IB DP History Year 2

In this unit, students will examine the immediate and long-term effects of the Second World War, with a focus on the political, ideological, and diplomatic tensions that emerged between the United States and the Soviet Union following their wartime alliance. This period marks the breakdown of the Grand Alliance and the transition into a bipolar world dominated by the Cold War.

Students will explore key developments such as the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences, the dropping of the atomic bomb, the Iron Curtain speech, the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and the Berlin Blockade. Through an analysis of these events, students will assess how mistrust and conflicting postwar visions led to the deterioration of relations between the two superpowers.

This unit explores the shifting dynamics of the Cold War during the 1950s and early 1960s, a period marked by both cooperation and confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. Students will examine how the Cold War evolved beyond its immediate postwar roots, focusing on the changing relationship between Presidents Truman and Eisenhower and Soviet leaders Stalin and Khrushchev.

Key topics include the death of Stalin, the rise of Khrushchev, and the changing tone of U.S.-Soviet diplomacy. Students will analyze moments of de-escalation—such as summit diplomacy and peaceful coexistence—as well as renewed tensions, including the U-2 incident, the arms race, and crises in Berlin.

This unit examines how the Cold War extended beyond Europe and North America, evolving into a truly global conflict that shaped political, military, and ideological battles around the world. Students will explore how Cold War tensions played out in key flashpoints, highlighting the roles of superpowers and regional actors in shaping the global order.

The unit covers major Cold War crises like:

• The Korean War, where Cold War rivalries turned into open conflict on the Korean Peninsula;

• The Suez Crisis, where the intersection of decolonization and Cold War alliances created international tension;

• The Berlin Wall, symbolizing the hardening of East-West divisions in Europe;

• The Cuban Missile Crisis, a moment when the world stood on the brink of nuclear war.

This unit explores the emergence and consolidation of authoritarian leadership through a focused study of Fidel Castro's rise in Cuba. Students will analyze the historical, social, and economic conditions that facilitated Castro’s ascent to power during the Cuban Revolution. Key themes include the strategies he employed to gain and maintain control, the role of revolutionary ideology, and the impact of his policies on Cuban society. By examining primary and secondary sources, learners will assess how Castro transformed Cuba into a one-party state and the broader implications of authoritarian rule in the 20th century.

This unit investigates the Cold War policy of détente, focusing on the efforts made by the United States and the Soviet Union to ease geopolitical tensions during the 1970s. Students will explore the motivations behind the shift from confrontation to negotiation, with a particular emphasis on the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I) and the evolving diplomatic relationship between U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev. Through primary sources, treaties, and historical analysis, learners will assess the successes, limitations, and long-term consequences of détente within the broader context of the Cold War.

This unit explores the resurgence of Cold War tensions during the late 1970s and early 1980s, often referred to as the Second Cold War. Students will examine key developments such as the collapse of the SALT II arms control agreement, the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and its global impact, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Through analysis of political shifts, military actions, and diplomatic breakdowns, learners will assess how hopes for détente were replaced by renewed confrontation between the superpowers. The unit encourages critical thinking about how international events and domestic upheaval reignited Cold War hostilities.

This unit explores the key political, military, and ideological developments that led to the dissolution of the Cold War. Students will examine the shifting dynamics between the United States and the Soviet Union during the 1980s, focusing on the leadership of Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. Core topics include Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), Gorbachev’s domestic reforms (glasnost and perestroika), arms reduction talks (INF Treaty), and the impact of popular uprisings across Eastern Europe. The unit culminates in the fall of the Berlin Wall and the official dissolution of the USSR in 1991, marking the symbolic and practical end of decades of geopolitical tension. Through primary sources, political cartoons, and key speeches, students will assess how diplomacy, ideology, and internal pressures within the USSR converged to bring an end to the Cold War.

This unit investigates the broad-based social and political movements that challenged inequality and injustice in the United States during the mid-20th century. Students will explore the African American Civil Rights Movement through key events, leaders, and strategies—from legal victories like Brown v. Board of Education to grassroots activism and nonviolent protest. The unit also expands to examine the rise of second-wave feminism and the role of women in pushing for social and political change. Finally, the emergence of youth-led movements—such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), anti-Vietnam War protests, and campus activism—will be analyzed as pivotal to reshaping American society. Emphasis will be placed on the interconnectedness of these movements and the enduring legacy of their demands for freedom, justice, and equal rights.

This unit explores the early decades of the Cold War through the lens of American domestic and foreign policy. Students begin with the Red Scare and McCarthyism, examining how fear of communism shaped American politics and culture. We then turn to Eisenhower’s “New Look” strategy, analyzing the shift toward massive retaliation and nuclear deterrence. The unit concludes with in-depth studies of U.S. involvement in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, highlighting ideological motivations, military strategies, public response, and long-term consequences. Throughout, students assess how Cold War tensions influenced American identity and global influence.