Terms
What was the Cold War?
A period of political tension and rivalry between the democratic West and the communist East, mainly between the US and the USSR, without direct military conflict.
What happened during the Gouzenko Affair?
Igor Gouzenko defected from the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa in 1945 and exposed a Soviet spy ring in Canada.
Who was Igor Gouzenko?
A Soviet embassy worker in Ottawa who defected and exposed Soviet espionage activities in Canada.
Who was Lester B. Pearson?
Why were Western nations so afraid of communism after WWII?
Because the USSR aimed to spread its ideology globally, threatening democratic systems and economic freedom.
What is Communism?
Government ownership of production and distribution suppression of democracy
What was the Korean War
A war from 1950–1953 between North (communist) and South Korea
Who was Lester B. Pearson and what was his role in the Cold War?
A Canadian diplomat and later Prime Minister who helped resolve the Suez Crisis through diplomacy.
Who was Foster Hewitt?
A Canadian sports commentator starring on Hockey Night in Canada.
How did Canada balance protecting national security with civil liberties during the Cold War?
Security took priority—people were arrested on suspicion, and some civil rights were violated.
What is the “Iron Curtain”?
A metaphor used by Winston Churchill to describe the division between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe.
What did Canada do in the Suez Crisis?
Lester B. Pearson proposed a UN peacekeeping force, helping to end the crisis peacefully and winning a Nobel Peace Prize.
Who was Senator Joseph McCarthy?
An American politician who led anti-communist hearings, accusing many people without solid evidence.
Who was Louis St. Luarent
Prime minister from 1948 to 1957.
Why did the US and USSR avoid direct war during the Cold War?
Because both had nuclear weapons, which made direct conflict too dangerous (mutually assured destruction).
What is an ICBM and why was it important?
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile; important for delivering nuclear weapons across long distances during the Cold War.
How were the Inuit affected by Cold War defense plans?
They were forcibly relocated to remote communities to make way for radar systems, which disrupted their traditional way of life.
How did John Diefenbaker respond to Cold War threats?
He built the Diefenbunker to protect key officials from nuclear attacks.
Who was Douglas
MacArthur
First General to lead Canadian forces during the Korean War.
How did Cold War fears lead to discrimination or rights abuses in Canada and the US?
Suspected communists were interrogated, jailed, or denied work without proper evidence.
What is McCarthyism?
A campaign in the US during the 1950s to root out suspected communists, often with little evidence.
What was the purpose of building the Diefenbunker?
To protect Canadian government leaders in case of a nuclear attack.
Why did the Soviets view defectors like Gouzenko as traitors?
Because they revealed state secrets and undermined the USSR's goals.
Who was Abdel Nasser?
President of Egypt during the Suez Canal Crisis.
How did aid programs like the Colombo and Marshall Plans reflect Cold War values?
They used economic support to promote democracy and resist communist influence in struggling countries.