the cold war and canada

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Today’s Objectives

To understand why the Cold War began Worksheet on the Cold War

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On a separate piece of paper I want you to write down 3-5 points describing what you see.

THE COLD WAR AND CANADA

ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR

once Allies, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. viewed each other with increasing suspicion

Their political differences --> icy tension -->bitter rivalry = Cold War

The Cold War would dominate global affairs from 1945 until the breakup

of the USSR in 1991

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Man in the Mask

• In September 1945, Igor Gouzenko, a Russian clerk (HE WAS NOT A SPY) at the Soviet embassy in Ottawa, stole several documents

• indicated a spy ring operating in Ottawa

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Introduction to the Cold War

The spy ring was likely trying to discover the secrets of the atomic bomb, but the Soviets had learned very little

WW2 over, tensions increase, drive for more, bigger weapons

Arms Race

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Canada and the Cold War

Canada aligned itself with the US Canada tried to fulfill its commitment to

international organizations while maintaining its sovereignty over it’s policies.

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Underlying Causes of the Cold War 1. Ideology – There were 2 opposing

systems of government 2. Economic – The US wanted free trade

on a global scale, the USSR feared that trade in the West would encourage a western influence and erode their strength

3. Power Rivalry – desire for dominance over other

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The Cold War

With the celebration of the end of WWII, Canadians realized that they were going to be involved in another type of war

The military strength of Soviet Union and the US made them superpowers each capable of massive destruction

they did not fight a direct war with one another.

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The basis of the Cold War lay in the different views that the two countries had both politically and economically

The Soviet was Communist The US were Capitalists/Democratic

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As a class…

What are the differences between communism and capitalism?

Capitalism Land and capital – are privately owned Economic activity is regulated by buyers and

sellers in a market economy Consumers are free to spend their income as

they wish Government intervention is minimal –

competitionis key

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Communism Property is owned by the community

rather than by the individual Seeks to establish a classless society

with all people economically and socially equal

Government intervention should be minimal or non-existent

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Domino Theory

No, not the game… The US was worried

because the Soviets were successful in spreading their ideology

Some of the countries were Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia

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Look at this photo and what do you notice?

CHURCHILL: “IRON CURTAIN” ACROSS EUROPE

Europe was now divided into two political regions; a mostly democratic Western Europe and a communist Eastern Europe

In a 1946 speech, Churchill said, “An iron curtain has descended across the continent”

The phrase “iron curtain” came to stand for the division of Europe

Churchill, right, in Fulton, Missouri delivering his “iron

curtain” speech, 1946

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What the Iron Curtain?

Video clip - speech from Winston Churchill

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The Division of Germany

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The Cold War at Home

• 1949 – the leader of the Conservative Party tried to make the spread of communism or the “red menace” or the Red Scare the term used to describe the communists an issue

• Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent refused to outlaw communism, such tactics were of dictatorships and not democracies

• Some Canadians feared the spread of Communism

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The Cold War at Home

• Anyone who was suspicious may have been dismissed for no apparent reason

• The RCMP looked out for anyone that they feared may be a problem

• The Padlock Law – was used to shut down suspicious organizations

• 1951 – a bridge collapsed in Trois – Rivieres and the communists were blamed for sabotage.