the 80’s and 90’s
Post on 12-Apr-2017
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THE 80’S AND 90’S: A NEW WORLD ORDER
The End of the Cold War & Economic Change in Canada
Politics: The End of the Cold WarDétente
In the 1970’s the Cold War seemed to “cool down” & the USA and USSR showed willingness to cooperate with each other
They signed a series of nuclear weapons treaties
The USA pulled out of Vietnam 1973
The USA even restored diplomatic relations with Communist China during a period called “Ping Pong Diplomacy” (no joke)
Politics: The End of the Cold WarThe Cold War “Heats Up” AgainRonald Reagan was elected in
1981 and immediately began to re-start the arms race
The key to defeating the Soviet Union, he thought, was to bankrupt them
Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI, aka. “Star Wars”): A missile defence program that would essentially weaponize space
Politics: The End of the Cold WarThe Soviets in Afghanistan: 1979-
1989The Soviets occupied Afghanistan in the 1980’s in order to “help” the Soviet-friendly government thereThis was a Soviet attempt to extend
their “Sphere of Influence”They fought against guerilla forces
called the mujahedeen (which the USA supplied with weapons and $$$). Osama Bin Laden was an important leader within the mujahedeen.
The Afghanistan campaign ended up becoming a type of Vietnam War for the USSR; they couldn’t win over the local population, and the war became incredibly unpopular at home
Politics: The End of the Cold WarMikhail Gorbachev
By the mid-1980’s, Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power and begins to institute reform in the USSR
GLASNOST: “Openness”. Soviet citizens could now criticize the government and express alternate political views. Essentially, they allow freedom of the press and freedom of speech
PERESTROIKA: “Restructuring”. This was Gorbachev’s economic reform, which allowed for some private property and more small private businesses
Politics: The End of the Cold WarThe Fall of the Satellite
StatesBy the late 1980’s, independence movements in Eastern Europe had gained momentum
Lech Walesa, an electrician, led Poland to independence and became their new President
Vaclav Havel led Czechoslovakia to independence
And in 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. West and East Germans were now united after almost fifty years of being separate. This was the symbolic end to the Cold War
Politics: The End of the Cold WarThe Collapse of the USSR
While some hardliners still existed in the Soviet government, the Party essentially collapsed in on itself from the economic and political pressures.
On Christmas day 1991, the Soviet Union effectively broke up, separating Russia with the other republics
Ultimately, Communism could not provide the basic necessities that people needed and people wanted the goods that capitalism provided.
The Economy: Steps Toward Globalization1980’s Canada: The Mulroney
EraLike Reagan, Brian Mulroney was a neo-conservative and believed in low corporate taxes and market deregulation
1985 – Mulroney scraps FIRA. It is renamed and its scope drastically reduced
1989 – Free Trade Agreement with the USA (FTA)
1992 – expands the FTA to Mexico to create the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Canada is still a part of this trade agreement today.
For Against No Tariffs = Canada attracts
more US investment and our economy grows
No Tariffs = branch plants would move back to USA = many jobs would be lost
Free trade = access to the huge American market, meaning more demand
Canadian companies can’t compete with giant US companies that would flood the market with cheaper priced goods
FTA would attract large American companies to Canada to take advantage of our natural resources, employing many skilled workers
Free trade threatened Canadian economic independence. America would have increasing economic and political control over Canada
Concept: Free TradeWhich argument do you find the most believable and
compelling?
The Economy: Steps Toward Globalization1990’s Canada: Looking Beyond the
USAJean Chretien (Liberal) elected in 1993
Sends “Team Canada” trade missions to Asia and Latin America to sign trade deals and sell Canadian business. Promotes “Pacific Rim” partnerships
While our economic fortune is closely tied to the economy of the USA, Canada has diversified its trade relationships, particularly with Asian countries.
The Economy: Steps Toward GlobalizationConcept: Globalization
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