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World War II ends
The end of the Second World War marked an important time in history for the World, especially Canada. WW II produced two "Super Powers", the USA and the USSR. These two adversaries initiated The Cold War and further influenced the rest of the world to join this "War of Ideologies." Canada gained the reputation as a leading Middle Power and eventually, leading peacekeeper for the newly created United Nations. Socially and economically, post WW II was considered to be Canada's Golden Age. -
The United Nations is created
As the Second World War came to a close, countries began to seek the development of a new world organization due to the League of Nations failure to "keep the peace." In April 1945, 50 countries got together in San Fransico to create the United Nations (the UN). Infact, Canada's very own JP. Humphrey is often given the credit for drafting the Charter of the UN. Canada has also played an active role in the UN's peace keeping missions, in it's General Assembly, as well as it's Security Council. -
The Creation of NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 to fight the rise of Communism during the Cold War. Each member state contributed to NATO's defense force, this included Canada. All of it's members agreed that an attack on one member would be considered an attack on them all. -
Communism takes control of China
In 1949, Mao Zedong and his Communist forces took over the government of China. However, the US pressured the UN to refuse recognition of China's new Communist government. This allowed for China's former government to hold a permanent seat on the UN's Security Council. This created much tension between competing nations. By 1971, the US was under world pressure (including Canada's) to allow "Red China" to replace it's former gov. on the Security Council which, was successful. -
The Korean War
After Japan surrendered to Allied forces in 1945, Korea (who was held by Japan) was divided. The North became communist and the South, democratic. Eventually, the North invaded the South allong with the assistance of Soviet-built tanks and aircrafts. When North Korea refused to withdraw, the UN sent troops to defend South Korea. Over 26,000 Canadians served the war, showing their great support for the UN and it's goals. The war ended in 1953 but Korea remained divided by North and South. -
Creation of The WARSAW Pact
The Warsaw pact was developed in response to NATO in 1955 by the USSR, as a defensive allianse for them and their satellite states. The Communists were not going down with out a fight. -
The Vietnam War
In 1954, Vietnam was divided between the North, lead by communist Ho Chi Min, and the South, which was anti-communist and partially democratic. War began in 1955 and the communist & democratic superpowers of the Cold war took their sides. This included the United States, whose involvement in Vietnam was called a Client War: The Americans fought on behalf of the South Vietnamese. Ironically many Americans moved to Canada to avoid the draft and by 1975, Communism had conquered Vietnam. -
Lester Pearson diffuses The Suez Crisis
In 1956, Egyptian President Nasser siezed the Suez Canal which, was a vital trade route for Britain and France. Thus, Israel united with Britain and France who attacked Egypt. The Russians sided with Egyptian forces and demanded that they withdraw. The UN was out of ideas so they contacted Lester Pearson, a Canadain who suggested creating a United Nations Emergency Force that would keep the enemies apart while a settlement was arranged. Pearson eventually recieved the Nobel Peace Prize. -
The Berlin Wall is built
Post World War II, the victorious Allies split the city of Berlin into four zones. Eventually, Western Berlin beame a Capitalist state while the East fell to Communism. The Berlin wall was built in 1961 to serve as an "Anti-Facist protection rampart" due to the fact that the East believed that the West still hadn't been fully de-Nazied. The wall prevented all interaction between Eastern and Western germany for 28 years. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Through aerial survalence, the US spotted Soviet missiles in Cuba. So they set up a naval blockade around the island to further prevent the Soviets from bringing their nuclear missiles to Cuba. However, the Soviets wouldn't back down and everyone including Canada was worried that the crisis could lead to a nuclear war. The situation was averted when JFK and the Soviet leader, Khrushchev wrote letters to each other: the Soviets would remove the missiles if the US promised not to invade Cuba. -
USSR invades Afghanistan
During Christmas time of 1979, Russian paratroopers landed in Kabul, Afghanistan. The country was already on the verge of a Civil war as the County's prime minister, Amin tried to abolish all Muslim traditions in order to create a more "Western" government for Afghanistan. Unfortunately for Communism, the Soviets had gotten themselves into their very own Vietnam war and the World did nothing to stop it. -
The Berlin Wall is torn down
On November 9th 1989, the Berlin wall fell when the East German government declared that East Berliners were free to visit Western Germany and West Berlin. This event symbolized the victory of Democracy and the fall of Communism in the Cold War.
