How Did The Cold War Influence Canadian Autonomy

CANADA’S AUTONOMY FROM THE REACTIONS OF THE SUEZ CANAL CRISIS, KOREAN WAR, AND VIETNAM WAR

Brian Chae

CHC2D8 - C

June 15, 2018

After the Second World War, Canada contributed to conflicts preceding it, being impacted as it bred to a nation. The major factor that influenced Canadian autonomy as a peacekeeping nation grew through her involvement in the Suez Canal Crisis, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The conflict to the Suez Canal was a threat, that may have led to another World War, that Canada took part in to keep the peace. Korean War and the Vietnamese War was one of the two proxy wars that Canada participated in, establishing her independence from Britain and creating ties with other countries. Canada’s political independence

To begin, the Canadian government’s reaction to the Suez Canal Crisis contributed for further the nation’s independence. The Suez Crisis was one of the major conflicts that brewed between the United States and Great Britain after World War II. In 1956, the Egyptians attempted to nationalize the Suez Canal; however, Great Britain and France wanted to gain control. As a result, “France, Britain and Israel secretly plotted to attack, without informing the US, Canada and other NATO allies… On 31 October, Britain and France began bombing the Canal Zone”. The Soviet Union also wanted a part of the Middle East, supplying Egypt with arms, completing, developing this conflict even larger. There were three superpowers; The United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union involved, which may have resulted in another devastating war. With the UN, :Lester B. Pearson announced an idea to create the

This led to better Canadian alliances with the United States, who led South Vietnam. The U.S. had a major role, in supporting South Vietnam, against North Vietnam, supported by the Communist U.S.S.R. Canada was not an official contributor to the Vietnam War, being a neutral country. Nevertheless, the country was involved in the U.S. military which consisted of 30 000 Canadian soldiers that crossed the northern border to be enlisted. Back in the times of war, “Despite the law made it illegal, many individual Canadians chose to sign up with the U.S. armed forces to fight in Vietnam”. 30 000 must have been a significant number of the Canadians willing to join the war even while representing a different country. A 69 year old veteran from the U.S. stated, “‘People think it was an American war, but it wasn't,’ said Heimes, a native of Detroit. There were 13 countries involved [helping the U.S.] and there were at least 40,000 Canadians in Vietnam”. This was a surprise to the people of the United States as the draft dodgers in the U.S. fled from conscription while Canadians left Canada to be enlisted. The relations with the United States was further built as the Canadian aid was critical to support the South. Yet, South Vietnam lost to the Communist North. Additionally, upon the return of the Canadian soldiers, “they received none of the same benefits as their fellow American soldiers. They fought for those