History Exam Notes PDF

Post-WWII Political Developments ​ Yalta Conference: A meeting between the US, Britain, and the Soviet Union after WWII to reorganize Germany and Europe. Germany was divided into four occupied zones. ​ Marshall Plan: A US economic recovery plan to help rebuild Europe after WWII. It involve...

Post-WWII Political Developments ​ Yalta Conference: A meeting between the US, Britain, and the Soviet Union after WWII to reorganize Germany and Europe. Germany was divided into four occupied zones. ​ Marshall Plan: A US economic recovery plan to help rebuild Europe after WWII. It involved supplying raw materials and equipment to European countries. ​ United Nations (1945): An intergovernmental organization established after WWII. Its goals included maintaining international peace and security, promoting social progress, and improving living standards and human rights. It was established by the "Big Five" nations: Soviet Union, United States, Britain, France, and China. The Cold War ​ Canada as a "middle power": Canada, led by Mackenzie King, was a middle power, not a part of the "Big Five." King aimed to have smaller nations involved in global security operations. ​ Ideological Differences (US vs. USSR): The US (democratic, capitalist) and the USSR (communist) had differing political outlooks. The differing ideologies led to the Cold War. -​ Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. -​ Communism is a political theory of a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. ​ USSR Invasions: The Russian army invaded Eastern European countries during WWII, despite Stalin's promise to withdraw. ​ The Iron Curtain: The political boundary dividing Europe into separate areas. Stalin's efforts to block contact with the West to keep Eastern Europe from interacting with the West. All of the countries a part of the iron curtain were countries bordering the U.S.S.R ​ Warsaw Pact (1955): A military alliance formed by Eastern European communist countries in response to NATO. Countries bordering the U.S.S.R were forced to join known as the iron curtain ​ NATO (1949): The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, formed as an international defense collaboration. It aimed to align nations opposed to Soviet expansion. Canada, United Kingdom, United States and many other western european countries were apart of Nato and all agreed to help each other if they were ever attacked ​ Truman Doctrine: A shift in American foreign policy aimed at containing Soviet expansion. ​ Cold War Conflicts: The Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis were major conflicts during the Cold War. -​ The Korean war took place from 1950-1953 and absolutely nothing changed. The only things that happened were deaths. By the end of the war the borders did not change and stayed the exact same. Around 25,000 canadian troops were sent over to fight and this conflict demonstrates the tension between political ideologies -​ The Cuban missile Crisis took place in 1962 when the U.S.S.R placed nuclear missile bases in Cuba and the US asked Cuba to remove them but Cuba was being funded by the U.S.S.R and decided not to listen so eventually when the missiles were removed, an embargo was placed on Cuba from the United States killing the Cuban Economy Canada's Role ​ NATO Membership: Canada joined NATO to improve international relations and security. ​ Military Involvement: Canada sent troops to Korea and participated in UNEF operations.  ​ NORAD: North American Aerospace Defence Command. Canada and the US joined to create a continental defense system. ​ Canada's Diplomacy: Lester Pearson, a Canadian diplomat, worked to resolve conflicts during the Cold War era. Pearson's efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. ​ Suez Crisis Involvement: Canada played a role in mediating the Suez Crisis, proposing a UN peacekeeping force. Suez Canal Crisis ID ​ Who What When Where Why (HSx2) -​ After the second world war in 1956, the Egyptian government wanted to seize a Canal in Egypt that was owned by British and French investors. The Canal was a significant trade route and losing it would impact Britain and France. The Egyptian government was backed up by the USSR and Great Britain asked for Canada to send troops to help fight. This event is historically significant because the prime minister of Canada at the time did not immediately send troops to help with the tension in Egypt but instead took matters to the United Nations and suggested that they should create an emergency peacekeeping force for disagreements like these in the future. So the UNEF (United Nations Emergency Force) was created and they kept the peace in Egypt leading the prime minister of Canada Lester B Pearson to win a Nobel Prize. Another reason why this event is historically significant is because the Canal was returned back to Egypt after the crisis by the United Nations and this showed that Britain was not the once large imperialistic country it once was. Post-War Prosperity in Canada 📈 Post-War Economic Boom ​ Increased Industrial Production: Factories and mines saw a large increase in production. ​ Boom Towns: New mining and forestry industries led to the growth of boom towns, such as Sudbury, Ontario. ​ Labor Unions: Regularly went on strike to demand higher wages. ​ Baby Boom: The post-war era saw a significant increase in births, with over 6 million babies born in the decade following the war. This generation is known as the baby boomers. The baby boom had a significant impact on trends and developments as this generation moved through its life phases. 🏘️ Suburbanization and Changing Roles ​ Urbanization: The national trend of urbanization continued, with people moving to the suburbs in search of larger, cheaper properties. These homes, often described as "look-alike homes," featured patios, driveways, pools, and multiple bedrooms. ​ Car Culture: Commuting to the city for work made cars essential, transforming them into a status symbol. ​ Changing Women's Roles: Women were expected to leave factory jobs and return to the homemaker role, while men were the breadwinners. Traditional feminine fashions returned, but many women felt isolated and resentful of suburban life. 🛍️ Consumerism and New Technologies ​ Consumer Product Boom: A massive increase in consumer products and advertising focused on making life easier and more luxurious. Many products targeted women's domestic life, such as vacuum cleaners and washing machines. ​ Cars as Status Symbols: Cars became a significant status symbol, with larger engines, stylish designs, and new features frequently advertised as futuristic. ​ Television's Rise: Television emerged as a major cultural force. Initially expensive, it quickly became a standard in most middle-class homes. ​ New Media: Records and transistor radios helped spread new media. ​ Space Race: The launch of Sputnik by the USSR in 1957, followed by the American response in 1958, sparked the space race, fueled by the Cold War. The first moon landing in 1969 was a pivotal moment watched by millions on television. 🎶 Teenage Culture and Music ​ Teenage Culture: The baby boomer generation created a distinct teenage culture, with its own fashion, fads, music, and values that often clashed with the older generation. ​ Rock and Roll: Became the music of choice for teenage boomers, rooted in African American rhythms and styles. Early stars included Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Elvis Presley brought the style to mainstream white America. ​ British Invasion: British teenagers raised on American rock and roll spurred a later wave of British pop music in the 1960s. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones dominated American airwaves, becoming known as the British Invasion. 🇨🇦 Post-War Immigration and Canadian Identity ​ Immigration Policy Changes: Canada's strict immigration policy was relaxed, accepting 165,000 displaced persons after the war. Over 2 million immigrants settled in Canada between 1945 and 1960, including one million returning veterans and many fleeing communist revolutions. ​ New Canadian Flag: A new flag, the red and white maple leaf, was adopted in 1965 to establish Canada's distinct identity separate from Britain. This followed considerable debate and discussion amongst Liberal-minded and French Canadians. ​ Protection of Canadian Culture: The Massey Commission investigated the status of Canadian culture. In 1968, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was established to regulate and protect Canadian media content.