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:
World History
Geography
Economics
Civics, Citizenship, and Government
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
Summative Tasks
Multiple Choice Questions Bank
Cause/Effect - Alliances & Reagan Speech
Comparison - Alliances & Non-Alignment
CRQ: Cause/Effect of the Marshall Plan
CRQ: Cause/Effect Cuban Missile Crisis
CRQ: Comparison Alliances & Non-Alignment
CRQ: Comparison Korean & Vietnam Wars
CRQ: Turning Point - Collapse of the USSR
CRQ: Turning Point - Iron Curtain
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)
Truman Doctrine speech with study questions (p. 35-36)
Cold War political cartoon about US option with questions; p.21
Cuban Missile Crisis: close reading activity along with graphic organizer (p. 7-8)
Stage 3- Related Lessons