New York Framework Key Ideas:

• 8.7 FOREIGN POLICY: The period after World War II has been characterized by an ideological and political struggle, first between the United States and communism during the Cold War, then between the United States and forces of instability in the Middle East. Increased economic interdependence and competition, as well as environmental concerns, are challenges faced by the United States. (Standards: 1, 2, 4, 5; Themes: TCC, GEO, ECO, EXCH)
  • 8.7a The Cold War was an ongoing struggle between the two nuclear superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold War shaped the reconstruction of national boundaries and political alliances across the globe.
    • Students will locate on a map the nations that were aligned with the United States, those aligned with the Soviet Union, and the non-aligned nations.
    • Students will examine the term nuclear superpower and the threat of nuclear weapons as a cause and as an effect of the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
  • 8.7b The United States based its military and diplomatic policies from 1945 to 1990 on a policy of containment of communism.
    • Students will examine the policy of containment and its application in the postwar period, including the Marshall Plan, the Korean War, the Cuban missile crisis, and the Vietnam War.

Essential Questions:

• How did rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union shape the world in the years after World War ll?
• How did differing ideologies lead to competition and mistrust amongst other countries?

7 Main Ideas of the Cold War:

1) Two superpowers emerged after World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union. These two countries engaged in a 45 year bitter rivalry over ideas.

2) The United States had a capitalist economy with a democratic form of government. The Soviet Union had communist economy with a dictatorship as its government. Both countries thought their systems were superior to the others. These were the ideas that the two superpowers fought over.

3) The United States followed a policy of containment during the Cold War. Containment was the American attempt to prevent the spread of communism around the world. The U.S. wanted more allies on their side than the Soviet Union.

4) After World War II, there were disputes over how war torn Europe should be rebuilt. The U.S. wanted to rebuild each country with capitalism and democracy, while the Soviet Union wanted to rebuild each country with communism and dictatorship. Europe became divided over this issue, especially in Germany. The Berlin Wall in Germany became a symbol of this division.

5) In an effort to stop the spread of communism, the United States fought in two wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The U.S. sent troops and aid to defeat communist forces in each war. The Korean War ended with tensions remaining high between North Korea and South Korea. The Vietnam War was extremely controversial and divided the nation on our involvement.

6) The Soviet Union sent nuclear missiles to communist ally Cuba because of its close location to the United States. The U.S. discovered the missile sites and a 13 day standoff started between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and Cuba. This was the closest the world got to a nuclear war.

7) The Cold War ended when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990. The communist system was a failure. The Soviet Union became Russia. It lost control over Eastern Europe, and adopted capitalism and democracy.