In the years from 1945 – 2000, Canada developed and changed as a nation. These changes had both positive and negative effects and many have subject to controversy throughout Canada. With global crises at hand, such as the Cold War, Canada found itself involved in international affairs in a way it had never been before. The role Canada had to take in the international community greatly developed Canada’s international role. Throughout this, Canada found itself heavily influenced by the US and struggled to keeps its autonomy from American influences and maintain friendly relations with the United States.
Meanwhile, Canada was plagued with internal issues, both political and economic, as it adapted to a changing society. Canada was faced with
In the articles “Romanticism and realism in Canada’s foreign policy” by Allan Gotlieb, and “Canada’s global promise” by Jennifer Welsh, both authors argue the need for Canada to re-evaluate their current foreign policy however, differ in the way of how Canada should strive for international growth. Firstly, both authors contend that due to Canada’s lack of involvement of being the “peacekeeper” that they use to be, Canada’s reputation of being the global player has taken a serious hit. In Welsh’s article she mentions many Canadians want to be more active on the world stage, and want to spend more money on over seas development, and such UN projects, however the problem “is that Canadians are rarely asked to make difficult trade-offs in spending”. As a result, the Canadian government has to make cuts in spending on such military resources, and programs, in
" Fall of the Soviet Union."). Considering this, the collapse of the Soviet Union greatly impacted Canada and the world as whole. Being that throughout the 20th century and up to the 1990’s there was a great debate between whether or not democracy or communism is the better political system. With the Soviet Union being the leading communist country, their collapse finally ended that debate and did unintentional would do a favour to democratic countries.
Pierre Elliott Trudeau has rightly been described as one of Canada’s most controversial Prime Ministers. Elected in 1968, this former law professor and writer used his charisma and intellect to dominate Canadian politics for almost two decades. His long stint in power as prime minister is remarkable given Trudeau’s often unpredictable behavior and disastrous initiatives. Prime Minister Trudeau came into power during a very tumultuous time in Canada’s history. Forced to deal with crisis after crisis, he enacted many polarizing policies that were popular with some but despised by others.
When Canada was created the Halifax explosion, Vimy ridge and the battle of the Somme were all significant events in Canadian history that played important roles in Canada's development and growth. It also carried on the legacy of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, one of Canada's most influential prime ministers. These crucial events played a vital role in shaping both Laurier’s leadership and Canada’s national identity as a whole. They all had their fair share of importance towards Canada showcasing their bravery, sacrifice and resilience during world war 1.
Canada has been one of the twelve original members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since it was founded in 1949, a few years after the end of World War 2 and at the beginning of an almost nuclear disaster known as the Cold War. This intergovernmental military alliance initially made up of the United States, Canada and Western European nations (Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom) plays a significant role to secure international peace and has become the heart of Canadian security and defence policy. Canada is very proud to have contributed to every NATO operation since the founding of this organization more than sixty years ago, proving the commitment
Next, the return of Canadian soldiers had a massive impact on Canada as a whole. More than a million Canadians, both men and women, served in World War 2 with hundreds of thousands less, returning (Second World War, 2022). These changes consisted of growing populations and interventions, with people saying that “Canada was also fundamentally transformed… There was increased urbanization, industrialization, state intervention in the lives of Canadians.” (Canada and the Second World War, n.d.).
Essay Outline The human race that inhabited the lands earlier than anyone else, Aboriginals in Canada had conquered many obstacles which got them to what they are today. In the past, Canadian Aboriginals have dealt with many gruesome issues that primarily involved the Canadians opposing them or treating them like ‘‘wards.’’ The Indian Act is a written law which controls the Indian’s lives and it is often amended several times to make Indian lives either peaceful or cruel but especially, cruel. Aboriginals found the Indian Act a massive problem in their lives due to it completely controlling them and how they lived on their reserve.
Canada has been defined by its contributions at home and abroad in WWI, WWII, and peacekeeping. World War I played an important role in Canada’s history. It shaped Canada by giving women suffrage and by the war creating a greater divide between French and English Canadians. By the end of WWI, the Canadian government
Canada is now known to be a diverse, multicultural, bilingual and inclusive nation largely as a result of his work. Pierre Elliott Trudeau also believed in an equal Canada for all, he is primarily the one to introduce rights and freedoms to the citizens of Canada. While some view Pierre Trudeau as impulsive, for enforcing the War Measures Act, Trudeau enacted this for the protection of Canadian citizens against radical extremist and his actions were more rational than impulsive for the situation that had suddenly occurred. Pierre Trudeau was one of Canada’s greatest Prime Minister’s, who’s impact fundamentally changed the course of the nation by introducing multiculturalism, for introducing the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and for paradoxically upholding democracy by strong action during the October Crisis.
To call this era of drastic change the ‘Quiet Revolution’ is a vivid, and yet, paradoxical description. The Quiet Revolution was a time of intense socio-political and socio-cultural change in Quebec, which extended beyond Quebec’s borders because of its influence on contemporary Canadian politics. As a result of the effects of the changes that occurred during this Quiet Revolution, most Quebec provincial governments since the early 1960s have maintained political and social orientations based on the core concepts developed and implemented during the Quiet Revolution. As such, there is no doubt that the Quiet Revolution had a significant impact in Canadian History. This impact can be characterized by the prelude to the Quiet Revolution; the demographic evolution of Quebec; the social educational reforms that were put in place; the economic reforms and their impact; the rise of nationalism; and finally, the cultural changes that occurred.
In 1945 World War two had come to an end. Canada, a great contributor to the war, had many challenges to face and overcome post war. A major part of these challenges were environmental challenges, which Canada primarily encountered from 1945 - 1982. The main environmental challenges include: pollution of the great lakes, mining, and deforestation.
CANADIAN IDENTITY By Rebecca Grimwood Does Canada have a secure identity, or have we become an American wannabe? The two countries share the longest border in the world, and have a similar amount of land mass. Many wonder if Canada is simply a smaller version of America. Although Canada is aware of America’s entertainment industry, concept of multiculturalism, and history, there are fundamental differences that make Canada’s identity unique and secure.
Today, Canada is seen as a multicultural and peaceful nation that has evolved over the course of history. This great nation would never have been possible without the impact that former Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson left on this country. His achievements and insights profoundly affected and shaped Canada’s nation. First, peacekeeping is an important part of Canada’s heritage and a reflection of its fundamental beliefs that Pearson implemented after dealing with world changing situations and winning a Nobel Prize. Also, his contributions as a liberal leader as well as the flaws and controversy with Diefenbaker did in fact define this country.
William Lyon Mackenzie King, a man of glory, forever changed Canada’s constitution during the tumultuous nineteenth century and resolved all difficulties Canada faced on its way to becoming a strong, independent, and autonomous nation. His contributions and sanctions targeted all factors at the time and had interrelated effects on the construction of Canada. Unlike other Canadian politicians, King handled every crisis with thorough planning and achieved promising outcomes from unsolvable problems. It is without a doubt that King was the most influential figure in Canada’s development. His role in the autonomy, economic development, and social stability stands as solid evidence of the pioneering impacts he had on Canada’s advancement.
The events in American history have also affected Canada from a political perspective, which lead to the Democracy that is present today. Another way the U.S. has affected Canada is from a military perspective because Americans are quick to jump to war and Canada has had to help control them which lead to them being peacekeepers. The United States helped mold the Canadian identity by being both a threat and support to the nation; this will continue into the 21st century but Canada will keep it’s unique identity. A country 's culture can be seen as interchangeable with identity; in Canada there is evidence of American culture everywhere.