Post-War Global Conflicts and Canadian Policy History

Cold War and Post-War History Review

Multiple Choice Section Preparation

The multiple-choice section is straightforward. Ensure you have a strong understanding of the Suez Canal Crisis, as this is a potential area for difficulty.

There may also be a quote from John Diefenbaker where you must identify the country he is referencing.

Key Historical Questions and Answers

1. Cold War Impact on American Culture

Question: How did uncertainty about the Cold War affect American culture?

Answer: It caused the Red Scare, which was the promotion of widespread fear by society or the state about a potential rise of communism or anarchism. Anyone who was perceived as different was often considered a communist sympathizer.

2. Purpose of the Warsaw Pact

Question: What was the purpose of the Warsaw Pact?

Answer: The Warsaw Pact was the Eastern European, Russian-dominated, communist equivalent of the Western European, American-dominated NATO. It was designed to provide mutual military support in the event of war.

3. Purpose of the Space Race

Question: What was the purpose of the Space Race?

Answer: The Space Race was considered important because it demonstrated to the world which country possessed the best science, technology, and economic system. Following World War II, both the United States and the Soviet Union realized the critical military importance of rocket research.

4. Why the Berlin Wall Was Built

Question: Why was the Berlin Wall built?

Answer: For East Germans dissatisfied with life under the communist system, West Berlin served as a gateway to the democratic West. Between 1949 and 1961, approximately 2.5 million East Germans fled from East to West Germany, mostly via West Berlin. To prevent this mass exodus of their population and the subsequent crash of their economy, the East German government constructed the wall to prevent escape.

5. Vietnam War Protests in America

Question: Why did American citizens have mass protests in America during the Vietnam War?

Answer: Many Americans opposed the war on moral grounds, appalled by the devastation and violence. Others claimed the conflict was a war against Vietnamese independence or an intervention in a foreign civil war. Additionally, many opposed it because they felt it lacked clear objectives and appeared to be unwinnable.

6. Lester B. Pearson's Contributions to Canada

Question: List three things Lester B. Pearson did that shaped Canada.

• Canada Pension Plan (CPP): He established the pension plan in 1965.
• Medical Care (Universal Health Care): He expanded the health program idea proposed in 1947 in Saskatchewan and enacted the Universal Health Care Act in 1966.
• Canadian Flag: There was a significant debate regarding the new Canadian flag. Pearson desired a flag that would represent Canada individually and be unique, leading to the adoption of the current Maple Leaf design.

7. Events Leading to the Cold War

Question: List at least five events that led up to the Cold War.

• The Soviet Union’s refusal to join the United Nations (UN).
• America’s growing fear of communism.
• The Soviet Union’s fear of the atomic bomb.
• Stalin’s belief that Britain and France deliberately delayed D-Day, resulting in high Soviet casualties (estimated at 20 million soldiers).
• Stalin reneging on promises of freedom and democratic elections in Eastern Europe.