Canada's Role in the Cold War

Quebec's Padlock Law

Mar 24, 1937

This was a law enacted in Quebec, Canada that made it illegal to spread communist propaganda. This infringed on peopls's freedom of speech. You coould be sent to jail for roughly 1 year if this law was broken.

Gouzenko Affair

Sep 5, 1945

Igor Gouzenko was a Soviet Embassy Worker who later defected to Canada with his family. He gave soviet secrets to the government in trade for protection and not being deported. He was very wary of the USSR the rest of his life.

Berlin Blockade

Jun 24, 1948

Tensions were high between the Soviet Union and the rest of the Allies. The Soviets put up a blockade to try and stop supplies form getting into West Berlin which was controlled by the other Allies. It did not succeed well due to suppiles through airlift.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Apr 4, 1949

Many western countires formed NATO, a pack that promised each country would defeat eachoher if attacked. The east did the same with the Warsaw Pact. They later had an "Arms Race" where they built up enough nuclear warheads to destroy the human race several times over. Canada bounced between banning warheads, and allowing them. and then banning them again.

The Korean War

Jun 25, 1950

North Korea and China (communist) attacked South Korea (capitalist). Sixteen United Nations members aided South Korea in The Forgotten War. After three years a truce was called, but Canada kept their troops across seas for two more years to keep it.

Peace Keeping of the United Nations

Jul 30, 1956

Arab and Isreal fought over stragitic land. The capitalists backed Isreal and the communists backed Arab. Arab initionally wins but Britain, France, and Isreal attack to take back the land. Canada and other UN wish to support their allies but they believe what they are doing is wrong. So, Lester Pierson created peace keepers.

Sputnik

Oct 4, 1957

The Soviets launched Sputnik. The satilite itself was not a problem, but the rockets that launched it was. They could be used to bomb the United States. This fueled the U.S. to start ramping uo their missiles.

The Avro Arrow

Oct 4, 1957

The Avro Arrow was scraped tp make missiles instead. But then Canada declared no warheads on Canadian soil which limited the American control. 14000 jobs lost and the economy slowed down.

NORAD and DEW

May 12, 1958

NORAD was a defence pact between the US and Canada. DEW was missile detection system the US planted in Northen Canada. Canadians had mixed feelings about this.

John Diefenbaker

Apr 7, 1962

The Conservative Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker, cancelled the Avro Arrow in favor of the Bomarc missiles. He lost the election in 1963

Cuban Missile Crisis

Oct 14, 1962

Communists missiles were being built in Cuba. A sea blockade was put up by the US to block Soviet ships from reaching Cuba. In was tense, but the spark of war eventually died out.

Canada/Russia NHL

Sep 28, 1972

In the NHL Canada was in a battle with Russia symbolically fuelled by the looming potencial of war. Russia was winning at first, but Canada pulled through, and Paul Henderson scored the winning goal. This was a huge morral boost for Canada.

Soviet Union Falls

Dec 26, 1985

The Soviets could no longer keep up with the financial cost of producing so many warheads they were unlikely to use. Their people agreed with the decision to stop.

Berlin Wall Falls

Nov 9, 1989

The Berlin Wall was torn down, reconnecting East and West Germany. This was the Symbolic end of the Cold War.