Download COLD WAR Battles and protests (1950s

COLD WAR
BATTLES AND PROTESTS (1950S-70S)
The Korean War (1950-1953)
•End of WWII Soviets took North Korea (Communist) and the USA took
south Korea (capitalist/democratic)- both withdrew by 1947.
•1950 Communist North Korea attacked the South (USA immediately
came to the south’s aid).
•U.N called for nations to help (only 16 provided aid, Canada
being one of the biggest supporters)
- 25,000 soldiers sent: 1000 wounded and 406 killed.
•1953 a truce was made (Canadian peace-keepers stayed
until 1955)
The Suez Crisis (1956)
•1922 Britain gave Egypt independence, but kept the Suez Canal
because it linked Europe to the East (important channel).
•1956 President Nasser seized control of the Canal
•Britain, France and Israel saw this as a threat and sent militaries to
retake the canal.
•Soviets threatened to use atomic weapons if they did not
withdraw (USA asked U.N to condemn Suez invasion)
•Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize for his successful
proposal:
- End all shooting
- Create special UN special peace-keeping force to monitor
withdrawal of invaders (800 Canadian soldiers were sent)
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
•American spy planes photographed Soviet missile construction in
communist Cuba (made North America an easier target for Russians).
•US President Kennedy quickly made a naval blockade around Cuba to
stop Soviets from delivering rockets and nuclear weapons.
---Canada recommended further investigating before blockading, however they were ignored.
•The blockade caused Soviet ships to turn back, preventing a ‘spark’ for
WWIII
Vietnam War (1961-1973)
•1957 Vietnam won its freedom from being a French colony in a battle
against France.
•North Vietnam (Vietcong) became communist and tried to overthrow
the South Vietnamese government.
•1961 USA increased military and economic aid to the South, 1965 USA
began large-scale combat against the Vietcong.
•1968, realizing Vietcong would not be defeated, President Nixon
began negotiating peace and in 1973 a peace was made.
•Canada was vocal in its opposition to this war (Pearson and
Public)
---But Canada sold billions of dollars of weapons to US, despite opposition from public.
•USA ‘Draft dodgers’ poured into Canada to avoid
conscription
Protesting War
(Most popular in 1960s)
Why protesting war was popular after WWII:
-Following WW2 people were tired of generations of war.
-There was a new generation following the war (the babyboomers), who, especially in their teenage years, were rebelling
against their parent’s
- With more young people staying in school longer (and going to
college/university), more people were educated on issues and
were free to protest government policies they did not agree
with.
- Televisions in every home also made the ‘horrors of war’
more visible to people. People saw firsthand from news
reporters what was happening, and many did not like it.
- The idea of peace was promoted, as freedom of speech was
allowed.