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The World War One Of The United States

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More than 100 years ago Canada had been a small child, progressing through life trying to find its place in this vast world. During the time periods of 1914-1945, 1950-1970, and 1971- 1990, there have been many factors that have helped induce its growth including: recognition due to military achievements, its international relationship with the United States, and uniting as one country. Through these times of hardship and glory Canada has succeeded in finding its autonomous identity in the world, as a “middle power”.
Throughout the time periods of 1914-1945, 1950-1970, and 1971- 1990 Canada has been involved in many wars that have displayed its independence and strength as a country. The World War One battle of Vimy Ridge, in 1917, was …show more content…

One of the members of NATO was and still is the United States and because it is the most powerful of the members most of NATO activity is directed towards American policy (pg. 194 Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues). This made it hard for Canadians to gain more power and keep their own identity. However, in 1956, when a war broke out over the Suez Canal in Egypt, Lester B. Pearson “proposed that a multinational peacekeeping force be created and installed in the war zone to maintain ceasefires and oversee the withdrawal of troops.” (pg.200 Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues) Since this proposal to the United Nations (which Canada toke part in creating the Charter of) rather than fighting, which the superpowers of Russia and the United States take part in, Canada mostly maintains peace on the battlefields. This has given Canada an identity of a peacekeeping nation. However, the United States has still been able to influence Canada to contribute more than peace to wars. In the 1990 Persian Gulf War “Canada contributed two destroyers, a supply ship, a squadron of CF-18 fighter jets, a field hospital, and hundreds of military personal” (pg. 274 Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues) to help the United States take out the Iraqi forces. Even before this occurred, Prime Minister Pierre Eliott Trudeau, and many Canadians, started wanting more independence from the United States. Therefore, Trudeau reduced Canada’s NATO involvement in Europe.

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