American Influence on Canada’s Foreign Policies during the Cold War (Free Essay Sample)

In the following essay, an analysis of the United States government's influence over the Canadian government and its foreign policy is being examined. My preliminary thesis statement is based on the understanding that perhaps Canada had no other option but to form a relationship in which experience influence over foreign policies. In support of this statement, it can be explained that based on the proximity of Canada to both the United States of America and the Soviet Union, Canada was in a very geographically locked situation. The Soviets could go through Canada's north and the Americans on the southern border. Canada was essentially forced to take a side. To support this statement, this essay will consider Canada's ideology, leadership, foreign policies and their discrepancies, the integration of a bilateral relationship, and their respective benefits and disadvantages. Siding with the Americans, there was alignment on most policies; yet opposition would occur over different beliefs on Peacekeeping, The Cuban Missile Crisis, and Nuclear Weapon Possession. Supporting evidence will be provided through means of government documents, encyclopedia references, and personally documented sources such as the testimonies from Igor Gouzenko, William Lyon Mackenzie King, John F. Kennedy, and other primary sources.

As the Nazi flags fell and Soviet troops marched through the streets of Berlin, the end of the second world war began. An allied victory led to the alteration of overall global standings and the catapult of the Soviet Union and the United States' power, authority, and dominance. Previously the United Kingdom, as recognized by the British Empire, was seen by some as the largest superpower and was supported by the sole vastness of the empire's land claim, which declared the empire as the one in "which the sun never sets."  However, throughout the twentieth century and both World Wars, Britain's Allied Victory was plagued by economic burdens of re-stabilization of the region and growing interest in independence on behalf of their respective dominions. These growing desires for independence permitted the growth and recognition of these dominions with their respective standing in the balance of the global powers. While still tied to the British government as included under Common-Wealth status, Canada's role throughout the second world war paved the way for their success as an established "Middle-Power" through means of the assault on Normandy, the Dieppe Raid, and the Italian Campaign.   

Throughout the latter half of the 1940s and the duration of the 1950s, Canada began to develop their own foreign policies, severing closer ties to the British crown. Acting independently, Canada felt as if they -a middle power- had the opportunity to bridge the divide and act as a linkage between different countries and power levels through mediatory roles and peacekeeping missions. Historically, the role of a middle-power had no significance yet was more based on the categorization of a state based on its capabilities. This distinction established the general concept of being a Superpower, Middle-Power, or Smaller-Power; yet, as we have more modernly defined, a middle power can be defined based on their behavioral attributes.  This understanding clarifies that middle powers can be distinguished from superpowers and smaller powers based on their foreign policy interest, which focuses on diplomacy, mediatory methods, peacekeeping, stability, and democracy.  

Under the leadership of US President Franklin Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, the integration of their respective governments and their military began to grow. As the threat of what became the second world war increased, the reliance upon each other's alliance also did with both countries offering their support regarding any threats.  To formalize these remarks, the two countries signed the Ogdensburg Agreement in 1940, which increased Canadian and American military integration and resulted in the creation of the Permanent Joint Board of Defence, which allowed for collaborative consultation on Canadian and US defense policies and the Hyde Park Agreement in 1941, in which allowed for allied war materials to be shared in reference to their manufacturing locations and the Lend-Lease Agreement which integrated the American and Canadian economies throughout the war.   

In attestation to these effects in a post-war sense, as previously described, the status of global powers has been altered with the Soviet Union and The United States superseding the previous powers; while being technically aligned after the second world war, the understanding of a clash of societal differences between the two powers was recognized, yet a necessary after-effect to conclude the second world war. In June of 1942, intending to better their allyship, the Soviet Union was able to operate an Embassy in Ottawa.  While this embassy did operate in a diplomatic sense, the operations on-site did include hostile actions such as espionage and intelligence gathering. Igor Gouzenko was one of these Soviet individuals associated with intelligence gathered as a cipher clerk. Gouzenko was assigned to work in Canada in 1943 and became accustomed to the Canadian livelihood. In 1945 Gouzenko learned of his and his family's formal recall to the Soviet Union and, worrying about any potential wrongdoings he may have done, decided to defect to the Canadian government. Some individuals have noted this defection as the beginning of the Cold War.  Gouzenko's defection provided the knowledge and supporting documentation regarding Soviet espionage operations and intelligence gathering on Canada and other Allied forces. Due to the various implications of these Soviet operations, all appropriate parties were notified, hence including the American government.