Vocabulary Flashcards: Brief History of Canadian Foreign Policy (Video notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, events, and concepts from the notes on the history of Canadian foreign policy.

Acte d'Amérique du Nord britannique (AANB)

The 1867 law that created the Dominion of Canada, uniting several colonies and enabling a more autonomous national framework, including the potential to conduct its own external policy.

Reciprocity/Free Trade Treaty (1854)

First major free-trade agreement between Canadian colonies and the United States, paving the way for ongoing debates on protectionism vs. free trade.

Corn Laws Abrogation (1846)

British repeal of protectionist Corn Laws, ending imperial preferences and pushing Canadian merchants to seek new markets, notably in the United States.

Rush-Bagot Agreement (1817)

Treaty that limited naval armaments on the Great Lakes, one of the earliest arms-control agreements.

Frontière sans défense

Idea that the Canada–US border lacked robust fortifications after certain fortifications were reduced, contributing to a perception of vulnerability.

Fenian Raids (1866-1870)

Transborder raids by Irish nationalist groups from the United States into Canada, influencing security considerations.

Militia Act (1868)

Legislation to organize Canada's militia, giving the new state a basic military force to maintain order and deter threats.

Treaty of Washington (1871)

Anglo-American agreement that resolved major disputes, transforming the relationship among Britain, the United States, and Canada.

Oregon Boundary Dispute (1843-1846)

Border dispute between Britain and the United States over Oregon country, resolved by compromise and shaping regional security calculations.

Boer War (1899-1902)

Canadian volunteers fought for the British Empire in South Africa, highlighting imperial commitments and domestic debates over involvement.

Macdonald's National Policy vs Liberal Free Trade

19th-century policy clash: protectionist tariffs to shield Canadian industry vs. encouraging free trade with the United States.

Long Peace nord-américaine

Late 19th-century period of reduced invasion risk due to Anglo-American rapprochement and gradual withdrawal of British troops from Canada.

Commission mixte internationale sur les eaux limitrophes (1909)

Bilaterial commission to monitor and manage cross-border waters and disputes near shared borders.

Alaska-Yukon boundary arbitration (1903)

Arbitration resolving the Alaska–Yukon boundary dispute; outcome disappointed Canadians and influenced intergovernmental attitudes.

Free Trade with Washington (1911)

Attempted Canada–US free trade agreement; pursued but not fully realized in that period, reflecting broader trade liberalization impulses.

Battle of Vimy Ridge (1917)

WWI battle where Canadian forces achieved a landmark victory, symbolizing Canada's emergence on the world stage.

Conscription Crisis (1917)

Political and linguistic division over conscription during WWI, intensifying tensions between English- and French-speaking Canadians.

Versailles Treaty and League of Nations (1919)

Canada participated in the Versailles settlement and joined the League of Nations, marking deeper international engagement post-WWI.

Statute of Westminster (1931)

Legislation recognizing legislative equality of the dominions and granting Canada greater sovereignty over its foreign policies.

Golden Age of Canadian Foreign Policy (1942-1957)

Period of active internationalism and multilateral engagement, including UN peacekeeping, NATO, and prominent diplomats.

Permanent Joint Board on Defence (PJBD)

Canada–United States joint defense body ( WWII era) that laid groundwork for continental security arrangements.

Hyde Park Declaration (1941)

Cooperation agreement on war production and defense between Canada and the United States during WWII.

NATO founding (1949)

Military alliance linking Western nations for collective defense; Canada was a founding member.

Plan Colombo (1950)

Commonwealth-led initiative to foster economic development in South Asia and Southeast Asia; precursor to Canada's development aid program.

Korean War (1950-53)

Canada contributed about 20,000 troops to UN-led operations in Korea; significant military commitment under UN auspices.

Lester B. Pearson and the Nobel Peace Prize (1957)

Prominent Canadian diplomat awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for contributions to international peacekeeping and diplomacy.

Suez Crisis and UNEF (1956)

Pearson's proposal to deploy UNEF to intervene in Suez; early model of UN peacekeeping and multilateral crisis management.

NORAD (1957-58)

North American Aerospace Defense Command, a joint US-Canada defense arrangement for continental air defense.

Canada–US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), 1989

Bilateral agreement expanding trade liberalization between Canada and the United States, later integrated into NAFTA.

NAFTA (1994)

North American Free Trade Agreement involving Canada, the United States, and Mexico to deepen regional trade.

Kyoto Protocol (2002)

Canada's ratification of an international climate treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions; part of foreign policy reconciliation with environmental issues.

Arctic Council (1996)

Intergovernmental forum for Arctic issues; Canada helped initiate and participate in regional governance and cooperation.

Québec's paradiplomacy and 'Vive le Québec libre' (1967)

Quebec's international outreach, including cultural diplomacy (e.g., Maison du Québec in Paris) and the famous De Gaulle remark, highlighting subnational diplomacy.

Liberal internationalism and the 'new internationalism' under Trudeau (late 1960s-70s)

Shift toward a more activist, multilateral foreign policy focusing on development, human security, and governance reforms; reorientation from earlier imperial ties.