oWhat was the Cold War?
oEast versus the West
o Communism versus
Democracy
oWarsaw Pact verses NATO
oSoviet Union and the
eastern allies versus the
United States and the
western allies.
o By 1984, a new type of war, the COLD WAR,
had come into existence.
o The Cold War involved a bitter rivalry
between the US and its democratic friends
(Western Europe and Canada) and the Soviet
Union and its communist allies.
o While no War was actually declared,
hostilities between the two groups were
severe.
Communism Definition: Any economic system based on ownership by the
government or workers of all property and the means of production and
distribution.
Which countries do you know are communist?
Capitalism Definition: Any economic system in which the means of
production are privately owned by individuals or corporations that compete
with one another to produce goods or services.
Capitalist: persons whose money and property are used in doing business.
During the 1920s learned about the rise of Fascist governments:
A quick review: Fascism is defined as a system of government in which
nationalism is promoted, labor and industry are regulated by a strong
national government, and all opposition is suppressed.
oWhile no war was actually
declared, hostilities between the two
opposing groups of nations was
severe.
oThe boundary between the
countries under Soviet influence and
other other countries of Europe is
often called the Iron Curtain.
oThe iron curtain blocked the free
movement of information and
products
and people between Eastern and
Western Europe.
oEach superpower (the US) and the (SU) was strived to become the number
one superpower in the world.
oFurthermore, Soviet spies were found operating in Ottawa, Washington, and
other western capitals.
oBoth sides engaged in espionage to uncover the enemy’s military secret and
government plans.
In 1957 the Soviet’s
launch the first
Sputnik satellite.
This satellite not only
could orbit around the
earth….
o The Arms Race escalates… this time it’s a
global race to build sophisticated nuclear
weapons!
o Fearing the Soviets, the Americans built
bomber aircraft with long range missiles
known as ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic
Missiles).
o So in turn, the Soviet’s built ICBMs.
Events such as the:
o Suez Crisis
o Cuban Missile Crisis
o Korean War
o Vietnam
=Threatened to bring the world to the brink of
Nuclear War!.
o The North American Air Defense agreement
was signed in 1958 between Canada and the
United State.
o The agreement stated that in the event of a
Soviet threat, Canada and the US would agree
to help defend each other.
o Distance Early Warning (DEW line)
• Canada agreed to let the Americans set up the
Dew line in the NWT.
• The Dew Line consisted of high powered radar
antennae installed at stations along the DEW
line.
• The Dew Line could pick up enemy aircraft and
missiles from 4800KM away.
• Also, if the an unidentified object is detected,
NORAD headquarters would be notified.
oCanadian physics Dr.
Harold Johns
established Canada’s
first biophysics at U of T.
oJohns developed the
cobalt bomb to treat
some cancers,
revolutionizing cancer
Canada did not develop its own
therapy around the
nuclear weapons, but
contributed to nuclear
world.
development projects.
o The AECL was created as a federal agency in 1952. It
focused on the development of nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes.
o For example, Nuclear reactors for energy
productions, and the cobalt bomb.
o The biggest project was known as the development
of CANDU.
o Canadian Deuterium Uranium Reactor: it was a safe
and efficient rector for the distribution of energy.
o The Pinetree Line, Mid-Canada Line
oAfter Canada and the US discovered Soviet spies
infiltrated their governments they became
increasingly concerned about national security.
oAs a result, in 1949 several countries formed NATO:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
oThe purpose of NATO was to act as a defense pact
intended to protect members against Soviet
aggression.
oNaturally, the Soviets adopted their own pact called:
The Warsaw Pact in 1955.
o Due to the two opposing sides, conflict of interests
escalated.
o The eastern and western allies held different values,
beliefs and focused on building up the arms race.
o The Cold War ultimately was a competition: which
nation could develop nuclear weapons the fastest?
o Both countries began to “stock pile nuclear arms”….
what next?
o By 1970 both superpowers had enough missiles to
destroy all of humanity.