Key Global and Canadian Historical Concepts

Flashcards on Key Global and Canadian Historical Concepts

United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945 by 51 countries to promote peace, security, and cooperation. It comprises 193 member states in bodies like the General Assembly and Security Council.

UN Charter

The founding document of the United Nations, signed at the San Francisco Conference in 1945.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

A UN declaration created in 1948 that outlines fundamental human rights.

UNEF

The first UN peacekeeping force, established in 1956.

Canada and the UN

Canada was a founding member of the UN and has actively participated in various UN missions and bodies, including serving multiple terms on the Security Council.

Lester B. Pearson

Canadian Prime Minister who won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for proposing the first UN peacekeeping force (UNEF) during the Suez Crisis.

Canada's Identity

Engagement in the UN established Canada’s identity as a middle power committed to multilateralism and peacekeeping.

UN General Assembly (UNGA)

The main deliberative body of the United Nations, comprising all Member States with equal representation.

UNGA Resolutions

Resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly on global issues like development, human rights, and international law are non-binding.

Pearson and the UNGA

Lester B. Pearson served as President of the UNGA in 1952, highlighting Canada’s prominence.

Security Council

The UN’s executive organ for maintaining international peace and security. It has 5 permanent members with veto power and 10 non-permanent members.

Security Council Authority

Only the Security Council can authorize binding actions like peacekeeping deployments or sanctions.

Canada on the Security Council

Canada has served as a non-permanent Security Council member eight times.

UN Secretariat

The administrative organ of the United Nations that carries out the day-to-day work of the organization under the leadership of the Secretary-General.

Secretary-General

The head of the UN Secretariat, often called the “world’s top diplomat.”

John P. Humphrey

A Montreal-born expert who was the first Director of the UN Human Rights Division and a principal author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

The principal judicial organ of the United Nations, based in The Hague. It settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions.

ICJ Jurisdiction

The ICJ’s jurisdiction comes from treaties or special agreement of states.

Canada and the ICJ

Canada accepts the Court’s compulsory jurisdiction and has been party to several cases, including “Fisheries Jurisdiction (Spain v. Canada)” and “Gulf of Maine Boundary (USA v. Canada).”

Bipolar World

The international order after World War II dominated by two superpowers – the United States and the Soviet Union – each heading a bloc of allied states.

Canada in the Bipolar World

As a close US ally, Canada firmly stood in the Western bloc, influencing foreign policy and defense decisions.

Cold War

A prolonged period (c.1947–1991) of geopolitical and ideological rivalry between the United States and its Western allies and the Soviet Union and its Eastern allies.

Canada in the Cold War

Canada was firmly in the Western camp, co-founding NATO (1949) and later NORAD (1958) to defend North America.

Domino Theory

A Cold War-era theory that if one country fell under communist rule, neighboring countries would follow.

Domino Theory Influence

The domino theory heavily influenced the escalation of the Vietnam War and US support for regimes in Asia.

Satellite States

Countries that are formally independent but are heavily influenced, controlled, or occupied by a more powerful state, particularly Eastern European nations dominated by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Truman Doctrine

A U.S. foreign policy statement by President Harry S. Truman pledging support (economic and military) to “free peoples” resisting subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures.

Iron Curtain

A term popularized by Winston Churchill in 1946 to describe the ideological and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas of influence after WWII: the communist East under Soviet control and the Western democracies.

Policy of Containment

A Cold War strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism by the Soviet Union and its allies.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. initiative in 1948–49 to provide economic aid to rebuild Western Europe’s economies after World War II.

Gouzenko Affair

An espionage scandal in Canada involving Igor Gouzenko, a Soviet cipher clerk who defected and revealed a Soviet spy ring operating in Canada.

Red Scare

The widespread fear of communist influence that led to political repression and social hysteria, particularly following the Gouzenko Affair in Canada.

Berlin Blockade Crisis

A Soviet attempt to force the Western Allies out of West Berlin by cutting off all land and water access, leading to the Berlin Airlift.

NATO

A military alliance formed in 1949 for collective defense: an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

Canada and NATO

Canada was a founding member of NATO and has been heavily involved in its operations and initiatives.

Warsaw Pact

he military alliance of the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist states (formed in May 1955) in response to West Germany’s entry into NATO.

Nuclear Parity

The state during the Cold War in which the United States and the Soviet Union had roughly equal nuclear weapon capabilities.

MAD

The Cold War doctrine of deterrence whereby if one superpower launched a nuclear attack, the other would retaliate with equal or greater force, resulting in the total destruction of both.

Korean War

A conflict between North Korea (backed by China and the USSR) and South Korea (backed by UN forces led by the United States).

Canada and the Korean War

Canada was one of 16 UN member states contributing forces to the Korean War.

UNEF

The United Nations Emergency Force was the first UN peacekeeping force, established to de-escalate the Suez Crisis.

Suez Crisis

A conflict triggered when Egypt’s President Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, leading to intervention by Israel, Britain, and France.

John F. Kennedy

The 35th President of the United States (1961–1963) who led the US during critical Cold War events.

Vietnam War

A conflict between the communist government of North Vietnam and South Vietnam, escalating into a major Cold War confrontation.

Canada and the Vietnam War

Officially, Canada never sent combat troops to Vietnam but played a complex role through diplomacy, trade, and accepting draft evaders.

Client War (Proxy War)

A conflict where two (or more) major powers support opposing sides but do not engage each other directly.

Draft Dodgers

Individuals who left their country to avoid compulsory military service, particularly U.S. men who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War era.

Cyprus

A Mediterranean island nation where intercommunal violence led to the United Nations creating UNFICYP, a peacekeeping force which Canada contributed to significantly.

Veterans

Individuals who have served in the armed forces, particularly Canadian veterans returning after World War II and Korea.

CANDU Reactor

A Canadian-designed nuclear reactor that uses heavy water and natural uranium fuel.

Alouette I

The first Canadian satellite, launched in 1962 to study the Earth’s ionosphere.

Urbanization

The process by which an increasing proportion of a population comes to live in cities and towns.

Suburbs

Residential communities on the outskirts of cities, characterized by single-family homes and commuting.

Commuting

Regularly traveling between home and work, particularly from suburbs to city centers.

Baby Boom

The sharp increase in birth rates following World War II, from 1946 to 1965 in Canada.

Displaced Persons

Refugees who had been forced from their countries during or after WWII, unable or unwilling to return home.

Immigration Act, 1952

Canadian law that regulated immigration, continuing pre-existing rules with broad ministerial authority over immigrant selection.

Unemployment Insurance Act (1940)

Established Canada’s first federal unemployment benefits program.

Colombo Plan

A cooperative agreement for economic and social development in South and Southeast Asia.

La Francophonie

An international organization of French-speaking countries and governments promoting French language and cultural cooperation.

ACCT

The Agency of Cultural and Technical Cooperation; the first institutional organization of La Francophonie.

CBC

Canada’s national public broadcaster, providing radio and television programming in English and French.

Teen Culture

Distinct social trends, fashions, music, and behaviors associated with teenagers, particularly after WWII.

Counterculture

A subculture whose values and norms stand in opposition to mainstream society.

Protests

Public demonstrations during the 1960s and 1970s driven by various social and political causes.

Civil Rights Movement

The struggle for racial equality in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s, influencing Canadian society.

Women’s Liberation Movement

A social movement of the 1960s–70s advocating for gender equality.

Mainstream Feminists

Pursued gender equality through existing political and legal systems.

Radical Feminists

Sought profound societal change viewing patriarchy as the root cause of women’s oppression.

Expo ’67

The World’s Fair held in Montreal in 1967 to celebrate Canada’s centennial.

Trudeaumania

The wave of popular enthusiasm and media attention surrounding Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s entry into politics.

Louis St. Laurent

The 12th Prime Minister of Canada who led the country during a period of prosperity.

Joey Smallwood

The first Premier of Newfoundland who led its confederation with Canada.

Referendum

A direct vote by the electorate on a specific issue of public policy.

Newfoundland

The island portion of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, joining Canada in 1949.

John Diefenbaker

The 13th Prime Minister of Canada known for his populist values.

Canadian Bill of Rights (1960)

A federal statute that recognized fundamental freedoms and legal rights for Canadians.

Lester B. Pearson

A Canadian diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister and won the Nobel Peace Prize for creating the first UN peacekeeping force.

Nobel Peace Prize (1957)

Awarded to Lester B. Pearson for his contribution to deploying a United Nations Emergency Force in the wake of the Suez Crisis.

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

A federal government pension program established in 1965 that provides retirement income.

Medicare (Canadian healthcare)

Canada’s publicly funded health care system providing universal hospital and physician services coverage.

Flag Debate

The intense discussion in 1963–64 over adopting a new national flag for Canada, culminating in the Maple Leaf flag.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau

The 15th Prime Minister of Canada known for his charisma and intellect, influencing Canadian law and identity.

Official Languages Act (1969)

A Canadian federal law that gave English and French equal status as the official languages of the federal government.

AVRO Arrow (CF-105 Arrow)

An advanced Canadian-designed supersonic interceptor jet developed in the 1950s, controversially cancelled in 1959.

St. Lawrence Seaway

A system of canals, locks, and channels that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes.

NORAD

A bi-national U.S.-Canadian military organization formed to provide aerospace warning and defense for North America.

Inflation (1970s)

The general rise in prices, with Canada experiencing high inflation rates in the 1970s.

OPEC

A cartel of major oil-exporting countries that coordinates petroleum policies, impacting global oil prices.

National Energy Program (NEP)

A federal policy introduced in 1980 to promote Canadian control of the oil industry and increase energy self-sufficiency.

FIRA

The Foreign Investment Review Agency, a Canadian agency created to review and restrict foreign investments.

CIDA

The Canadian International Development Agency, responsible for administering foreign aid and development assistance.

Jeanne Sauvé

The first female Governor General of Canada.

NAC

The National Arts Centre, a Canadian performing arts venue in Ottawa.

International Women’s Year (1975)

A United Nations designation of 1975 as a year focused on women’s issues and gender equality.

Citizenship Act (1976)

Legislation that redefined and consolidated the rules of Canadian citizenship, replacing the 1947 Act.

Immigration Act (1978)

Canadian legislation that revamped immigration policy, stating objectives and introducing a points system.

Multiculturalism (Official Policy)

Canadian government policy recognizing and promoting the cultural diversity of Canadian society.