Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd Ed.
Reading Guide for Chapter 6 – Answer Key
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Canada in the Post-War Years – The 1950s
Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd Ed., Chapter 6, pages 168-203
The Changing Face of Canada: pages 170-179
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What happened to Canada's population after WWII?
6.7 million children born between 1946 and 1961 one-third of the population - the highest birth rate in the industrialized nations.
Why did 1000s of immigrants come to Canada after WWII? It was very prosperous.
What is meant by the term "baby boom"?
The increase in the birth rate that occurred after WWII.
Why did the suburbs develop after WWII?
Cheap land out of the city center combined with automobiles
provided inexpensive housing for Canada's growing urban population.
Describe the typical middle-class family of the 1950s and the woman's role in it.
Father is the bread
winner, mother stays at home managing the household; had access to "labour saving" appliances to make women's
work less like drudgery; women encouraged to be fashionable and beautify themselves by purchasing new products.
How were working women seen in the 1950s?
As the cause of juvenile delinquency.
How was the role of many urban women different from the role of the middle class suburban woman?
Many,
especially the poor and immigrant women, worked in low-paying factory jobs or as domestics.
How did the baby boom generation influence Canadian culture?
Youth organizations flourished; new
schools, arenas and parks were built; new products developed for sale; children spent more time in school as there
were no wars or economic pressures to force them into the adult world.
Why can "teenagers" be considered an invention of the post WWII era?
Varied - the prosperous economy
for the first time gave rise to large numbers of young people who had money and leisure time and represented a
market for …
How did television viewing differ in the 1950s from today?
Varied - should include: expensive (20% of
the average annual wage); social - people came together to watch shows.
How did advertisers use television?
To convince the viewers that consumption was the road to happiness.
Do you think advertising is a form of propaganda? Explain. Varied.
What was the "Massey Commission"?
A body set up by the federal government in 1949 to study the state of
Canadian culture.
What did it recommend? That Canadian culture needed protecting from US influences; television should be used
for national communication and cultural education in drama and music; the NFB should be strengthened; the
government should fund universities and the arts.
What is the "Canada Council for the Arts"?
The group that funds Canadian artists and supports the arts in
Canada.
What is the "CRTC"?
The agency that regulates the amount of foreign material broadcast over the airwaves in
Canada and imposes rules requiring Canadian content.
What is meant by the term "immigration policy"?
A nation's regulations surrounding immigration.
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Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 6 – Answer Key
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What were "displaced persons"? Those who were forced to leave their native homes because of upheavals caused
by WWII and its aftermath.
How many did Canada accept after WWII?
165,000
How many immigrants came to Canada between 1945 and 1960?
More than 2 million.
Why did Canada relax entry requirements to allow Hungarians (in 1956) and Czechoslovaks (in 1968-69) to
immigrate?
Varied - those countries had experienced popular revolts against their Russian controlled
communist governments.
What effect did residential schools have on Aboriginal people and their cultures?
Children were isolated
from their home communities and forced to abandon their language and culture.
Why were the 1950s the peak of residential schools even though attendance at them was no longer compulsory after
1948? Varied - may include: baby boom created great need for schools; no easily accessed local alternatives; …
Why were some Inuit people "encouraged" to relocate to Grise Fjord and Resolute Bay in the 1950s?
Varied probably to help Canada assert its sovereignty in this unpopulated area.
New Times, New Leadership: pages 180-183
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How was Louis St. Laurent portrayed in the 1949 general election?
As a kindly uncle.
Read the side bar on page 181 that describes Louis St. Laurent's political career and accomplishments. Which do
you think is his most important achievement? Why?
Varied - may include: negotiated Newfoundland's
entry into Confederation; made Supreme Court of Canada our highest court of appeal; negotiated changes to the
BNA Act that permitted Parliament to amend the Act; appointed Vincent Massey as the first Canadian-born GG;
established the Massey Commission; expanded social welfare programs; initiated megaprojects such as the T-CH;
supported NATO and UN; sent troops to Korea; sent LB Pearson to defuse the Suez Crisis; established Canada as a
"middle power".
What was unique about John Diefenbaker when he became Prime Minister in 1957?
Varied - his image was
appealing on TV; the first westerner to become PM; the first PM of German descent and not French or English.
What is a "populist"?
Someone who appeals to the concerns of ordinary citizens.
Why had Newfoundland ceased to be an autonomous self-governing Dominion within the Commonwealth?
It had become bankrupt during the Depression and Britain had to intervene.
What is a "referendum"?
The process of referring a political question to the people for a direct vote.
What three choices did Newfoundlanders have in their referendum?
Continue to be governed by a British
appointed commission; to become once more a self-governing dominion in the Commonwealth; join Canada.
What arguments did opponents of Newfoundland joining Confederation put forth?
Higher taxes, loss of
identity, better to join the US.
What was the result of the June 1948 referendum?
44.6% voted for dominion status; 14% preferred rule by the
British; 41.4% wanted to join Canada.
What was the outcome of the second referendum when the option of rule by a British commission was removed?
52% favoured joining Canada.
Why did the Newfoundland government encourage "resettlement" after Confederation?
By closing the
small outports, services could be better delivered to larger centralized communities.
Who became Newfoundland's first Premier?
Joey Smallwood.
What was the role of the Roman Catholic Church during the Duplessis years? Defender of Quebec culture;
encouraged Quebecois to reject the materialism of English speaking North America promoting traditions of faith,
farm and family.
Evaluate Church run schools in Quebec during the 1950s.
Focused on classical languages and philosophy;
trained many priests, lawyers and politicians but few scientists, engineers or business people.
How did Premier Duplessis attract foreign investment to Quebec?
Promised cheap labour by discouraging
unions; low taxes.
What were the "Duplessis orphans"?
The 1000s of orphans who were falsely certified as mentally ill and
moved into federally funded insane asylums in order to save money.
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Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 6 – Answer Key
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Evaluate the Quebec government in the Duplessis era. Explain.
corrupt.
Varied opinion - will probably rate it as
Post-War Prosperity: pages 184-189
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How were returning veterans treated after WWII?
Varied - if they returned to old jobs, their war service
counted as job seniority; women were encouraged to quit factory jobs to make space for vets; free tuition and living
allowances were provided to those who went to university or trade school; vets and their widows were given
preference in government jobs; VLA gave vets mortgages at low rates.
Why did the provinces agree to transfer some of their taxation powers to the federal government after WWII?
The feds paid them "equalization grants" for such social programs as health care and education.
How did the federal government stimulate industry and jobs after WWII?
Tax breaks to private industry.
What industries formed the heart of the Canadian economy after WWII?
Mining and forestry.
What are "boom towns"?
Towns that enjoy a sudden rise in prosperity or develop quickly.
Describe the extent of economic growth in southern Ontario in this era.
By 1950s it had more than half of
Canada's factories and 99% of its auto manufacturing.
What is meant by the "boom and bust cycle"?
Refers to a healthy economy (booming) and/or one that is
failing (bust).
What was "Sputnik"?
The first artificial satellite; Launched by Russia in 1957; started the "space race".
What was the significance of the "pacemaker"?
It helped victims of heart disease live longer.
What was the "transistor" and why was it an important invention?
An electronic device for amplifying and
switching that is small, durable and cheap. It would allow electronic circuits to be miniaturized.
What is "vinyl"?
A fire resistant, flexible, waterproof and cheap material that could be used in a variety of
ways.
What is a "megaproject"?
A large scale construction project that requires huge capital investments.
Identify and describe four 1950s era megaprojects. T-CH: a project to up-grade and pave a 7821 km long road
from St. John's, Nfld to Victoria, BC; Kemano Project: diverted and dammed rivers in BC to provide power for an
aluminium plant in Kitimat BC; T-C Pipeline: a natural gas pipeline from Alberta to Quebec; St. Lawrence
Seaway.
Describe a negative effect of much of the development of this era.
People didn't consider the effect of
industrial by-products on the environment and much pollution resulted.
What were the advantages and disadvantages of American investment in Canada after WWII?
Pro: Provided
good jobs and access to US technology. Con: profits and control moved to the US.
Identify several Canadian industrialists and their areas of interest.
HR MacMillan - forestry in BC; KC Irving retail gas sales, forestry and newspapers in the maritimes; EP Taylor and the Bronfman family - consumer goods
and stores in central Canada.
What impacts did unions have on wages and working conditions after WWII? Wages - rose from $0.67 to $0.95
per hour between 1945 and 1948; work week reduced to 5 days and 40 hours with paid vacations.
How were working women treated?
Often condemned for going to work instead of taking care of families at
home; paid less than men doing the same work.
The Cold War and Post-War Diplomacy: pages 190-197
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Who was Igor Gouzenko?
A clerk at the Russian embassy in Ottawa; he defected to Canada with
information about Russian spying activities within Canada's government.
What was the "cold war"?
The period from 1945 to 1989 when there was tension and hostility between the
communist Soviet Union and its allies and the capitalist US and its allies.
What is a "communist"?
One who believes that property and the production and distribution of goods
should be owned by the public and that the labour force should be organized for the benefit of all.
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Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 6 – Answer Key
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How did Russia's fear of attack by western nations shape its actions after WWII?
Took control of eastern
European nations and imposed communist Russian dominated governments to act as a buffer.
What is a "capitalist"?
One who believes in an economic system in which the production and distribution of
goods are owned privately or by shareholders in corporations that have invested money in hopes of making a profit.
Why did western nations fear the Soviet Union after WWII?
Feared communists would try to overthrow
their governments; saw Soviet control of eastern European nations as a sign of aggressive plans.
What is meant by the term "superpower"?
Refers to the USA and USSR in the post-WWII period when
both were building up powerful arsenals of weapons of mass destruction as deterrents against aggression.
How did governments try to protect people from nuclear attack?
Varied - may include: air raid warning
sirens, bomb shelters, "duck and cover" drills in schools; pursued a policy of MAD as a deterrent.
Why did PM St. Laurent refuse to outlaw the Communist Party of Canada?
He felt outlawing political
opponents was a sign of dictatorships and not democracies.
Describe how those suspected of being communists were treated in Canada even though the party was not outlawed.
Union leaders were suspected; Ottawa screened workers in defense industries and those suspected of communist
sympathies were fired; the RCMP's Special Branch put artists, peace activists, union leaders and intellectuals under
surveillance; Quebec's Premier Duplessis used the "Padlock Law" to shut down newspapers and organization
critical of his government.
What is a "middle power"?
A nation that is not a superpower but has international influence.
What was "NATO"?
The mutual defense organization set up to protect several Western European countries,
Canada and the US from possible aggression from the USSR after WWII.
How would it defend its members?
By responding to Soviet attacks with conventional weapons and
prepared to escalate to tactical nuclear weapons and even total nuclear war.
What was the "Warsaw Pact"?
A military alliance set up in 1955 involving the USSR and the Soviet-block
countries of Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.
What contributions did Canada make to NATO in the 1950s?
Kept an army brigade and several air force
squadrons in West Germany.
What was "NORAD"?
A defense agreement signed in 1958 between Canada and the US.
What effect did it have on Canada's armed forces?
Canada was part of a joint air defense command consisting of
fighter forces, missile bases and air defense radars. A secondary command post was built underground at North
Bay, ON.
What was the "DEW Line"?
Radar stations in northern Canada set up between 1958 and 1960 to detect
Soviet aircraft flying over the North Pole.
How did Canada's membership in NATO and NORAD affect Canadian autonomy?
Varied - may include:
stationed foreign military in Canada; placed Canadian forces under foreign control and tied Canada's response to
other countries" actions.
What are "ICBMs"?
Missiles equipped with nuclear warheads that have a range of 5500km.
How did they make the DEW Line's radar stations obsolete?
Missiles could reach the southern Canada
and the US in 30 minutes - which wasn't much warning.
What was the Avro Arrow?
A Canadian designed supersonic interceptor that would have been the world's
most advanced if it had gone into production.
Planning for Peace: pages 198-201
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What is the "United Nations"?
An organization established in 1945 to bring peace and security to the world.
Why was the UN ineffective in dealing with world issues between 1945 and 1955?
Each permanent member
of its security council had a veto that could prevent the UN from taking action. The USSR used its veto 75 times.
Who was John Humphrey?
A Canadian who was a leading author of the UN's Universal Declaration of
Human Right.
What is the "WHO"?
The UN health organization responsible for providing leadership for global health.
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Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 6 – Answer Key
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What is "UNICEF"?
A UN organization that works to protect children's rights, to make sure the basic needs of
children are met and to help children reach their full potential.
What is the "IMF"?
International Monetary Fund: attempts to stabilize the world economy by helping
countries that are facing great debts and collapse of their currencies.
What caused the Korean Conflict?
North Korea (with Russian and Chinese support) invaded South Korea.
What was international response?
US took the matter to the UN which called on its members to support
South Korea. The USSR was boycotting the Security Council because China had not been admitted to the UN and
did not use its veto to stop this response.
Which country provided the most assistance to North Korea in its fight against the South Korea and its UN
supporters? Why?
China and to a lesser extent, the USSR - May include: these two countries were
attempting to expand their spheres of influence and spread their political philosophies.
Which country provided the most assistance to South Korea in its fight against the North Korean invaders? Why?
US - it was concerned that communism would spread and it was determined to resist this.
What was Canada's response?
Supported the UN intervention with 1000s of troops and 3 destroyers.
Why is the Suez Canal significant?
It provides the shortest sea route between Europe and the Indian
Ocean.
Why were Britain, France and Isreal upset when Egypt's President Nasser took over the Canal in 1956?
Varied:
British and French investors "owned" it; Nasser banned its use by ships visiting Israeli ports and none of these
countries wanted their shipping interfered with.
What was their response?
Launched a combined operation to seize control of the Canal.
How did the "Suez Crisis" escalate?
Russia offered military and financial aid to Egypt; the US while angry
with B, F, and I for not consulting with it, threatened retaliation against Soviet involvement.
How was it resolved?
Canadian Lester Pearson negotiated a ceasefire and a multi-national peacekeeping force
to keep the peace in the area.
Your text doesn't say but why do you think the US might have been upset by the British, French and Israeli attack on
Egypt in October 1956?
Varied - may include: a popular up-rising was occurring in Hungary and Suez
diverted NATO attention at a critical time.
What is "la Francophonie"?
An organization of French-speaking nations - many are former French colonies.
What was the Colombo Plan?
A Commonwealth plan to provide money and aid to less developed member
nations.
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Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 6 – Answer Key