End of WW2
1. The Great Land Grab2. What happened to Germany3. Birth of 2 super powers4. Canada
Displaced Persons (DP) Newfoundland, Resources
The End of the War
V.E Day: The war in Europe ends on May 8, 1945. Nazi Germany surrenders when Soviet (Russian) forces enter the city of Berlin
Hoisting the Soviet Flag in Berlin
3
Satellite Nations…
Stalin never allowed truly free elections.
Instead, communist governments were installed in many Eastern European nations.
Main Purpose? Protect USSR from
invasion from the West Buffer Zone
The End of the WarThe A-Bomb August 6, 1945, a lone
American bomber flew high over the Japanese city of Hiroshima
Dropped a single bomb named “Little Boy”
1st atomic bomb unleashed on the world
V- J Day
Japan surrendered August 14 – 1945
The War was OVER!!!!
The new world order Two new world super – powers Atomic age A territorial war based on ideas (communism vs. free
democracy / capitalism)
The Cold War begins
7
New Superpowers The United States and the USSR (Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics) Each nation was strong enough to greatly
influence world events.
Stalin – Premier of USSRHarry Truman President of the USA
8
Containment Policy George Kennan, career
Foreign Service Officer Formulated the policy of
“containment”: US would not get rid of
communism, but would not allow it to spread.
US would “contain” communism where it already existed.
Canada
Displaced Persons Newfound Land Resources An area of optimism and pessimism Middle power – cold war
Newfoundland
Newfoundland, although proving to be of strategic importance during WW2 is afraid it will loose its independence and become a colony of Britain
Problem: How does it prevent itself from falling to economic ruin
Referendums Referendum #1
People of Newfoundland voted on all 3 options
No single option received a majority vote
Re-vote
Referendum #2 People of
Newfoundland voted on 2 options: Self-government or union with Canada
Referendum Results Those in the out-posts,
fisheries, loggers and miners voted with Joey Smallwood for confederation with Canada Wanted financial security
and stability
The Merchants voted for “responsible self-government” Feared the market might
move
Referendum Results – March 31, 1949
52% of Islanders favoured joining Canada
48% of islanders were for responsible self-government
April 1, 1949 Newfoundland became Canada’s 10th province and Joey Smallwood became Canada’s last father of confederation
Joey Smallwood first premier
of Newfoundland - Last Father of Confederation
Natural Resources and mega projects
Natural Resources
Oil and gas
Lumber, pulp and paper
Hydro electric
Metals / minerals
Mining and aggregates
Mega-projects-Pipeline-St. Lawrence Seaway-Hydro-electric dam
CANDU reactorsNuclear power
Resources
Discovery of oil in Leduc Alberta, 1947
Mining – fueling the American demand for wood, coal, iron, aluminum and copper