unit 4 Flashcards
(27 cards)
the cold war - background
- after WWII, the United Nations was created in 1945 to promote world peace and security
- Canada was one of the first nations to join; the 51 founding member nations promised to work at protecting human rights and preventing future wars
- by 1948, a new type of war emerged, it was called the “Cold War”
countries under Soviet influence
East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Albania
start of the Cold War
- in 1948, the Soviets broke an agreement with the allies and tried to occupy the western part of Berlin
- this “blockade” failed, however tensions between the Soviets and the West (Canada, US, Britain) started to explode
- an “arms race” between the Soviet Union and the United States along with Britain and France began
the iron curtain
- by 1948, the Soviet Union had installed pro-Soviet governments in eastern Europe it had occupied since the war
- they claimed it was necessary to protect their land from further German aggression
- the boundary between countries under Soviet influence (East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Albania) and the rest of Europe was called the “Iron Curtain”
NATO
North-Atlantic Treaty Organization
goal of NATO
- defense pact, intended to protect members against Soviet aggression
- any attack against any member of NATO would result in all members coming to the defense of that country
- in 1955, the Soviet Union formed the “Warsaw Pact “ with its allies with the same terms as NATO
result of the formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact
- both countries began to stockpile nuclear arms as a form of deterrence
deterrence
- the process of discouraging action by the prospect of something unpleasant; the knowledge that an opponent is prepared to retaliate might discourage an attack
baby boom
- a sustained increase in births and birthrates relative to normal patterns
the baby boom era
1946 - 1966
- 1945 - lowest number of births
- 1957 - highest number of births
echo boomers
- children of baby boomers
the quiet revolution of Quebec
- time of rapid change experienced in Quebec during the 1960s
- in 1960 Duplessis died and was replaced by Jean Lesage (1960-66), a liberal who advocated for major changes within Quebec
Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent
1948 - 1957
3 major accomplishments:
1) completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway
2) expansion of the Canadian Economy
3) the final province officially enshrined into confederation (March 1949)
Maurice Duplessis
- PM of Quebec (1936-39 & 1944-59)
- viewed Quebec as a distinct society within Canada and opposed increased powers to the Federal Government
who replaced Duplessis in 1960?
Jean Lesage - 1960 - 1966
what changes did Lesage want for Quebec?
- government jobs based on merit
- wages and pensions increased
- increased union powers
what events occurred after WWII that lead to the Cold War Era?
- creation of the UN (spies increased tensions)
- iron curtain (symbolized deep political divide, led to creation of opposing allies)
- start of the cold war (1948, Soviet Union breaks their agreement by trying to occupy West Berlin)
- formation of NATO (1955 - Soviet then created the Warsaw Pact)
Truman Doctrine
- US policy that supported countries resisting communism
the October Crisis (1970)
- the FLQ believed that Quebec was a colony controlled by the English and that Quebec must gain independence to end this colonial status and that violence was the only way to do this
- they began to bomb mailboxes and in 1969 they bombed the Montreal Stock Exchange, injuring 27 people and holding up 20 banks between 1968 and 1970; by 1970, six people had been killed by the FLQ
- on October 5, 1970, the FLQ kidnapped James Cross, a British trade commissioner and demanded $500, 000 in gold and the release of imprisoned FLQ members along with publication of the FLQ platform
- Trudeau and his Cabinet played for time to enable the Montreal Police to find the kidnappers, but 5 days later they kidnapped Pierre Laporte, a provincial Cabinet Minister, from his front lawn
FLQ
Front de Liberation du Quebec
the war measures act (October Crisis continued)
- two days after the second kidnapping, Trudeau, along with Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa, discussed invoking the War Measures Act that suspended all civil liberties and gave the police the power to search, arrest, and detain suspects without warrant
- many citizens were fearful that the FLQ would strike again
- on October 15, Premier Bourassa called upon the federal government to send troops into Ottawa; the next day Trudeau sent 10, 000
- the kidnappers were now convinced that the provincial government would no longer negotiate so they murdered Laporte
- 450 suspects were arrested, most were released immediately, some were detained
- in December, the police finally discovered where Cross was being held and in return for his safety, FLQ members wanted a safe passage to Cuba
- they eventually release Cross and the FLQ members flee the country
- many Canadians agreed with what Trudeau did, others thought that he had overreacted by passing the War Measures Act
- by the end of the crisis, the large number of revolutionaries were nowhere to be found
the Era of PM John Diefenbaker (1957 - 1963)
Became PM in 1957; won a huge majority in 1958 (largest at the time).
Promoted Canadian unity and civil rights.
Passed the Canadian Bill of Rights (1960).
Gave First Nations the right to vote federally without losing status.
Appointed first Indigenous senator (James Gladstone).
Cancelled Avro Arrow project – caused controversy.
Clashed with the U.S. over nuclear weapons (Cold War tensions).
Lost power in 1963 to Lester B. Pearson.
the Era of PM Lester B. Pearson (1963 - 1968)
Became PM in 1963 (Liberal Party, minority government).
Introduced Canada’s new flag in 1965 (Maple Leaf flag).
Created key social programs:
Universal healthcare
Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
Student loans
Supported bilingualism and biculturalism (Royal Commission in 1963).
Promoted peacekeeping and closer U.S. relations.
Won the Nobel Peace Prize (1957) for Suez Crisis peacekeeping (before becoming PM).
Retired in 1968; succeeded by Pierre Trudeau.
The Quebec Referendum
Held on May 20, 1980 in Quebec.
Quebec’s Parti Québécois (PQ), led by René Lévesque, wanted sovereignty-association (independence + economic ties with Canada).
Federal side, led by Pierre Trudeau, opposed separation.
60% voted “No”, choosing to stay in Canada.
Trudeau promised constitutional change to address Quebec’s concerns (led to 1982 Constitution).
