Canada and Conflict in the Canada and Conflict in the Cold WarCold War

Key TermsKey Terms

The Korean WarThe Korean War Suez CrisisSuez Crisis Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis Avro ArrowAvro Arrow The Nuclear IssueThe Nuclear Issue Vietnam WarVietnam War

The Korean WarThe Korean War

After WWII, Korea was a After WWII, Korea was a divided countrydivided country

North = Communist = Soviet North = Communist = Soviet and Chinese Allyand Chinese Ally

South = fragile Democracy South = fragile Democracy = USA ally= USA ally

1950 war began1950 war began North invaded the SouthNorth invaded the South

The Korean WarThe Korean War

UN force, mostly American, went UN force, mostly American, went inin

Canada sent thousands of troops Canada sent thousands of troops and three naval destroyersand three naval destroyers

in UN, Pearson argued for in UN, Pearson argued for ceasefireceasefire

US considered use of nuclear US considered use of nuclear weaponsweapons

ceasefire reached in 1953ceasefire reached in 1953

The Korean WarThe Korean War

EpilogueEpilogue

nearly 30 000 troops served in nearly 30 000 troops served in actionaction

1558 total casualties for 1558 total casualties for CanadiansCanadians

516 deaths for Canadians516 deaths for Canadians once again, Canada participated once again, Canada participated

beyond her size as a nationbeyond her size as a nation

The Suez CrisisThe Suez Crisis The Suez Canal is an The Suez Canal is an

important shipping route in important shipping route in the Middle East. the Middle East.

The canal was privately The canal was privately owned, but was on owned, but was on Egyptian territory. Egyptian territory.

The Egyptian President was The Egyptian President was angry at Western leaders angry at Western leaders over a dam project they did over a dam project they did not support, so, he seized not support, so, he seized control of the canal.control of the canal.

The Suez CrisisThe Suez Crisis

Canadian diplomat - Lester Canadian diplomat - Lester Pearson - proposed that a Pearson - proposed that a UN emergency force be UN emergency force be sent to the Canal Zone to sent to the Canal Zone to separate and mediate separate and mediate between the opposing between the opposing sides.sides.

Lead by a Canadian Lead by a Canadian general, the force was general, the force was composed of troops from composed of troops from countries not involved in countries not involved in the conflict.the conflict.

The Suez CrisisThe Suez Crisis

His plan worked and His plan worked and a peaceful resolution a peaceful resolution to a conflict that had to a conflict that had threatened to involve threatened to involve Israel and the Soviet Israel and the Soviet Union was reached. Union was reached.

For his part, Pearson For his part, Pearson was awarded the was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.Nobel Peace Prize.

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis

In 1958, Fidel In 1958, Fidel Castro overthrew Castro overthrew the US backed the US backed government of government of Cuba and made it a Cuba and made it a Communist country.Communist country.

Cuba is less than Cuba is less than 150 km from 150 km from Florida.Florida.

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis The US mounted a The US mounted a

failed invasion of failed invasion of Cuba in 1961 in an Cuba in 1961 in an attempt to overthrow attempt to overthrow the Communists. the Communists. (Bay of Pigs)(Bay of Pigs)

This prompted the This prompted the Cubans to turn to the Cubans to turn to the Soviets for support.Soviets for support.

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis In 1962, American spy In 1962, American spy

planes photographed planes photographed Nuclear Missile bases Nuclear Missile bases on Cuba.on Cuba.

Tensions rose when Tensions rose when the Americans the Americans blockaded Cuba so blockaded Cuba so that no missiles could that no missiles could reach the sites.reach the sites.

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis

The US expected full The US expected full support from Canada.support from Canada.

Canadian Prime Canadian Prime Minister Diefenbaker Minister Diefenbaker did not support the did not support the American plan and American plan and failed to answer failed to answer American requests for American requests for assistance for two days.assistance for two days.

This infuriated the This infuriated the Americans.Americans.

"This action by the State Department of the U.S. is unprecedented...it constitutes an unwarranted intrusion in Canadian affairs... [Canada] will not be pushed around or accept external domination or interference in making its decisions." "President Kennedy was going to obliterate us. I dared to say to him that Canada's policies would be made in Canada by Canadians.”

Diefenbaker

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis

The PM thought The PM thought he was looking he was looking out for Canada’s out for Canada’s independence, independence, but polls showed but polls showed that 80% of that 80% of Canadians Canadians thought he did the thought he did the wrong thing.wrong thing.

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis

The crisis was The crisis was defused in 13 days defused in 13 days after the after the Americans traded Americans traded the dismantling of the dismantling of bases in Turkey bases in Turkey for the dismantling for the dismantling of the Cuban of the Cuban bases.bases.

Gouzenko AffairGouzenko Affair

The Cold War was brought home to The Cold War was brought home to Canada by the Gouzenko Affair.Canada by the Gouzenko Affair.

Igor Gouzenko, a clerk at the Soviet Igor Gouzenko, a clerk at the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa exposed a Soviet Embassy in Ottawa exposed a Soviet spy ring in Canada in 1945. spy ring in Canada in 1945. Newspaper headlines read: “It’s War! Newspaper headlines read: “It’s War! It’s Russia!”.It’s Russia!”.

18 people were arrested with 8 18 people were arrested with 8 eventually convicted of spying - likely eventually convicted of spying - likely trying to get Atomic Bomb secrets.trying to get Atomic Bomb secrets.

The Nuclear IssueThe Nuclear Issue

The Canadian The Canadian government government continued to continued to struggle with the struggle with the question of question of whether or not to whether or not to accept nuclear accept nuclear weapons on weapons on Canadian soil.Canadian soil.

The Nuclear IssueThe Nuclear Issue

Diefenbaker Diefenbaker waffled on the idea waffled on the idea when he accepted when he accepted Bomarc Missiles - Bomarc Missiles - designed for a designed for a nuclear payload - nuclear payload - but never armed but never armed with warheads.with warheads.

The Nuclear IssueThe Nuclear Issue In 1963 the issue was at the In 1963 the issue was at the

centre of the election centre of the election campaign.campaign.

Diefenbaker fought his Diefenbaker fought his campaign on an anti-American campaign on an anti-American platform, while Liberal leader platform, while Liberal leader Lester Pearson (remember the Lester Pearson (remember the Peace Prize), ran on a policy Peace Prize), ran on a policy of accepting nuclear weapons.of accepting nuclear weapons.

Pearson won the election Pearson won the election narrowly.narrowly.

Later, nuclear weapons were Later, nuclear weapons were accepted.accepted.

Vietnam WarVietnam War

Like Korea, a communist Like Korea, a communist North fought a capitalist North fought a capitalist South in Vietnam.South in Vietnam.

The US supported the South The US supported the South while the Soviets and the while the Soviets and the Chinese supported the Chinese supported the North.North.

By 1965 - 66 the Americans By 1965 - 66 the Americans were involved in a massive were involved in a massive bombing operation and had bombing operation and had committed 190 000 troops committed 190 000 troops to the Vietnam war.to the Vietnam war.

Vietnam WarVietnam War

Prime Minister Prime Minister Pearson openly Pearson openly criticized the US criticized the US bombing policy and bombing policy and was physically was physically assaulted by the assaulted by the American President American President Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ).(LBJ).

Vietnam WarVietnam War

The Vietnam war was the The Vietnam war was the first war to be televised.first war to be televised.

The coverage showed The coverage showed the horrors of the war the horrors of the war and lead to growing and lead to growing opposition in both the US opposition in both the US and Canada.and Canada.

Demonstrators would Demonstrators would shout: “Hey Hey LBJ! shout: “Hey Hey LBJ! How many kids have you How many kids have you killed today?”.killed today?”.

Vietnam WarVietnam War

Young men from the Young men from the US (draft dodgers) US (draft dodgers) came to Canada to came to Canada to escape participation escape participation in the war.in the war.

Canada was Canada was becoming known as becoming known as a peaceful nation - a peaceful nation - less violent than the less violent than the US.US.

Vietnam WarVietnam War

By 1975, the By 1975, the United States United States withdrew from withdrew from Vietnam in large Vietnam in large part due to part due to pressure put on pressure put on them by their own them by their own people.people.

Let’s Think About ItLet’s Think About It

Nuclear Issue

VietnamCuban Missile Crisis

Korea

Rate the Decisions Made by Canada’s Government in each of the situations. Use a scale of 1 to 10 - 1 being Poor to 10 being Excellent .