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The use of the atomic bomb
U.S President Harry Truman informed the World on August 6, 1945 that an atomic bomb was exploded at Hiroshima in Japan and this was a part of the second World War. Canada supplied Uranium to the States in the process of creating the atomic bomb. -
Gouzenko Affair
This happened on September 5, 1945. Gouzenko was a Ukranian cipher clark for the Soviet Union embassy in Canada. He converted outgoing and incoming messages for the GRU from Ottawa which gave him knowledge on Soviet espionage activities in the West. This forced Prime Minister King to call a royal commission to investigate espionage in Canada. -
Formation of the United Nations
The UN was founded on October 24, 1945 at Lake Success, New York to promote international co-operation. It was founded with 93 members and the name was given by U.S President Franklin Roosevelt. Canada played a key role in drafting the UN Charter. -
Formation of NATO
NATO was formed on April 4, 1949 by the US, Canada and West European nations to provide collective security against Soviet Union. Canada was one of the principal initiators of the alliance. It was also the first peacetime alliance Canada enjoyed. -
Korean War
The Korean war started on June 25, 1950 and ended on July 27, 1953. It started as a result when North Korean (communist) armed forces smashed into South Korea (non-communist) and the war triggered when Syngman Rhee boasted that he was going to attack North Korea. 26000 Canadians served in the war. -
Formation of the Warsaw Pact
This is a treaty of frienship between eight communist states of Central and Eastern Europe. It was formed on May 14, 1955 at Warsaw Poland. It remained as a potential adversary for Canada and the pact was officially dissolved on July 1991 -
Vietnam War
The Vietnam war was between France, America and South Vietnam against North Vietnam and it lasted from November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975. North Vietnam and the Viet Cong wanted to reunify Vietnam under Communist rule. Canada helped the U.S by supplying medical equipment, weapon material, technical assistance, became an impartial peacekeeper and also Canadian soldiers joined U.S military forces to fight in the war. -
Suez Crisis
The Suez crisis began on July 26, 1956 when President Nasser anounced the nationalization of the canal and it ended on October 29, 1956. The crisis was between Isreal, France, England and Egypt. Lester B. Pearson proposed a solution for the crisis which was to withdraw the British and the French but remain a UN force in the area. -
Formation of NORAD
NORAD was formed on September 12, 1957 and it is an organization formed between Canada and the U.S to integrate defensive measures, installations and systems to provide early warning and protection to North America in case of an attack by the Soviet Union. Their surveillance perimeters are placed high up in the Canadian Arctic and other strategic locations. Both countries are required to commit to any actions taken. -
The Cancellation of the Avro Arrow
Avro Arrow was introduced on October 4, 1957. It was a delta-winged interceptor aircraft manufactured by Avro Canada. It was cancelled on February 20, 1959 since the program was in jeopardy. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis started from October 15, 1962 to October 28, 1962. It was a 13 day confrontation in October 1962 between the US and the Soviet Union over Soviet ballistic missiles deployed in Cuba. Canadian troops were put on alert during the crisis by then prime minister Diefenbaker. -
SALT treaty
This was signed by the US and the Soviet Union on May 26, 1972 in Moscow to limit the number of nuclear missiles in their arsenals. There was no Canadian involvement known. There was another agreement named SALT II which was signed by Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev.This was signed on June 18, 1979 in Vienna. -
Strategic Defense Initiative
It was first initiated on March 23, 1983 by President Ronald Reagan to protect the US from attack by ballistic strategic nuclear weapons. Canada was also invited to join in with the Strategic Defense Initiative. Strategic Defense Initiative was also known as the Star Wars. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was destructed on November 9, 1989 when the East Berlin's Communist announced that GDR citizens can cross the country's borders. U.S President Ronald Reagan challenged Mikhail Gorbachev, the General Secretary of the Soviet Union to tear down the wall to increase the freedom of Eastern Berlin. Canada was not involved in this. -
Breakup of the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union collapsed on December 26, 1991. This happened due to stagnant economy, Afganistan Quagmire, economic reforms, decentralization etc. and also due to a person named Mikhail Gorbachev who was the last leader of the Soviet Union. Canada has been involved with the invasion of the Soviet Union along with the U.S
