Twentieth-Century Conflict in Canadian and American History and Memory
Focusing on the experiences and memories of war, the book explores the contrasting perspectives of individuals and communities in the United States and Canada. Through detailed analysis, it delves into the cultural and historical narratives that shape how war is perceived and commemorated in these neighboring countries, highlighting the impact of geography on collective memory.
"In 1937, Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King travelled to Nazi Germany in an attempt to prevent a war that, to many observers, seemed inevitable. The men King communed with in Berlin, including Adolf Hitler, assured him of the Nazi regime's peaceful intentions, and King not only found their pledges sincere, but even hoped for lifelong personal friendships with many of the regime's top officials. Four Days in Hitler's Germany is a clearly written and engaging story that reveals why King believed that the greatest threat to peace would come from those individuals who intended to thwart the Nazi agenda, which as King saw it, was concerned primarily with justifiable German territorial and diplomatic readjustments. Mackenzie King was certainly not alone in misreading the omens in the 1930s, but it would be difficult to find a democratic leader who missed the mark by a wider margin. This book seeks to explain the sources and outcomes of King's misperceptions and diplomatic failures, and follows him as he returns to Germany to tour the appalling aftermath of the very war he had tried to prevent."-- Provided by publisher
Canada and the United States' Coalition of the Willing, from Hiroshima to Korea
Focusing on Canadian responses to early Cold War crises, this study explores how events like the Gouzenko affair, nuclear escalation, and the Korean War influenced public sentiment. Robert Teigrob compellingly argues that these experiences pushed the Canadian government towards closer ties with the United States. His revisionist insights emphasize the active role of ordinary Canadians during this pivotal era, making the book a significant contribution to understanding postwar Canadian history. The accessible analysis offers a fresh perspective on these historical events.