World History - Kelemen – 2016
Unit 10: The Cold War (1945 – 1991)
How did the Cold War begin?
How did the Cold War impact so-called “Third World” nations?
How did the end of the Cold War impact Russia and China differently?
The Cold War is the name historians have given to the political, military and ideological competition
between Communist and Capitalist nations that began immediately following World War II and lasted almost 50
years. The Cold War earned its name in part because the two main opponents in this struggle, the USA and
USSR, never directly waged full scale military “hot” war against each other. However, the second half of the 20th
Century witnessed an extended state of political tensions, military threats, undercover espionage and aggressive
propaganda pushed by both sides. The Cold War competition for power and influence also expressed itself in
new formal alliances, a military arms race, and frequent smaller-scale “proxy wars” across the world, a
technological competition known as the “space race” and even tense rivalry at international sports events like the
Olympics. Clearly, the climate of competition and distrust between the two “superpowers” had ripple effects
across the world in many ways that we will explore.
Most historian say the Cold War ended with the collapse of the leading communist power, the USSR in
1991. However, a communist government remained and even gained strength in China as that nation has become
very powerful in the 21st century. Why a communist government failed in Russia, but remains in China will be
the last focus for the unit.
Homework #11: Read pp 531–537 - Reading Quiz on Wednesday 5/4
Answer questions below in an original paragraph each. OR Take about one page of “Cornell Style” notes.
1. Why did the USSR control neighboring buffer or “satellites” in Eastern Europe after WWII?
2. What was the US policy of “containment” and what are some examples of this concept in action?
3. How did new technology intensify the Cold War “arms race” & “space race” during the 1950’s?
Yalta Conference, Iron Curtain, Containment, Satellite Nations, Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Berlin
Blockade & Airlift, NATO, Warsaw Pact, Brinkmanship, ICBM, Sputnik, U2 Incident
Homework #12: Read pp. 548-553 – Reading Quiz on Wednesday 5/11
Answer questions below in an original paragraph each. OR Take about one page of “Cornell Style” notes.
1. Describe a strategy used by the US & USSR to “fight” the Cold War in the Third World that you
think was effective and one strategy that you feel was not effective. Why?
2. What was the outcome of ONE Cold War struggle in Latin America?
3. What was the outcome of ONE Cold War struggle in the Middle East?
Third World, CIA & KGB, Cold War Strategies, Nonaligned Nations, Cuban Missile Crisis, Nicaraguan
Civil War, Iranian Civil War, Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Homework #13: Read Pages 612-617 & 625-629 – Reading Quiz on Wednesday 5/18
Answer questions below in an original paragraph each. OR Take about one page of “Cornell Style” notes.
1. Describe some of the ways in which Mikhail Gorbachev differed from previous leaders of the USSR.
2. What main factors caused unrest in Russia during the early 1990’s leading to the end of the USSR?
3. How did China became more economically progressive but still stayed politically repressive in the 1980’s & 90’s?
Mikhail Gorbachev, Glasnost, Perestroika, Boris Yeltsin, 1991 August Coup, Economic “Shock Therapy”,
Vladimir Putin, Mao Zedong Legacy, Four Modernizations, Deng Xiaoping, Tiananmen Square Protests,
Hong Kong, Economy & Politics of Modern China
Assessments
Notebook Packet: Includes Homework & In Class Assignments -- Due Friday 5/20
Project: Cold War Primary Source Gallery Walk -- Wednesday 5/18
Unit Test: Two Short Answers – Friday 5/15