1. Defending North America
Ch. 6 (p , )

2. North American Defence
When the Cold War began, it seemed that Europe would be where the action was
Iron Curtain, Soviet buffer zone
New technology made North America vulnerable too
Long-range bombers, long-range missiles
Shortest path from USSR to USA is over North Pole and Canada (p. 133)
USA and Canada start to build up defences to prevent or warn against a possible nuclear attack

3. Long-Range Bombers

4. Long-Range Missiles

5. North American Defence
USA constructs three lines of radar stations across Canada, Alaska, Arctic in 1950s, each getting further north (p. 134)
Pinetree Line, Mid-Canada Line, Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line
To detect a surprise Soviet attack, give USA time to intercept attack, launch counterattack
USA military personnel stationed in Canada
Reduced Canada’s independence?
Possible loss of independence worth greater security?

6. DEW Line

7. North American Defence
North American Air Defence (NORAD) – 1957
Canadian-American organization to share responsibility for air defence of North America
Command station in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, USA
Designed to withstand a nuclear attack
Controls fighter jets, missile bases, radar
Canadian command post underground at North Bay, Ontario

8. NORAD

9. NORAD

10. North American Defence
Civil Defence
Fearing a nuclear attack, some Canadian cities dug nuclear fallout shelters
Warning sirens, people go to shelters
School drills – “duck and cover”
In reality, shelters and “duck and cover” were practically useless in a nuclear attack, but good for public morale
Constant tension, fear, and anxiety

11. North American Defence

12. Cuban Missile Crisis
Communists, led by Fidel Castro, seize power in Cuba in 1959
USA attempted to invade Cuba, overthrow communists, but failed
Cuba forms close relationship with USSR
Oct. 1962: USA discovers USSR installing nuclear missile launch sites in Cuba, huge threat to USA and Canada (p. 140)
USA imposes blockade on Cuba, ready for war
NORAD on high alert

13. Cuban Missile Crisis

14. Cuban Missile Crisis

15. Cuban Missile Crisis Canada’s Response
President Kennedy expected Canadian support
PM Diefenbaker wanted United Nations to investigate in Cuba, did not believe USA
Delayed placing Canadian NORAD forces on alert
Did not allow US military planes to land in Canada
PM Diefenbaker believed that he was protecting Canadian independence, but 80% of Canadians disapprove of his actions
Hurt Canadian-American relations

16. Cuban Missile Crisis
USSR refuses to remove the missiles, readies for war
Soviet ships heading towards blockaded Cuba, US waiting for them
USSR decides at last minute to turn ships around, remove missiles, US promises not to invade Cuba
Closest USA and USSR got to nuclear war, whole world fearing destruction for 13 days

17. Cuban Missile Crisis

18. The Avro Arrow
To help defend Canada from a Soviet attack, the Avro Arrow supersonic jet was developed in the 1950s
Most advanced fighter jet in the world
Development costs skyrocketed
From $2 million to $12.5 million per plane
Missiles become better defense than jets
PM Diefenbaker cancelled the Avro Arrow project on 1959

19. The Avro Arrow

20. The Avro Arrow Popular Belief Historians
US military jealous of advanced Arrow, convince PM Diefenbaker to cancel project
Historians
Arrow was way too costly, Canada could not afford it, other countries didn’t want to buy it

21. The Nuclear Issue in Canada
After Arrow cancelled, Canada considers buying Bomarc missiles from the US
Would be located at Canadian military bases
Defence shield, intercept Soviet missiles
Meant to carry nuclear warheads, were of little use without them
Should Canada have nuclear weapons?
USA thought so: help protect Canada and USA, Canada’s obligation as part of NORAD and NATO
Many Canadians disagreed: made Canada a target, contributed to possible nuclear war

22. Bomarc Missiles

23. The Nuclear Issue in Canada
Conservative Party divided over Bomarc missiles
Liberal Party leader Lester Pearson initially against missiles, then changes mind
1963 Election: Liberals win minority gov.
Lester Pearson becomes Prime Minister
Country not fully sure about Pearson & Liberals, but believe poor US-Canada relationship because of Diefenbaker bad for Canada
Pearson accepts nuclear Bomarc missiles
Trudeau is elected PM in 1968, phases out the Bomarc missiles by 1971