Why it Matters?
After WW2, an intense rivalry developed between the USA and the Soviet Union - 2 superpowers with very different political & economic systems. This rivalry, known as the Cold War, led to a massive buildup of military weapons on both sides. The determination of American leaders to contain communism also led to the Korean War, in which over 36,500 Americans died.
Part 1 - Origins of the Cold War
Key terms: Cold War, Potsdam, satellite nation, iron curtain
1. Define Cold War. What are the dates for the duration of the Cold War? Did you find any contradictions? Why does the Cold War end in the year(s) that you found?
2. What were the Soviets 2 main goals at the close of World War 2?
3. What were America's goals?
Link Slide 6 and 8
4 & 5. As you research the origins of the Cold War, complete a graphic organizer similar to the one below (yours will be bigger).
Conferences
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Outcomes
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Yalta
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Potsdam
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4. a) Where is Yalta? b) What was the primary purpose of the conference (in a nutshell) that did not deal with World War II? c) What was decided about Poland? d) What is the Declaration of Liberated Europe? e) How was Germany to be divided? Why? f) What were the 5 d's?
Link
Link2
5 D's (third paragraph)
5. a) Where is Potsdam? b) Who were the big 3? (Not Lebron, Bosh, and Wade)! c) What did the Soviets want from Germany? d) How did the U.S. respond? e) What was decided? f) What is another thing that Truman inserted into the conversation that may have hurt relations? g) Considering the Yalta and Potsdam Conference generate alternative hypotheses for what Soviet-US relations could've been.
Potsdam link (first 3 paragraphs and very last paragraph)
6) Based on the 19th paragraph in Churchill's speech (in the link provided) define "The Iron Curtain".
Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech
7. Do you think Roosevelt and then Truman could have prevented the Cold War? Why or why not
(alternatives)? (Should be a well thought out paragraph or more - minimum 6 sentences).
Part 2 - The Early Cold War Years
Main idea - as the Cold War began, the USA struggled to oppose Communist aggression in Europe and Asia through political, economic, and military measures.
Key Terms - George Kennan, containment, Marshall Plan, NATO, limited war
1. a) Who was George Kennan? b) Why did he write the Long Telegram? c) How long was it? d) What were the 5 things that the US State Department wanted? e) What does Kennan say the USSR is afraid of? f) What does Kennan propose that the U.S.A do? (make sure Containment is in your answer)
Wikipedia
Best Link
2. During WW2 the Soviets had occupied Northern Iran to secure a supply line from the Persian Gulf. After the war, instead of withdrawing as promised, the Soviet troops remained. Stalin then wanted access to Iran's oil supplies. Soviet troops also helped local Communists in Northern Iran establish a separate government. To Americans this signified the Iron Curtain spreading to the Middle East. QUESTION - How was the crisis averted? America often says this is the first victory in the Cold War, do you agree or disagree?
Iran Crisis
3. a) What was the Turkish Straits crisis? b) Summarize what Dean Acheson said in your own words. c) What organization did Turkey join?
Also around the time the U.S. was supporting Turkey the British were supporting Greece. Greek communists launched a guerrilla war against the Greek government. The British were strained (having not fully recovered from WW2).
Wikipedia - just look at the first bit of info before their table of contents as well as American Stance
4. Open the link below and read and answer questions ... a) What 2 countries does the Truman Doctrine immediately address? b) Why is Greece in need of financial assistance (use words from the speech) c) the terrorist activities are led by who (1 word)? d) Is there any other country that can help support Greece? e) the future of Turkey is important to what type of people (use Truman's exact words)? f) What does Truman say about the primary objective of US Foreign Policy and how does it connect to the UN? Paraphrase what he says - He begins with, "One of the primary objectives of the foreign policy of the United States is the creation of conditions". g) What does Truman request from Congress? h) What does Truman say could happen if the U.S. doesn't do what he says?
The Truman Doctrine
5. a) What was the Marshall Plan as well as it's other name and who was it named after? (How much money?) b) What was the Soviet Union's response to the Marshall Plan? c) What have revisionist historians asserted about the plan? d) How would you assess the Marshall Plan in terms of its success as well as what Revisionist Historians have said about it? How does this compare to US relations with Hawaii and Philippines in terms of Imperialism?
Marshall Plan Link
Marshall Plan Link 2
West Germany
6. a) What does West Germany consist of and what was it known as other than West Germany? b) What were the Soviets no longer able to receive?
Berline Airlift
7. Summarize the Berlin Airlift
NATO
8. a) What was NATO? What did it stand for? How many countries joined and who were they? b) What was the Soviet response?
The Cold War would spread to East Asia. In China Mao Zedong led Communist forces against Nationalist government led by Chiang Kai-shek. During WW2 the two sides stopped their feud in order to resist Japanese occupation but after the war the civil war broke out again. To prevent Communist revolution in Asia the US sent the Nationalist government $2 billion but the Communists would capture Beijing and in 1949 the US stopped aid to the Chinese nationalists. China fell to Communism. Then the Soviet Union also successfully tested it's first Atom Bomb.
Korean War - scroll down to the section that says "Two Koreas"
9. a) which country had controlled Korea prior to WW2? b) Which two countries took over and how was it divided and where? c) Which US General was in charge and what happened to him on April 11th? d) explain the stalemate e) compare the casualty rate to WW2 and Vietnam
Prior to the Cold War the US had preferred political and economic pressures for Containment. After the Korean War the US became more militant in its involvement in Asia. Defense agreements were signed with Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, and Australia. American aid also began to flow to the French forces in fighting Communist guerrillas in Vietnam.
10. Find a correlation between a Current Event and the Cold War and explain the connection. Do this like you would a current event for the most part except your focus is drawing connections to the Cold War. Should be same format, heading, etc. Cite the article that you use. Use specific evidence from your research to tie the current event to the Cold War. SPECIFIC SPECIFIC SPECIFIC.
CNN WORLD
BBC WORLD
aljazeera
Part 3 The Cold War & American Society
1. Igor Gouzenko and the Red Scare, what do they have to do with each other?
Source - Look at 1st Paragraph and Last 2 on this site
2. Describe the steps that Truman and the government took to to fight the Red Scare. (Loyalty Order or Loyalty Review Program, the HUAC). (Search on google yourself)
3. Generate hypotheses of what the Red Scare could do to America, to the American people, and/or to the government? What could be the potential effects? Positive and Negative.
4. Who were the Rosenbergs? Why did they become national news and a sensation? Do you agree or disagree with the decision made against them? Why or why not?
Rosenbergs
Bio
5. Go to the link provided. a) What was the Venona Project.
Then click on the September 21, 1944 cable and you can read the background info it brings up but mostly scroll down to the actual de-classified document and read it. The second page has a key for the code names.
b) Has your answer to question 4 above changed? Why or why not? Provide evidence to support your answer.
Venona
6. Go to link provided a) What do you see? What did you first notice? b)What symbols are used in the cartoon? c) What issue do you think this political cartoon addressing? What evidence makes you think this? d) What message is the cartoonist trying to convey? e) When do you think this cartoon was drawn and why? f) Does the message still apply today? Provide at least 2 examples.
"Fire" - Herb Block
7. a) Who was Joseph R. McCarthy b) How did he come onto the national scene? c) Who were some of the big names he accused? d) What was the McCarran Internal Security Act? e) what does blacklisted mean? f) What led to McCarthy's downfall?
McCarthyism
McCarran Security
8. Go to link and click on preview the book. Go to the foreword by Newt Gingrich and read it (2.5 pages) One Second After - EMP comes to Life
Then you will get in groups of 2-3 total people and...
Research disaster plans using the links provided to come up with a Family disaster plan in cases of nuclear attack. Explain each step. Then research EMPs using the links provided and tweak your nuclear plan to fit an EMP and explain why you changed it and what you added or took out.
You also must assume that you have a family of 4. You, a spouse, a boy, and a girl. None of these people are to be sacrificed.
Final product should be on a poster or powerpoint. This project is supposed to be fun as you prepare for the "apocalypse" however it should be realistic and informational.
Things you should address
1. Personal safety
2. Climate survival
3. Family survival
4. Medication/Health
5. Emergency Supply kit (what would be in it - why)
6. Food
7. Communications
8. Shelter
Nuclear Blast.gov
Nuclear Attack
Nuclear Disaster Preparedness
EMP
