Canada's Role in the Cold War Era

Yalta Conference

was a 1945 meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin to plan the end of WWII and post-war Europe. They agreed on dividing Germany, creating the United Nations, and promised free elections in Eastern Europe—though the Soviets later ignored this—setting the stage for Cold War tensions.

Potsdam Conference

Held in 1945, featured Truman, Churchill/Attlee, and Stalin discussing post-war Europe and reparations. Rising mistrust, especially over Soviet control of Eastern Europe, marked this meeting and deepened the division that led to the Cold War.

Satellite State

were Eastern European countries like Poland, Hungary, and Romania controlled politically and economically by the Soviet Union. Their existence highlighted Soviet influence in the region and the division between East and West during the Cold War.

Domino Theory

was the belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow in a chain reaction. This idea shaped U.S. foreign policy and justified involvement in conflicts like Korea and Vietnam to stop communism's spread.

Mutually Assured Destruction/Nuclear Parity

was the concept that both the USA and USSR possessed enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other, deterring either from starting a nuclear war. This balance of terror helped prevent direct conflict between superpowers throughout the Cold War.

Containment

was the U.S. policy aimed at stopping the global spread of communism. It shaped American actions worldwide, leading to interventions in Korea, Vietnam, and support for anti-communist governments.

Truman Doctrine

Announced in 1947, committed the U.S. to supporting countries resisting communism, particularly Greece and Turkey. It marked the start of active American involvement in containing Soviet influence during the Cold War.

Marshall Plan

was an American program providing economic aid to rebuild Western Europe after WWII. By stabilizing these countries' economies, it helped prevent communist takeovers and strengthened Western alliances.

NATO

Formed in 1949, was a military alliance between the USA, Canada, and Western European nations to defend against Soviet aggression. It solidified Western cooperation and heightened Cold War divisions.

Warsaw Pact

Created in 1955, was a Soviet-led military alliance of Eastern European communist states formed as a counter to NATO. It formalized the military division of Europe during the Cold War.

Berlin Blockade/Airlift

In 1948-49, the USSR blockaded West Berlin to force the Allies out, but the USA and its allies responded with the __________, flying in supplies. This crisis was the first major Cold War confrontation and showed Western resolve against Soviet pressure.

Gouzenko Affair

involved Igor Gouzenko, a Soviet cipher clerk in Canada who exposed a Soviet spy ring in 1945.

Korean War

(1950-53) was a conflict where North Korea, supported by communists, invaded South Korea. The UN led a military response to defend South Korea, with Canada contributing troops. It was the first armed conflict of the Cold War, illustrating containment policy in action.

DEW Line

was a network of radar stations across northern Canada and Alaska built to detect Soviet bombers or missiles. It was a crucial part of North American defense during the Cold War.

NORAD

created in 1958, is a joint U.S.-Canada aerospace defense organization tasked with detecting and responding to airborne threats. It remains a key part of continental defense against possible Soviet or other attacks.

Suez Crisis

In 1956, occurred when Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, provoking military intervention by Britain, France, and Israel. The crisis revealed the decline of British and French power and highlighted Canada's role in proposing the UNEF peacekeeping force.

UNEF

was the first UN peacekeeping force, deployed during the Suez Crisis to separate combatants and reduce tension. It established peacekeeping as an important tool for conflict resolution and earned Lester B. Pearson the Nobel Peace Prize.

Cuban Missile Crisis

was a tense confrontation after the USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, prompting a U.S. naval blockade. It was the closest the Cold War came to nuclear war and ended with Soviet missile withdrawal and a U.S. promise not to invade Cuba.

USA aims in Europe post-WWII

The USA wanted to rebuild economies and support democracy to prevent the spread of communism, using aid like the Marshall Plan.

USSR aims in Europe post-WWII

The USSR wanted to expand its influence by controlling Eastern Europe and setting up communist governments to create a buffer against future invasions.

USA foreign policy aims

In foreign policy, the USA focused on containing communism and promoting capitalism and free trade through alliances like NATO.

USSR foreign policy aims

The USSR aimed to spread communism, back revolutions, and counter Western power with alliances like the Warsaw Pact, keeping tight control over its allies.

Characteristics of communism in the USSR

Communism in the USSR was marked by one-party rule, state ownership of land and industry, and central economic planning. Freedom of speech was limited, dissent was suppressed by secret police, and while equality was promoted, leaders often had special privileges.

Soviet Union blockade of Berlin

in 1948 to push the Allies out and stop the formation of West Germany.

Berlin AirLift

As a result of the crisis, the Western allies decided to form NATO.

DEW/Pinetree Line

Lines of radar stations built by the USA in Canada to protect against Soviet attack (1950's).

Igor Gouzenko

Soviet who revealed to the Canadian government that a spy-ring was in place in Canada.

Lester B. Pearson

Received the Nobel Peace Prize for helping end a conflict.

MAD

Nuclear parity (equality) helped to prevent the two alliances from going to war since parity made it seem less likely that one country would attack the other, as it knew that it would be attacked in return - this became known as Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).

Security Council

Part of the UN responsible for maintaining peace and security. Five members are permanent while ten other spots rotate. A permanent member can veto a decision, which was done often during the Cold War by the Soviet Union.

Satellite States

Countries controlled by the Soviet Union such as Poland, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria.

UN Emergency Force (UNEF)

To reduce the tension in Suez, this solution was suggested by a Canadian: battle forces were withdrawn and replaced with non-combatants.

Iron Curtain

Term used to describe the separation between Soviet dominated Europe and Western Europe.

Cold War

The conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States between 1945 and 1991. Fought over conflicting ideas: communism vs. capitalism and communism vs. democracy.

United Nations

Created right after WWII to prevent another war. Can use sanctions, military force, or words.