canada’s involvement in post-wwii wars ch. 6 (p. 138-139, 144-145, 153-155)

Canada’s Involvement in Canada’s Involvement in Post-WWII WarsPost-WWII Wars

Ch. 6 (p. 138-139, 144-145, 153-155)Ch. 6 (p. 138-139, 144-145, 153-155)

Korean WarKorean War

Korea divided in two after WWIIKorea divided in two after WWII Soviet Union controlled North – communistSoviet Union controlled North – communist

Supported by ChinaSupported by China USA controlled South - democraticUSA controlled South - democratic

1950: North Korea invades South Korea1950: North Korea invades South Korea United Nations condemns invasion, approves UN United Nations condemns invasion, approves UN

military force to help South Koreamilitary force to help South Korea UN force from 15 countries, including Canada, but mostly UN force from 15 countries, including Canada, but mostly

from the USAfrom the USA Minister of External Affairs Lester Pearson tried to Minister of External Affairs Lester Pearson tried to

negotiate a ceasefirenegotiate a ceasefire USA considered using atomic bombUSA considered using atomic bomb


1953: Stalemate, ceasefire, Korea remained 1953: Stalemate, ceasefire, Korea remained divided in twodivided in two

Increased tensions between Western countries Increased tensions between Western countries and communist countriesand communist countries

First example of “proxy war”First example of “proxy war” War fought indirectly between USA and USSRWar fought indirectly between USA and USSR

Approx. 300 Canadians killed, 1200 injuredApprox. 300 Canadians killed, 1200 injured

Vietnam WarVietnam War

Like Korea, Vietnam divided in twoLike Korea, Vietnam divided in two Communist North, Democratic-ish SouthCommunist North, Democratic-ish South

USA believed that if South became communist, USA believed that if South became communist, then many countries in region would follow – then many countries in region would follow – “domino theory”“domino theory”

1960s: USA sends increasing amount of troops to 1960s: USA sends increasing amount of troops to South to prevent communist takeoverSouth to prevent communist takeover

1965: President Johnson orders bombing of North 1965: President Johnson orders bombing of North Vietnam, keeps sending more troopsVietnam, keeps sending more troops

USSR and China supplying N. Vietnamese armyUSSR and China supplying N. Vietnamese army


Canada’s ReactionCanada’s Reaction Opinion divided, became increasingly anti-warOpinion divided, became increasingly anti-war

First televised war, images on news weakened supportFirst televised war, images on news weakened support My Lai Massacre – several hundred women, children, elderly killedMy Lai Massacre – several hundred women, children, elderly killed

Anti-war protests/demonstrations across US & CanadaAnti-war protests/demonstrations across US & Canada PM Pearson against Canadian involvementPM Pearson against Canadian involvement

Criticized Vietnam War in speech at US universityCriticized Vietnam War in speech at US university President Johnson furious, let Pearson know itPresident Johnson furious, let Pearson know it

No Canadian troops fought in the Vietnam WarNo Canadian troops fought in the Vietnam War Many American “draft dodgers” fled to CanadaMany American “draft dodgers” fled to Canada

Canadian companies sold equipment to US militaryCanadian companies sold equipment to US military


US unable to defeat North VietnameseUS unable to defeat North Vietnamese 1969: President Nixon promises to end war1969: President Nixon promises to end war All US troops out of Vietnam by 1973All US troops out of Vietnam by 1973 South Vietnam taken over by North, country South Vietnam taken over by North, country

unified under communist ruleunified under communist rule Many Vietnamese refugees flee country, Many Vietnamese refugees flee country,

thousands immigrate to Canadathousands immigrate to Canada

First Gulf WarFirst Gulf War

August 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait, declared it August 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait, declared it a province of Iraqa province of Iraq Kuwait invaded because of its oilKuwait invaded because of its oil United Nations tries to convince Iraq, led by United Nations tries to convince Iraq, led by

Saddam Hussein, to leave Kuwait, given deadlineSaddam Hussein, to leave Kuwait, given deadline Resolutions and economic sanctionsResolutions and economic sanctions

Jan. 1991: deadline passes without Iraq withdrawalJan. 1991: deadline passes without Iraq withdrawal UN forces, led by USA, begin Operation Desert StormUN forces, led by USA, begin Operation Desert Storm Canada contributes 4000 troops, military personnelCanada contributes 4000 troops, military personnel First time Canadian women fought in a warFirst time Canadian women fought in a war Iraq troops bombed, pushed back to Iraq by March 1991Iraq troops bombed, pushed back to Iraq by March 1991

Yugoslav Civil WarsYugoslav Civil Wars

1980s: rising ethnic tensions in Yugoslavia1980s: rising ethnic tensions in Yugoslavia 1991: Croatia declares its independence from 1991: Croatia declares its independence from

Yugoslavia, attacked by Yugoslavian armyYugoslavia, attacked by Yugoslavian army War spreads to other areas of country, acts of War spreads to other areas of country, acts of

“ethnic cleansing” committed“ethnic cleansing” committed UN sends in peacekeepersUN sends in peacekeepers

Canadian peacekeepers first to arrive in Bosnia-Canadian peacekeepers first to arrive in Bosnia-Herzegovina (region in Yugoslavia)Herzegovina (region in Yugoslavia)

Unable to keep peace, prevent ethnic cleansingUnable to keep peace, prevent ethnic cleansing

Yugoslav Civil WarYugoslav Civil War


1995: NATO frustrated with ineffectiveness of UN, 1995: NATO frustrated with ineffectiveness of UN, launches air strikes against Yugoslav armylaunches air strikes against Yugoslav army Canada contributes as member of NATOCanada contributes as member of NATO Ceasefire eventually agreed to, US troops join UN Ceasefire eventually agreed to, US troops join UN

peacekeeperspeacekeepers 1998: Yugoslav forces move into Kosovo region to 1998: Yugoslav forces move into Kosovo region to

make sure it didn’t become independentmake sure it didn’t become independent 1999: NATO’s attempts to convince Yugoslav military 1999: NATO’s attempts to convince Yugoslav military

to leave Kosovo fail, begins bombing of Yugoslaviato leave Kosovo fail, begins bombing of Yugoslavia Trying to force Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to Trying to force Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to

stop persecuting and killing people of Kosovostop persecuting and killing people of Kosovo


Controversy over Canada’s participation in Controversy over Canada’s participation in NATO bombingsNATO bombings For: NATO job to prevent war spreading, For: NATO job to prevent war spreading,

mistreatment of people of Kosovomistreatment of people of Kosovo Against: NATO should not interfere in another Against: NATO should not interfere in another

country’s affairs, bombing made things worsecountry’s affairs, bombing made things worse What was NATO’s role after the Cold War?What was NATO’s role after the Cold War? What role should Canada play in US-dominated What role should Canada play in US-dominated

organizations after the Cold War?organizations after the Cold War?

Second Gulf WarSecond Gulf War After First Gulf War, UN placed economic After First Gulf War, UN placed economic

sanctions on Saddam Hussein and Iraq, sends sanctions on Saddam Hussein and Iraq, sends inspectors to make sure weapons of mass inspectors to make sure weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) destroyeddestruction (WMDs) destroyed Hussein repeatedly refused to cooperate with UN Hussein repeatedly refused to cooperate with UN

weapons inspectorsweapons inspectors 2002: President Bush pushes for military action 2002: President Bush pushes for military action

against Iraq, believes Hussein developing WMDsagainst Iraq, believes Hussein developing WMDs UN Security Council refuses to authorize military UN Security Council refuses to authorize military

actionaction

Second Gulf WarSecond Gulf War

March 2003: US invades Iraq without UN March 2003: US invades Iraq without UN supportsupport Joined by “Coalition of the Willing”: Britain, Joined by “Coalition of the Willing”: Britain,

Australia, Poland, Denmark, and smaller countriesAustralia, Poland, Denmark, and smaller countries PM Jean Chrétien and most Canadians against PM Jean Chrétien and most Canadians against

attack, supported further inspectionsattack, supported further inspections Canada does not participate in Second Gulf WarCanada does not participate in Second Gulf War

April 2003: Iraq defeated, Saddam Hussein April 2003: Iraq defeated, Saddam Hussein eventually captured and executed, US and eventually captured and executed, US and coalition forces occupy countrycoalition forces occupy country

Second Gulf WarSecond Gulf War

War in AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan

2001: Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda, led 2001: Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, on United Statesby Osama bin Laden, on United States Leaders of Afghanistan, the Taliban, accused of Leaders of Afghanistan, the Taliban, accused of

protecting Al-Qaedaprotecting Al-Qaeda Afghanistan invaded by US to destroy Taliban and Afghanistan invaded by US to destroy Taliban and

Al-Qaeda, find Osama bin LadenAl-Qaeda, find Osama bin Laden PM Chrétien pledges full Canadian support to USPM Chrétien pledges full Canadian support to US

2002: Taliban no longer in control, Canada 2002: Taliban no longer in control, Canada sends troops to Kandahar region to find Al-sends troops to Kandahar region to find Al-Qaeda and Taliban, help Afghan peopleQaeda and Taliban, help Afghan people


Canadian troops continue to serve in AfghanistanCanadian troops continue to serve in Afghanistan Still very dangerous (133 Canadians killed, 2 in the past month)Still very dangerous (133 Canadians killed, 2 in the past month) Progress is slow, still many insurgents (violent rebels)Progress is slow, still many insurgents (violent rebels) Controversy over possible torture connectionsControversy over possible torture connections

Allegations that Canadian officials handed Afghan detainees (prisoners) Allegations that Canadian officials handed Afghan detainees (prisoners) over to Afghan authorities knowing they would be torturedover to Afghan authorities knowing they would be tortured

Debate in Canada about future participation in Afghanistan Debate in Canada about future participation in Afghanistan continuescontinues

For: rebuilding of Afghanistan not finished, no troops in Afghanistan For: rebuilding of Afghanistan not finished, no troops in Afghanistan would mean more violence and worse conditionswould mean more violence and worse conditions

Against: little progress being made, too many Canadians dying, not Against: little progress being made, too many Canadians dying, not Canada’s responsibilityCanada’s responsibility

canada’s involvement in post-wwii wars ch. 6 (p. 138-139, 144-145, 153-155)

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