The Cold War began in 1945 after WWII and lasted until 1991. It was a period of geopolitical tension and military buildup between the United States and its capitalist allies and the Soviet Union and its communist allies. Though direct military conflict was avoided, the two superpowers engaged in espionage, propaganda, arms races, and proxy wars. Canada was pulled closer to the U.S. through alliances like NORAD but maintained some independence in foreign policy decisions. The threat of nuclear war loomed large throughout the Cold War as both sides stockpiled weapons.

1. The Cold War
1945 - 1991

2. • The transition into post-war Canada was smoother
after WW II than the transition from WW I.
• Past experience had alerted the government to the
needs of returning soldiers and the changes
required for a successful transition to a peace-time
economy.

3. • Of concern was the admission by a Russian
cipher clerk of the existence of a Soviet spy ring
in Canada.
• Igor Gouzenko’s divulgence of this information
resulted in a realization by Canada that it was not
removed from international affairs and especially
the affairs of its southern neighbour the United
States of America.
• It would open a new era in foreign affairs.

4. • A cipher clerk for the
Soviet Embassy to
Canada in Ottawa,
Ontario.
• He defected on Sept. 5,
1945 with 109
documents on Soviet
espionage activities in
the West.

5. • The U.S.A. and Russia would square off as the
world’s superpowers.
• As a result of the escalation of nuclear weapons
and differing political views, the two nations would
confront each other with challenges for control of
developing nations.
• The superpowers would engage in small scale
wars while continually endeavouring to gather
secret information through espionage and spy
rings.

6. • Constant global confrontation between the
Soviet Union and United States.
• Avoidance of direct armed conflict between
the two “Superpowers”.

10. What two ideologies were in conflict during the Cold War?
• A. anarchy and socialism
• B. democracy and fascism
• C. communism and democracy
• D. communism and totalitarianism

11. Key Issues
• Why did the wartime alliance fall apart?
• What were the major points of difference?
• The importance of Yalta and Potsdam
conferences
• The roles of Stalin and Truman

12. • The creation of the
U.N.
• Truman takes control
• Postdam Conference

17. • The Allied countries
struggled to split
Germany and they did
so by splitting it into
four zones with each
country controlling a
zone
• Can begin to see that
there is a “small”
problem?

18. • Winston Churchill
o Speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri on
March 5, 1946.
“An iron curtain has descended across the
Continent.”
• Describes Soviet sphere of influence and control
in eastern Europe.

20. Albania and Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
Hungary and Romania
East Germany
Finland and Yugoslavia

21. • Major point: The USSR lost around 20 million
people in WW2
• Stalin was determined to make the USSR secure
in the future
• By contrast GB lost around 370,000 and the USA
lost 297,000 people.

22. • Before WW2 there were a number of countries
which could have claimed to be superpowers –
USA, USSR,GB, France, Japan, Germany.
• They were colonial powers NOT a superpower
• The damage caused by the war to these countries
left only two countries with the military strength
and resources to be called superpowers…USA
and USSR.

23. • Don’t forget USA was capitalist and USSR was
communist
• They were complete opposites
• They had allied against Fascism ….. Now the
common enemy had been defeated the reason
for co-operation was gone
• Differences soon emerged

24. • After the war, who would lead the countries and
form new governments?
• The USSR favoured the communist groups, the
USA favoured the non-communists
• Examples would be Greece and Yugoslavia
• This was one cause of tension between the
superpowers

26. • The Marshall Plan was
attempt to repeat WW1.
• Economic recovery for
Europe with America
taking the lead.
• Over 10 million dollars
largest to food feed and
fertilizer.
• 13 billion in grants and
many trade partners for
US. Soviets did not want
help.
• Stubborn and did not want
our influence.

27. • No idea what to do with a
defeated Germany.
• Stepped up communist
influence.
• Many tried to flee but the
roads to West Berlin cut
off.
• 2.5 million people now
threatened to starve.
• Started Berlin Airlift.
200,000 missions 13000
tons of food a day

28. • This relationship would become known as the
Cold War and would manifest itself in battles in
Korea, Vietnam, Egypt, and Cuba.
• Defensive posturing would result in the creation of
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization of
democratic countries and the Warsaw Pact, an
alliance of communist countries.
• The hope of N.A.T.O. was to stop or limit the
spread of communism, the “red menace”.

31. The Bikini Atoll-Marshall Islands.
A bomb test , July 1946.
The U.S. relocated the residents prior to this test, but the indigenous people of
this island have not been able to return since.

32. • August 29, 1949
• Soviets called their
first the “First
Lightning”
• Their weapons
laboratory was in
Kazakhstan

34. NUCLEAR TESTS
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gD_TL1BqFg
(test videos)
 Timeline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJe7fY-
yowk

35. • The United Nations, a predecessor to the ineffective
League of Nations, was created in 1945 in San
Francisco formulated on the principle of collective
security.
• This organization could publicly condemn offending
nations, impose economic boycotts, and engage
military force through its Security Council.
• The five permanent members of the UN Security
Council are: Great Britain, France, the U.S.A.,
Russia, and China (they all have the power of
“veto”).

37. • Canada would be an active member of the U.N.
participating in many aspects of the organizations
structure.
• Canada would be a member of the prestigious
Security Council in every decade of the U.N.’s
existence.
• It would be Lester B. Pearson, who would
become Prime Minister of Canada in 1963, who
suggested a solution to the Suez Crisis with the
deployment of an international peace keeping
force to maintain the peace.

38. • Lester Bowles "Mike"
Pearson (23 April 1897
– 27 December 1972)
• A Canadian statesman,
diplomat and politician
who was made a Nobel
Laureate in 1957.
• Fourteenth Prime
Minister of Canada from
April 22, 1963, until April
20, 1968

39. • The United Nations is committed to the
betterment of people’s lives through its many
agencies including the World Health
Organization, UNICEF, and the International
Monetary Fund.
• Canada has participated in many of these
agencies as well as development projects, aid
during natural disasters, and refugee assistance.

40. • Military apprehension would lead Canada to
closer ties with the U.S.A (and decreasing
association with Great Britain).
• Canada would commit to the N.O.R.A.D
agreement in 1957, a combined defensive effort
of North America by combined Canadian and
American efforts (mostly American).

43. • The Americans would install three “warning
systems” throughout Canada purposed to
intercept inter-continental ballistic missiles that
if launched would travel over Canada on their way
to either the U.S.A. or Russia.
• Canada would keep an army brigade and several
air squadrons in Europe and Canadians ships
and planes would track Russian submarines.

44. Distant Early Warning (DEW Line)

46. • ICBMs – Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles
• IRBMs – Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles
• MAD – Mutual Assured Destruction

47. • The Canadian government would develop civil
defence plans for citizens and those more fearful,
would construct “bomb shelters”.
• Canadians would also become more conscious of
“communist” ideologies and sympathies.
• Defence industries “screened” their workers and
unions were eyed with a “watchful eye”.

49. • The situation in Canada did not parallel the
American intensity. Senator McCarthy initiated a
“witch-hunt” in the U.S.A. for communists and
communists sympathizers with his House
Committee on Un-American Activities.
• McCarthy’s persecution of many innocent
Americans through this commission would ruin
many of their lives.

51. This was the last time Canada “officially” declared
war upon another country.

56. USA
• 450 ICBMs
• 250 Medium range
missiles
• 2,260 Bombers
• 16,000Tanks
• 32 Nuclear submarines
• 260 Conventional
submarines
• 76 Battleships and
carriers
USSR
• 76 IBMs
• 700 Medium range
bombers
• 1,600 bombers
• 38,000 Tanks
• 12 Nuclear submarines
• 495 Conventional
submarines
• 0 Battleships and cruisers

57. In 1960, U2 was a spy plane
Able to fly 6000km at high altitudes
Could take photos of Soviet bomber bases and missile sites

59. • In the 1960’s tensions existed between the
presidents of the U.S.A. and Canadian prime
ministers, probably a result of a lack of total
commitment by Canada to U.S. defence efforts.
• Both Prime Ministers Diefenbaker and Pearson
would have confrontations with Presidents
Kennedy and Johnson.
• Canada was hesitant during the Cuban missile
crisis and Pearson was hesitant to allow nuclear
warheads on American missiles on Canadian
soil.
• We are a Nuclear Free Country!!

60. • Canadians tracked Soviet submarines in the
North Atlantic from military facilities in
Halifax.
• Beacons were placed on the ocean floor.
• These are now used to track the migration of
whales.

61. Canada also had the Distant Early Warning line (DEW) and Mid Canada Line ( radar and tracking
stations located across the north and middle of the country).
It was designed and built during the Cold War as the primary line of air defence warning of "Over the
Pole" invasion of the North American Continent.
There would be 58 sites and would be used for over 30 years

62. • Uranium City, Saskatchewan mined
weapons grade uranium for use in nuclear
weapons.
• Ship the weapons grade down to the United
States and the route was kept secret.
• This site is still extremely radioactive today.
• Nuclear weapons were placed here for
approximately twenty years. The mid 1960’s
to the mid 1980’s.

63. • A shining moment occurred with the development
of the Avro Arrow, a supersonic jet fighter.
• It was well ahead of its time technologically but
would be scrapped by the Diefenbaker
government who maintained modern day warfare
would be fought with intercontinental missiles
rather than jet fighters.

65. • It was also a Liberal inspired project and
Diefenbaker was a Conservative.
• Some thought the project was submarined by the
U.S.A. because they had not developed the
technology.
• It is ironic that most of the world’s minor conflicts
since then have utilized jet fighters almost
exclusively.

66. Which of the following was a result of Canada’s decision to cancel the Avro
Arrow project?
• A. greater economic growth
• B. increased dependency on the US military
• C. withdrawal of its membership from NORAD
• D. decreased involvement with the United
Nations

67. • On July 21, 1969, the first manned moon landing
by the U.S.A. occurred.
• The ozone layer was discovered in 1976.
• In 1969 ARPANET was created, it provided the
foundation for the development of the Internet.
• Spar Arrowspace, a Canadian company, would
develop the Canadarm for the U.S, space
missions.

69. • A change in leadership in the U.S.S.R. brought
change to the communist world.
• The U.S.S.R.’s President Mikhail Gorbachev’s
policies of “glasnost” and “perestroika”
brought sweeping economic, social, and political
reforms, to the U.S.S.R.
• Censorship was loosened and greater freedom of
speech was allowed.
• East Germans, Czechs, Poles, Hungarians, and
Romanians demanded similar reforms.

71. • In November of 1989 the Berlin Wall fell but
China who experimented with perestroika was
more reluctant with increased freedoms as
evidenced in Tiananmen Square where the
military squared off with demonstrating students
and citizens.
• The result indicated China was not as ready as
the U.S.S.R. to chart a new domestic path.