Important People

Question 1

Igor Gouzenco

Answer 1

Soviet embassy clerk in Canada who defected in 1945, exposing a Soviet spy ring and helping spark the Cold War in North America.

Question 2

Joseph Mcarthy

Answer 2

U.S. senator who led anti-communist investigations in the 1950s; known for promoting fear of communist infiltration during the “Red Scare.”

Question 3

louis st laurent

Answer 3

Canadian Prime Minister (1948–1957); expanded Canada’s international role, supported NATO, and oversaw economic growth.

Question 4

maurice duplessis

Answer 4

Premier of Quebec; promoted conservatism and Catholic values in the “Grande Noirceur” (Great Darkness) era, opposing federal influence.

Question 5

lester pearson

Answer 5

Canadian Prime Minister (1963–1968); won the Nobel Peace Prize for creating the UN peacekeeping force during the Suez Crisis.

Question 6

John Diefenbaker

Answer 6

Canadian Prime Minister (1957–1963); championed civil rights, gave Indigenous people the vote, and clashed with the U.S. over defense policies.

Question 7

John F. Kennedy

Answer 7

U.S. President (1961–1963); known for handling the Cuban Missile Crisis, promoting civil rights, and launching the space race.

Question 8

Nikita Khrushchev

Answer 8

Leader of the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War; known for de-Stalinization and the Cuban Missile Crisis confrontation with the U.S.

Question 9

Fidel Castro

Answer 9

Revolutionary leader of Cuba (1959–2008); aligned Cuba with the Soviet Union and resisted U.S. influence for decades.

Question 10

Richard Nixon

Answer 10

U.S. President (1969–1974); ended American involvement in Vietnam, opened relations with China, and resigned due to the Watergate scandal.

Question 11

Pierre Trudeau

Answer 11

Canadian Prime Minister (1968–1979, 1980–1984); promoted bilingualism, multiculturalism, and patriated the Canadian Constitution.

Question 12

René Lévesque

Answer 12

Premier of Quebec (1976–1985); founded the Parti Québécois and led the 1980 Quebec sovereignty referendum.

Question 13

Robert Bourassa

Answer 13

Premier of Quebec during two terms; known for economic modernization and controversial language and constitutional policies.

Question 14

Brian Mulroney

Answer 14

Canadian Prime Minister (1984–1993); signed NAFTA, introduced the GST, and worked on constitutional reforms.

Question 15

Ronald Reagan

Answer 15

U.S. President (1981–1989); promoted conservative economics (Reaganomics), increased military spending, and helped end the Cold War.

Question 16

Mikhail Gorbachev

Answer 16

Last leader of the Soviet Union; introduced reforms (glasnost and perestroika) that led to the end of the USSR and Cold War.

Question 17

George W. Bush

Answer 17

U.S. President (2001–2009); led the U.S. response to 9/11, launched the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Question 18

Romeo Dallaire

Answer 18

Canadian general and humanitarian; led UN peacekeeping mission during the Rwandan Genocide and later advocated for human rights.

Question 19

Jean Chrétien

Answer 19

Canadian Prime Minister (1993–2003); promoted national unity, balanced the federal budget, and refused to join the Iraq War.

Question 20

Saddam Hussein

Answer 20

Iraqi dictator (1979–2003); led Iraq through the Iran-Iraq War and Gulf War; overthrown by U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

Question 21

Slobodan Milošević

Answer 21

President of Serbia/Yugoslavia; held responsible for war crimes during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s; died during trial.

Question 22

Stephen Harper

Answer 22

Canadian Prime Minister (2006–2015); led a Conservative government, focused on economic issues, and emphasized national security.