Canada + End of the Cold War Topics: Canadian PM’s 1950-1984 Détente - summit series 1972 3. Fall of Communism - Belin Wall comes down

Canadian Politics 1950-1984 Governing the nation Prime Ministers of the 1950s-1980s Louis St. Laurent John Diefenbaker Lester B Pearson Pierre E. Trudeau

Louis St Laurent (1948-1957) Believed postwar prosperity could unite Canada. Proponent of Canada’s participation in NATO to fight totalitarian communism

His foreign policy transformed Canada from an isolationist with little role in world affairs to an active "middle power".

Promoted the development of natural resources in Canada (oil, potash, nickel, iron ore, etc.) Began construction of the Trans-Canada Highway Helped facilitate Newfoundland joining Confederation in 1949

John Diefenbaker (1957-1963)

First Progressive Conservative PM since 1935 Won a huge majority election victory in 1958 worked towards greater prosperity for all Canadians

Championed development of resources in Northern Canada He was controversial for his opposition to American investment in Canada and his policies on defence (ie; Avro Arrow and Bomarc missiles)

Lester B. Pearson (1963-1968)

Liberal PM succeeding Diefenbaker in an election revolving on nuclear crisis

Known for his work in diplomacy and for winning the Nobel Peace prize for establishing Peacekeeping • Best known for the introduction of nationally funded Medicare and the Canada Pension Plan for senior citizens. Accepted missiles on Canadians soil

Pierre Elliott Trudeau (1968-1979, 1980- 1984)

• Swept to power by a tide of euphoric optimism know as Trudeaumania. . • Campaigned on the idea of a “just society” for all Canadians. Tried to create a more independent Canada

The Cold War begins to thaw

Detente The U.S. and the Soviet Union felt that the military build-up was unsustainable So détente (an easing of tensions) began in the 1970’s

The Summit Series 1972 Canada vs. USSR Not just a game; it was Capitalism & Democracy vs. Communism Organized to create a true best- on-best competition in hockey Intense feelings of nationalism arose in both countries

Games Game 1: Cda 3 USSR 7 Game 2: Cda 4 USSR 1 Game 3: Cda 4 USSR 4 In Canada: In USSR: Game 1: Cda 3 USSR 7 Game 2: Cda 4 USSR 1 Game 3: Cda 4 USSR 4 Game 4: Cda 3 USSR 5 Game 5: Cda 4 USSR 5 Game 6: Cda 3 USSR 2 Game 7: Cda 4 USSR 3

15 out of 20 million Canadians tuned in, and many schools and businesses set up television sets so that everyone could watch the final game, brought by satellite technology.

Canadians tied it up in the 3rd period In USSR: Canadians tied it up in the 3rd period With 34 seconds to go, Paul Henderson scores the winning goal for Canada! Game 8: Cda 6 USSR 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMiMzq0YTwc

Significance?  It is widely considered a profound unifying experience, with repercussions beyond sports Takes Cold War tensions on to the ice Portrays Canada’s role in global affairs

  survey by the Dominion Institute, a respected history preservation group, ranks the winning goal in the final game as the fifth-greatest event in Canadian history, just below the World War I assault on Vimy Ridge and ahead of the country’s contributions to the Allied victory in World War II.

DETENTE SALT: Strategic Arms Limitations Talks SALT I, 1972 (a treaty to freeze the amount of nuclear weapons for each side) SALT II, 1979 (a treaty to reduce the amount of nuclear weapons. It was never approved by the U.S. Senate but both sides agreed in principle)

The beginning of the end of the Warsaw Pact The Arms Race is taking its toll on the Soviet Union It cannot sustain its military build-up Economic decline led to poverty, food shortages Satellite nations start to revolt

Under Mikhail Gorbachev, USSR, became more open to western ideas and diplomacy 1987, the Soviet Union decides that economic reform (perestroika) and openness (glasnost) should be used to transform its economy

Communism begins to crumble 1989, many of the communist leaders of the Warsaw Pact countries begin to lose power 1989, the Berlin Wall is torn down By 1991, the Soviet Union is declared to be officially dissolved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK1MwhEDjHg

How do the people of Berlin view the Berlin Wall? What does its demise represent? Why is it so important that it comes down?

On December 25, 1991, the Soviet hammer and sickle flag lowered for the last time over the Kremlin Earlier in the day, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned his post as president of the Soviet Union Boris Yeltsin as president of the newly independent Russian state.

The Cold War ends…