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.