The Cold War dominated the decades after WWII. Once allies during WWII, United States and the Soviet Union (USSR) now from struggled for political supremacy and dominance throughout the world from 1945 to 1991. Over four decades, competition between the United States and the Soviet Union involved many other countries that supported one of the two superpowers. Conflict inevitably seeped into US society as well. The ongoing Civil Rights Movement gained steam in the 1960s, and new groups formed to fight for their own rights, including the National Organization for Women and the American Indian Movement. Youths joined in as well, especially in response to the Vietnam War, forming the New Left or "tuning in and dropping out" in the counterculture. By 1969, the Vietnam War seemed to dominate American politics and society, creating deep divisions. In the 1970s, many Americans started turning against the radicalism of the Sixties in favor of conservatism, culminating with Ronald Reagan's election in 1980. 

• The Butter Battle: Dr Seuss's allegory for the Cold War; pdf of book; link to TV cartoon

• Origins & Beginnings of the Cold War simulation  with powerpoint  and docs 

• 1950s Choose Your Own Adventure (topics include Cold War events, fallout shelters, suburbs/Levittown, highway system, TV, civil rights and more!) 

• Containment Stations (includes extension for Korean War)

• Cold War Begins document analysis/jigsaw with documents

• Korean War Simulation with presentation

• Comparing Tactics & Organizations in the Civil Rights Movement

• Where's the Beef? The Long Civil Rights Movement 

• Assessing the Great Society with presentation 

  • also a collection of perspectives on the Great Society & its legacy

• 1960s Be-In Activity

• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Analysis with documents

• The Vietnam War Interactive with note sheet 

• Nixon Presidency analysis with documents 

• 1970s Stations: Malaise & the Rise of Conservatism