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Role Of War In Canada

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How War and Peace has Defined Canada
Many different themes have defined Canada: war and peace is one of those themes. World War I and World War II defined Canada as it grew into a powerful middle power. War created a strong economy and strengthened the women’s movement, however it strained the ties between French and English Canada. Canada’s peacekeeping missions helped define it as a strong peacekeeping force and built national pride. 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 …show more content…

During WWII, Canada played a crucial role in the Battle of the Atlantic and the air war over Germany. They contributed troops to the allied forces and punched far above their weight for a small nation of then only 11 million people. Because of Canada’s oversized role in the War, it established itself as a middle power. This position helped define Canada in a number of ways, primarily being one of the first non-great powers to help build the United Nations. It earned respect from other countries and with The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It gave Canada a voice in trade agreements that helped Canada trade with other countries WWII also shaped Canada by giving it an industrial boom. Canada provided Great Britain with war materials, such as; aircraft and small arms needed to fight the War, plus food to feed the British people when they were cut off by the German U-boat blockade. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia: “There was large production of aircraft, including Lancaster bombers; and the greatest triumph of the program was in the field of military vehicles, of which 815,729 were made.” Britain could not pay for it all and by the end of the war, they owed Canada over three billion dollars. This industrial boom is one reason Canada has been able to have such a …show more content…

It had a lot of terms to try to maintain world peace. Cold war tensions between the USSR and the USA prevented a permanent UN force from being created. As an alternative, the UN decided to send temporary military forces into the world regional hotspots to keep the peace. Military officials were sent to the Pakistan-India region of Kashmir. The same action was taken the following month along the Arab-Israeli borders in Palestine. Canada continued to have many peacekeeping/making missions, such as in the Korean War and the Suez crisis. Later the Canada view of peacekeeping was most notably damaged by the Somalian scandal where, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia “two Canadian paratroopers serving in Somalia beat and tortured a local teenager to death. A dozen more Canadian soldiers had been aware of the beating but did nothing to intervene” This scandal embarrassed Canada and hurt its reputation for peacekeeping. Canada’s history of peacekeeping has shaped it by helping build its reputation as a strong middle power, a player in the UN. Along with that it helped bolster national pride World War One, Two and peace have been defining themes in Canada’s history. WWI separated french and english Canada and gave women the right to vote. In WWII Canada established itself as a middle power and its industrial sector grew. Peacekeeping helped defined Canada as a nation with strong peacekeeping power and helped bolster

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Peacekeeping is an important attribute to Canadian identity. To endorse peace, the Canadian Peace Congress was created in 1949. It advocated for the ban of nuclear weapons and arms race particularly during 1970-1980s. Furthermore, Canada was involved in United Nations since 1945. An important figure in peacekeeping of Canada was Lester B. Pearson, a Canadian prime minister who reigned from 1963 to 1968.

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Throughout World War I a sense of Canadian nationalism on the battlefield was born. Many successes and sacrifices led to this new patriotic consciousness. When World War I started, although Canada was a separate country, Britain still controlled Canada’s foreign policy so when Britain entered the war so did Canada. Unlike previous wars where Canada fought under the British command, World War I was the first war where Canadians fought together as a separate unit. The Canadians were involved in several bloody skirmishes where they distinguished themselves on the battlefield.

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During World War II, Woman’s were assembled for duty in the Canadian Armed Forces, for the first time. The armed force was shy of men in war services and administration, which lead the Canadian government to choose and declare on August 13, 1941 to give woman’s the privilege to take an interest in war utility. 50,000 women were enlisted and more than half provided service in the Canadian Army. Most were doled out occupations including customary female work, for example, cooking, clothing and administrative obligations, also woman had pioneer roles in the mechanized and specialized fields. The Canadian Women 's Army Corps (CWAC) performed fundamental administrations, both at home and abroad, that achieved Allied victory.

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As a country Canada’s strengths included, gaining autonomy through persevering and showing just how mature and ready Canadians were to be in charge of their own army; and be recognized as a separate country from Britain. Another one of Canada’s strengths was how calmly autonomy was achieved after the war. Canada did not need to make a fuss about becoming their own country because it was obvious that they were already ready for that. Their proof was presented in how they planned and executed their battles, and fought alongside Britain to successfully defeat

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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.

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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.

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This is evident because of how Canada could be less respected if it wasn’t for their war contributions, how women’s rights could have been different or non-existent, and how Canada could not have gained it’s independence from Britain. In conclusion, World War One impacted Canada greatly

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This showed that Canada had the ability to be a decision-maker and assist Britain. This showed more change in their relationship as Canada was the one to help Britain, instead of the mother country typically helping Canada. This also proved that Canada could play different roles in times of conflict, showing independence. Canada was just as easily a peacekeeper than a fighter in this event. This showed that Canada was less dependent on Britain as it rather aided them and took on a more non-violent role.

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Even from the beginning of the First World War, they wanted a better relationship with the other nations. This was further supported by the two world wars. Canada was thrown headfirst into a war against the Triple Alliance and Axis Powers during those 10 years. Soon after various events that occurred, such as the evacuation at Dunkirk, Canada

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Canada wanted to be recognized for their war efforts, and they opposed to further fight without representing their own country, indicating that they could be independent, a step towards developing their constitution. Next, the notable war records and successes in battles such as Vimy Ridge won them recognition on the Treaty of Versailles. Prime Minister Robert Borden, in the Liberal-Conservative Handbook , ‘Equal status or Equality of Nationhood', stated, "The highest future for this Dominion lies within this Empire upon conditions of equal status." This statement by Borden foreshadowed Canada’s important role in the Paris Peace Conference and the eventual signing of the Treaty of Versailles. This was a significant milestone in Canada’s history and the signing showed the world that Canada is a new independent nation that can support and represent

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In 1939, no one thought that women, who weren 't even considered people decades before, would have such a massive impact in the Second World War. Canadian women 's contribution to the war effort, and their role at the home front and overseas had greatly increased since the previous, devastating First World War. The Second World War brought change to Canadian women on an unpredictable scale, though their volunteer work, paid labour force, and their contributions in the armed forces. Surely without the contributions made by the Canadian women, Canada and her allies would not have been as successful as they were. By far, the prime contribution made by Canadian women to the war effort came through their unpaid labour as volunteer work.

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World War 1 was a historic event which began in 1914 and ended in 1918. This bloody conflict took the lives of more than 17 million people who were fighting for their countries. Being a British colony at the time, Canada was dragged into the war that did not impact the country in any way, yet thousands of Canadians volunteered to devote their lives for their nation. The first World War had the greatest impact on Canadian history during the 20th century, as this event helped Canada gain more independence from Britain, it helped introduce women in the workforce, and also introduced non-white Canadians in the army. For the longest time, Canada had been under British control, however, this changed a bit after World War 1 took place.

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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.

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