CANADA AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR

World War 2

Effects of the War

Economic Effects The “total war” effort caused the Canadian economy to

grow (boom)

However by the end of the war Canada was in debt over $10 billion

Industrial and manufacturing production replaced agriculture as Canada’s most important economic sector

Effects of the War

Political Effects Canadian WWII contributions were recognized

internationally (Dieppe, Hong Kong, Normandy, Liberation of Holland)

Prime Minister King was able to avoid a conscription crisis, and therefore French-English relations were strained, not broken

Canada was now a middle power (smaller than a great power, but wealthier than smaller or poorer nations) in the international community

Canadian government played a larger role in the lives of Canadians (social safety net)

Civil rights in Canada advanced after WWII as a result of the contributions of African-Canadian and Aboriginal people

Effects of the War

Social Effects Women were recognized for their contributions to

the war effort (1 million employed during war) Canada became a more tolerant nation, now

allowing refugees from Europe into the country Population increased caused by the “baby boom”

and a wave of immigration Marriages that had been postponed because of

the war now took place the “baby boom” followed— the birth rate was

relatively high for more than a decade

Effects of the War

Social Effects In 1947, Pier 21 in Halifax reopened for

immigration Processed many war brides – women from

Europe who married enlisted men (48,000), children (22,000), displaced people (DPs) – people forced to leave their country - and refugees (500,000)

Canada lost over 42,000 people to the war

World Peace: Canada and the United Nations, the creation

of the U.N.

•As WWII drew to a close, delegates from countries around the world gathered in San Francisco to create an organization that would ensure that such a global confl ict would never happen again•The U.N. was a compromise between the US, Britain, France, China, the Soviet Union, and other smaller countries.

The Purpose of the UN

1. To keep peace among nations2. To increase co-operation between nations3. To defend Human rights4. To improve the living conditions of people

everywhere in the world The U.N. sponsors a wide variety of agencies that

carry out legal, economic and humanitarian work around the world:

Organizations sponsored by the UN

The World Health Organization (W.H.O): battles global health problems

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF): originally responsible for assisting child welfare in countries devastated by the Second World War Expanded its scope to developing countries after 1951

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): works to improve education standards and promote cultural activities

Canada has always seen the UN as the best means of contributing to world peace to solving problems of global health, poverty, pollution and discrimination