Canada+and+the+US

Jame's Summary

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**Living in America's Shadow**

Canada's cooperation with the United States extends back to World War II. First, the 1941 Lend-Lease Act allowed the United States to supply Britain with war materials through Canada. Then, in 1942, the United States built and paid for the Alaska Highway to protect itself against Japanese attack. Part of the highway crossed northwestern Canada. The Americans turned over control of that portion of the highway after the war. Since that time, Canada has been under pressure to cooperate with the United States to defend North America.

**North American Defence**

When the Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb in 1949, the Cold War rose to a new level of fear and suspicion. The arms race was in full swing as each side built more powerful nuclear weapons. This led to the joint Defence Agreement of 1950, which combined the defence resources of Canada and the United States. The shortest route from the Soviet Union to the United States is over the North Pole and across Canada so Americans were given permission to use Canadian airspace to intercept incoming planes and missiles, cushioning the United States from attack.

By 1953 both the United States and the Soviets had developed the hydrogen bomb, an even deadlier weapon. Cold War tensions were so high that many believed a Soviet invasion of North America was a real threat. During the mid-1950s, Canada worked with the United States to construct three different lines of radar stations to detect incoming planes and missiles.

**//Increasing Cold War Security//**

In 1957 the Soviet Union used a rocket to launch the first satellite, called //Sputnik 1//, into space. Military leaders on both sides realized that nuclear weapons could easily be fired with large missiles instead of being dropped from aircraft. They called these new weapons ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads and they rushed to produce them. It was estimated that a Soviet missile could reach American cities in just 30 minutes.

Canada decided early on not to develop nuclear weapons, but Canadians were still concerned about security. During that same year, 1957, the North American Air Defence Command (NORAD) was formed. This agreement between the United States and Canada joined Canadian and American radar, fighter jet, and missile units under a single command to protect the continent. NORAD headquarters were in Colorado, and a major air base was built in North Bay, Ontario.

Continental defence drew Canada and the United States closer together, but Canadians were clearly the junior partners. In NORAD, the highest-ranking Canadian officer was the deputy commander. In an attack, the United States Air Force General at NORAD headquarters didn't need to talk to Canadian officials before ordering planes from American and Canadian bases to intercept the enemy.

**//Canadian Concerns in a Cold War Era//**

Canadians had serious concerns during this era. Nationalists felt that Canada had given up too much control over its own military forces and airspace to the United States. They felt that Canada should try to be as independent as possible. But many other Canadians felt that Canada's military could not offer enough protection. They felt that Canada should work with its traditional allies - the United States and Western Europe - to improve security. There were also Canadians concerned about nuclear weapons at Canadian NORAD bases. Finally, almost everyone was concerned about a nuclear attack and nuclear fallout. Schools practised air raid drills where students would huddle under their desks to protect themselves. An underground nuclear fallout shelter, nicknamed the "Diefenbunker" after Prime Minister Diefenbaker, was built near Ottawa. If a nuclear attack occurred, key government officials would be rushed there to safely direct the country. The Diefenbunker is now a museum that focuses on the Cold War.

Many Canadians were opposed to a 1958 plan to arm missiles at a Canadian NORAD base with nuclear warheads. Despite antinuclear protests held across the country, these warheads were installed in 1963. Should citizens be allowed to protest against their government's policies?

**Living Language**

"Nuclear fallout" is the radioactive dust created by atomic bombs. It contaminates air, land, and water and can poison people long after a nuclear explosion. Cancer and birth deformities are two of the serious health risks caused by radiation.

Task
<span style="font: 150% 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.3px; margin: 0px;">1. Create a timeline for U.S.-Canada continental defence. Use information from the text about the following years: 1949, 1950, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958, and 1963.