 27, 1953 – Truce is called.
· Canadian casualties amounted to 1000 wounded and 406 dead.
· Canada asked to stay in South Korea to help maintain the uneasy truce.
· April 6, 1955 – Canada is called home. -
Warsaw Pact
Video
· The Warsaw Pact was a response by the Soviets in the creation NATO.
· Fear drove the Soviets to create the Warsaw Pact.
· The Soviet Union organised countries behind the iron curtain to sign the Warsaw Pact.
· This caused an arms race to develop.
· Members include (1945):
Albania
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
East Germany
Hungary
Poland
Romania
Soviet Union -
Vietnam War
Video
• The Vietnam War was the prolonged struggle between nationalist forces attempting to unify the country of Vietnam under a communist government and the United States (with the aid of the South Vietnamese) attempting to prevent the spread of communism. -
Draft Dodgers
Video
• Draft Dodgers were American citizens and military deserters who sought refuge in Canada during the Vietnam War because no-one wanted to be sent over or conscripted.
• Many changed names and began a new life and became a Canadian citizen.
• Many would sneak across the border, some by train, others walking, or driving. -
(1) Suez Crisis
Video
• 26 July 1956 - The Suez Canal is an important waterway bordering the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Egyptian leader General Nasser decided to take full control of the Suez Canal zone.
• This would be a loss for France & Britain. They made a quiet agreement with Israel to take back the control of the Canal.
• The Soviet Union threatened France & Britain by joining sides with Egypt. -
(2) Suez Crisis
• Caused current world conflict to rise.
• Solution found; caused all shooting to cease and a special UN Force to monitor the withdrawal of the invading side and patrol of the bordered areas.
• Canada provided 800 soldiers, single largest by any nation.
• UNEF grew to 6,000 combined men and stayed till 1967 -
Sputnik
Video• Soviet’s launch the first satellite named Sputnik, into space.
• The rocket used to power the Sputnik into Earth’s orbit was of extreme concern because that rocket can be used to deliver a nuclear warhead anywhere in North America.
• The U.S was the first to respond as they built long-range missiles in which was quickly followed by the Soviets.
• The Soviets started to develop missiles in Cuba. The U.S realized and formed a naval blockade around Cuba and Russia retreated. Cuban Missile Crisis. -
Pearson wins Nobel Prize
Video
• The solution to the Suez Crisis by forming the UNEF, was founded by Canada’s secretary of state of external affairs; Lester Pearson.
• Through pressure of the ongoing war, he was able to come up with the solution that dissolved the war.
• Lester Pearson won the Noble Prize for his accomplishment in forming the UNEF, solving the Suez Crisis, and his participation in the development of national and international politics.• Lester Pearson became Canada’s Prime Minister in 1963. -
NORAD & DEW
Video
• North American Air Defense agreement was signed.
• This was the agreement in which Canada and the U.S agreed to help defend each other.
• This agreement allowed the U.S to build several defense installations in the north arctic regions of Canada.
• Called the Distant Early Warning line.
• This was in case of enemy aircraft or unidentified item is in the area, NORAD headquarters in Colorado Springs is contacted and further measures are taken place.
• Canada was divided on the decision. -
Avrow Arrow
Video
• The Avrow Arrow was an expensive, supersonic, jet aircraft being developed by Canadians.
• Prime Minister Diefenbaker cancelled its production and put ready-made American Bomarac Missiles for Canada’s defense. Yet warheads were not allowed in Canada.
• The cancellation was also caused by the development of Sputnik by the Soviets, and the now importance of the development of powerful long-rang rockets.
• Cancellation of Avrow Arrow cost 14,000 Canadian jobs, economy down, unemployment rose. -
Canada - Soviet Hockey Series
Video
• A series was organized between the top Russian team and a Canadian team consisting of NHL players.
• The Russians had caught up to Canada skillfully and tied the series to a 3-3 game tie.
• In the final game Paul Henderson scored a goal in the final minutes of the final game making Canada the winner of the series.
• Since the disappointment in Russian development in hockey, the win over the Russians gave the Canadians a massive boost in national pride as they defended their national sport. -
(1) Fall of the Berlin Wall
Video
• In 1989, a series of radical political changes occurred in the Eastern Bloc, associated with the liberalization of the Eastern Bloc's authoritarian systems and the erosion of political power in the pro-Soviet governments in nearby Poland and Hungary.
• After several weeks of civil unrest, the East German government announced on 9 November 1989 that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. -
(2) Fall of the Berlin Wall
• Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere.
• Over the next few weeks, a euphoric public and souvenir hunters chipped away parts of the wall; the governments later used industrial equipment to remove most of the rest. The physical Wall itself was primarily destroyed in 1990.
• The fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for German reunification, which was formally concluded on 3 October 1990. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
Video
• Soviet Union had collapsed.
• Years of overspending on military expenses had crippled the Soviet economy.
• Years and years of one after another political crisis occurred.
• People had demanded the end of a one-party system & they wanted greater political & economic freedoms.
• Popular new leader Bons Yeltsin banned the Communist Party & confiscated all of it. Then created a loose Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) & all states band communism and had no intentions with the West.
