Canada and the Cold War P6

By: Ryleigh Johnson ¡ The Union Nationale Coming to Power: § Came about in 1936 when it won the provincial election. § The leader was Maurice Duplessis, a lawyer. He almost single-handly brought down the Liberal government of Louis-Alexandre Taschereau. § Union Nationale defended provincial autonomy, conservatism, economic liberalism and rural life. § Brought on new reforms as they promised. § One of the most important was Office du crédit agricole (farm credit board) in 1936 that helped farmers save their farms from bankruptcy. § They pushed many plans that were announced during the election into the background. § Duplessis dissolved the Legislative Assembly in 1939 and called an election. § The Liberal Party of Adélard Godbout won the election making the Union nationale become the official opposition. § This was seen as a very bad political move. ¡ The Union Nationale Reign: § Returned to power in 1944 after accusing both the provincial and the federal Liberals of betraying Québec and violating its rights. § The Union Nationale received fewer votes than the Liberal Party but won an absolute majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly. § Began the 15 year reign. § Quebec experienced an industrialization and urbanization boom during this time. § Economic issues-the government advocated development at all costs. § Social issues-the government was very conservative. § Did not believe in ANY form of government intervention. ¡ Emphasized Three Points to Their Program: 1. Duplessis gave generously to his province. 2. Union nationale's achievements were impressive. 3. The Union nationale provided a solid line of defence against the federal government. ¡ Decline: § In 1959 Duplessis died. § Paul Sauvé then led the party until his death four months later. § The defeat of the Union Nationale in the 1960 election under Antonio Barrette, set the Quiet Revolution in motion. § The 1962 general election was called early so that voters could approve the nationalization of hydroelectricity, and the Union Nationale lost. ¡ The Union Nationale was in power one last time between 1966 and 1970. ¡ In 1969 Daniel Johnson, the leader, died. ¡ In 1970 the Jean-Jacques Bertrand Union Nationale government was defeated by Robert Bourassa’s resurgent Liberal Party. ¡ To try and break from their bad image the party changed its name to Unité Québec. ¡ In 1973 when they lost they changed their name back to the original. ¡ Under new leader Rodrigue Biron, the Union Nationale sided with the Yes campaign during the 1980 referendum, which caused the party to rapidly decline. ¡ It won 4%of the vote in 1981 and 1% in 1986 before finally dissolving in 1989. ¡ The repositioning of political parties especially the formation of the Parti Québecois, and the Liberal Party’s shift to the right — also contributed to the decline of the Union Nationale. ¡ Appointed on 8 April 1949 by Prime Minister Louis St-Laurent. ¡ Chaired by Vincent Massey. ¡ In 1951 the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters, and Sciences issued The Massey Report. ¡ The report stated that Canadian culture was in danger and becoming to heavily relied on the United States. ¡ Led to the National Library of Canada, the creation of the Canada Council for the Arts, federal aid for universities and the conservation of Canada’s historic places, and other initiatives. ¡ The government declared that Canada’s mass media would be required to encourage Canadian content. Such as books, television programs, magazines, and other locally made cultural products. ¡ It advocated for the federal funding of a wide range of cultural activities. ¡ During this time not many books were published in Canada and the movies that played were from America. ¡ The “Massey Commission” held 114 public meetings across Canada in 16 cities and heard from 1,200 witnesses. About 450 briefs were heard, and experts in various fields were invited to present special studies. ¡ Britain adopted the role of global policeman, a state of affairs later known as the Pax Britannica. This meant that Britain became the dominant power and the global policeman. ¡ Had control over colonies and its dominant position in world trade meant they had power over other countries economics. ¡ Lasted from 1815-1914. ¡ The Pax Britannica was weakened by the breakdown of the continental order which had been established by the Congress of Vienna. ¡ Relations between the Great Powers of Europe were strained to breaking point by issues such as the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the emergence of new nation states in the form of Italy and Germany after the Franco-Prussian War. ¡ Germany, the Empire of Japan, and the United States industrialization also contributed to the decline of British industrial supremacy. ¡ After the Spanish-American War in 1898 and the Boxer Rebellion, the United States began to play a more important role in the world and with WWI. ¡ North Atlantic Treaty Organization (April 4, 1949) and Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (Febuary 19, 1955) ¡ The purpose of the organizations was to prevent communism from gaining ground in the Asia. ¡ Canada supported the NATO at first and did things such as raising troop numbers to protect certain Asian territories. ¡ By the late 1950s, some Canadians believed that participation in a military alliance dominated by the United States was unwise; others believed that Canadian interests could best be secured through the United Nations, or even through renewed isolationism. ¡ This meant their support of the NATO was declining. ¡ By the time of 1968-69, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau considered the idea of pulling out of NATO, but never did. ¡ Eventually Canada supported both NATO‘s enlargement and internal reform, believing that NATO had become the embodiment of the ideals first enunciated in Article 11 of the treaty: a forum for nonmilitary cooperation and dialogue from which security, and a true sense of North Atlantic community, might gradually emerge. ¡ Canada was not asked to become a member of the SEATO and excluded itself from any commitment with it. ¡ North American Aerospace Defense between the United States and Canada (Augest 1st, 1957) ¡ Provided an early warning in case of a nuclear attack. ¡ One reason for this organization was a soviet attack would come over the arctic across Canada and into the US. ¡ The first true test of the system did not come from the north but from Cuba in 1962 when Soviet missiles were placed on that island and which directly threatened the United States. ¡ In the 1980’s the technology changed so the US wanted testing be conducted in Canada on the Cold Lake military base to track cruise missiles as a joint NORAD operation. Canada cooperated. ¡ In the 1990’s with the dissappearence of the Soviet Union the NORAD was no longer heavily needed. ¡ Some suggest that NORAD was the forerunner of other US Canadian deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement which has substantially impacted the economies of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. ¡ At the beginning of the war Canada was a member of the International Control Commission (ICC) overseeing the implementation of the Geneva Agreements, and attempted to maintain neutrality. ¡ Canadian negotiators were on the side of Americans. ¡ The sent foreign aid to South Vietnam. ¡ Canada attempted to mediate between the countries and sought to find a way for the US to leave the war honorably. ¡ Canada, however, exported supplies to the US that benefitted the American war effort. ¡ As the war went on the relationship between Canada and the United States weakened. ¡ On April 2, 1965, Pearson gave a speech at Temple University in the United States which, in the context of firm support for U.S. policy, called for a pause in the bombing of North Vietnam. ¡ LBJ became furious with him but they managed to repair their relationship and still meet after this. .

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