The Cold War KEY IDEAS BEGINNING 1947 1949

The Cold War • KEY IDEAS • BEGINNING • 1947 – 1949 • ENDING • CANADA’S ROLE • RESULTS

Key Ideas �The Cold War was the period of time between the end of WW 2 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 �World divided into 2 ideological camps: United States led Capitalism = “The West” Soviet dominated Communism = “The East” �No direct military confrontation

The Beginning �End of American-British-Soviet alliance after WW 2 �American and Britain relations with the Soviet Union, led by Joseph Stalin, begin to fall apart because the Soviets had puppet governments in once-independent countries �February 9, 1946: Stalin states that communism and capitalism don’t work together �March 5, 1946: Winston Churchill states that “… an Iron Curtain has descended on Europe. ”

1947 - 1949 �Containment: The U. S. Strategy to limit spread of Soviet power and Communist ideology �March 17, 1948: Brussels Pact organized to protect Europe from communism �Berlin Blockade begins on June 24. Lasts 11 months. Results in creation of the Berlin Wall.

The End � 1980’s: Freedom movements inside European communist states � 1990: Berlin Wall torn down (it had separated West and East Germany since 1961) � 1991: Fall of the Soviet Union

Canada’s Role �Contribution of armed forces to peace keeping operations around the world �Active involvement in preventing nuclear war � 1946: Canadian government reveals it had given political asylum to Igor Gouzento. He had stolen documents showing Soviet spies at work in the USA, Britain and Canada. �Communist “witch hunts” in Canadian government and society. Communists found and kicked out of trade unions and Canadian diplomats loyalties questioned.

Results �Creation of NATO �Many scientific advancements including nuclear bombs and Sputnik �Nuclear Test Ban Treaty �Creation of MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)