Franklin Roosevelt and the Origins of the Canadian-American Security Alliance, 1933-1945 - (Communication) by Galen Perras (Hardcover)

About the Book

In the turbulent years before World War II, U.S. strategic planners struggled with the question of Canadian security. Franklin Roosevelt took a unique interest in America's northern neighbor and persistently encouraged Canada to do more to ensure its own defense especially through alliance with the U.S. This aspect of foreign policy resulted in a delicate balancing act between U.S. officials who sought to downplay the strategic importance of Canada and Canadian leaders who saw American overtures as a threat to Canadian sovereignty.

The first chapter discusses Roosevelt's early efforts between 1933 and 1937 to increase Canadian interest in North American defense. The second follows events up to the outbreak of war. Although Canada had been seen as part of the rival British Empire, Canada now became a natural ally in hemispheric security efforts. Roosevelt's dealings with Canadian Prime Minister W.L.M. King, who would be branded a puppet for these interactions, and the evolution of continental defense efforts are discussed in the third chapter. The fourth chapter chronicles the wartime struggles of two new allies, as Roosevelt became more concerned with Europe and the coming Soviet threat. The final chapter further explains the declining interest in Canada as World War II becomes the focus of American interests.

Book Synopsis

In the turbulent years before World War II, U.S. strategic planners struggled with the question of Canadian security. Franklin Roosevelt took a unique interest in America's northern neighbor and persistently encouraged Canada to do more to ensure its own defense especially through alliance with the U.S. This aspect of foreign policy resulted in a delicate balancing act between U.S. officials who sought to downplay the strategic importance of Canada and Canadian leaders who saw American overtures as a threat to Canadian sovereignty.

The first chapter discusses Roosevelt's early efforts between 1933 and 1937 to increase Canadian interest in North American defense. The second follows events up to the outbreak of war. Although Canada had been seen as part of the rival British Empire, Canada now became a natural ally in hemispheric security efforts. Roosevelt's dealings with Canadian Prime Minister W.L.M. King, who would be branded a puppet for these interactions, and the evolution of continental defense efforts are discussed in the third chapter. The fourth chapter chronicles the wartime struggles of two new allies, as Roosevelt became more concerned with Europe and the coming Soviet threat. The final chapter further explains the declining interest in Canada as World War II becomes the focus of American interests.

Review Quotes

"This volume, which includes an astounding bibliography and fine index . . . is particularly appropriate for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students. A fine work." --International Relations

"This is the first book to focus on FDR and the Canada-US defence relationship. That is quite striking, for no other aspect of the history of Canada-US relations in the twentieth century may be more fascinating and at the same time seems more familiar than the tales of FDR and Mackenzie King in the few years before and during the Second World War. . . . [I]t nicely plugs a gap in the lterature of Canadian-US relations, FDR, and the Second World War." --Canadian Military History

About the Author

Galen Roger Perras is a post-doctoral fellow in the History Department at the University of Calgary. He holds an MA in war studies from the Royal Military College of Canada and a PhD in Canadian and American History from the University of Waterloo. The author of numerous articles, he has also worked as a strategic analyst for the Canadian Department of National Defence.