Unit 6: The Cold War

Unit Description:   The Cold War was an important turning point in World History.  The tension between the two superpowers, the U.S. and the USSR, has had political, economic, and military implications that are still felt to this day.  

Stage 1- Desired Results

Essential Questions

How did the Cold War have an impact on world history?

Has the Cold War had a lasting effect on countries throughout the world? If so, how?

Could the Cold War have been averted?

Enduring Understandings

Students understand that...

The second half of the 20th century was shaped by the Cold War, a legacy of World War II. The United States and the Soviet Union emerged as global superpowers engaged in ideological, political, economic, and military competition.

Common Core Standards and Performance Indicators:


Unifying Themes:

Time, Continuity, and Change

Power, Authority, and Governance

Creation,Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems

Science, Technology, and Innovation

Global Connections and Exchange

Social Studies Content Area Standards:

Social Studies Practices (begin on page 3)

Common Core Learning Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science,and Technical Subjects (begins on page 76)

Knowledge

Students know that...

10.6a The Cold War originated from tensions near the end of World War II as plans for peace were made and implemented. The Cold War was characterized by competition for power and ideological differences between the United States and the Soviet Union.

10.6b The Cold War was a period of confrontations and attempts at peaceful coexistence.

10.6c The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the communist bloc in Europe had a global impact.

Key Terms

Cold War

communism

NATO

Warsaw Pact

Iron Curtain

Soviet Bloc

Berlin Airlift

containment

Bay of Pigs

Fidel Castro

Cuban Missile Crisis

Truman Doctrine

Marshall Plan

perestroika

Berlin Wall

detente

domino theory

glasnost

Korean War

Vietnam War

Joseph Stalin

Nikita Khrushchev

Mikhail Gorbachev

Skills

Students will be able to...

Students will compare and contrast how peace was conceived at Yalta and Potsdam with what happened in Europe in the four years after World War II (i.e., Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe, Truman Doctrine, Berlin blockade, NATO).

Students will investigate the efforts to expand and contain communism in Cuba Vietnam, and Afghanistan from multiple perspectives. Students will examine the new military alliances, nuclear proliferation, and the rise of the military-industrial complex. Students will examine the reasons countries such as Egypt and India chose nonalignment. Students will explore the era of détente from both American and Soviet perspectives.

Students will investigate the political reforms of glasnost and economic reforms of perestroika. Students will examine the impacts of those reforms within the Soviet Union, on the Soviet communist bloc, and in the world.

Stage 2- Assessment Evidence

Formative Tasks

Close reading and guided questions on the Korea War (p. 171-173) (Upper level)

(AP Level) Close reading and guided questions on Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech (p. 173-174)

Excerpts from ambassadors representing the U.S. & USSR; questions included (p.80)

Text that briefly describes how relations b/w the U.S. & USSR changed from 1941-1955; list of questions follow (p.1)

Overview of Truman & Marshall Plans, Cold War alliances, & map to be used with questions to answered (p. 6-7)

Text and video describing the steps the USSR took to consolidate its power; questions to answer follow (p. 8)

Truman Doctrine speech with study questions (p. 35-36)

Brief text and video highlighting why the Berlin Wall was built; diagram of the Wall is included; students will use these sources to answer related questions (p. 10).

Effects the arms race had on the Cold War: includes text based on the two opposing sides along with Japan's concerns over nuclear weapons; questions are embedded in text; finally, there's an image on the nuclear arms race that students must analyze (p. 1-5)

Cold War hot spots: Korean War - close reading that includes a graphic organizer with questions (p. 3-4)

The term, "detente" is defined in this activity. It is followed by a transcript and video discussing this new policy. Activity includes questions to be answered. A summative task wraps up this activity that requires students to write an essay based on the overarching questions. The task must be supported with evidence from the text (p. 1-4)

A comprehensive packet that provides in depth analysis on the collapse of Soviet Union. Glasnost and perestroika are discussed in great detail. Questions are included throughout the text. Aftermath of the collapse are also highlighted (independence movements and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Video of the Wall included as well (p. 2-10)

Cold War political cartoon about US option with questions; p.21

Yalta Conference activity (p. TRB 10-13); includes a brief overview on the purpose of the conference; handouts allow students to choose a country they will represent from the "Big Four", along with questions they will answer.

Intro. to the Cold War, Spheres of Influence, ideologies of the Eastern & Western Bloc, and military factors (p. 12-14 up to 12-15)

Political cartoon comparing the U.S. & USSR's perspectives on each other along with questions (p. 12-24, this is the actual page number)

Cold War document analysis worksheet (p. 12-8 up to 12-11) to be used with documents (p. 12-16 up to 12-23

Vietnam War close reading exercise; contains a graphic organizer along with an extended response query (p. 5-6)

Cuban Missile Crisis: close reading activity along with graphic organizer (p. 7-8)

Cold War containment: Soviet-Afghan War (close reading activity that includes a graphic organizer to be completed); p. 9-10

Video & transcript that explains the Non-Alignment Movement; includes questions to be answered (p. 2)

India & non-alignment: includes a transcript describing India's position and questions for students to answer (p. 3)


 Stage 3- Related Lessons

Lesson Plans and Content

Department created inquiry: Was the Cold War really that cold?