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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cuban Missile Crisis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students reflect on the events that lead up to the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 1960s.  In this history lesson plan, students explore the conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union revolving around missiles in Cuba,...
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Cold War: Cuban Missile Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief Library of Congress site has info on the Russian's role in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
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Website
BBC

Bbc News: Soviet Union Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
A timeline covering the history of the Soviet Union from 1917 to 1991.
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Handout
Steven Kreis, PhD

The History Guide: 1989 the Walls Came Tumbling Down

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains and details the events that led up to and followed the downfall of Communism in Eastern Europe. Very thorough and detailed, including information about leaders, movements, and historical information.
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Article
Federation of American Scientists

Fas: National Security Policy Arms Control Disarmament

For Students 9th - 10th
A lengthy essay describing the negotiations and politics involved in President Kennedy's quest to create a permanent ban on nuclear tests.
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Handout
ibiblio

Ibiblio: Cuban Missile Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
Ibiblio.org provides a brief background of the crisis and links to letters (originals and translations) exchanged between JFK and Khrushchev.
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Handout
National Archives (UK)

Learning Curve: Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about Cuba's history and Castro's rise to power, the development of the relationship between Cuba and the USSR, a description of the events of the crisis, Kennedy's response to the discovery of Soviet...
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Cold War Cuban Missile Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
This site details the placing of intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Cuba by the Soviet Union. The article discusses why Khrushchev did this, and what the U.S. did about this. Also provided is the text to Krushchev's letter to JFK...
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Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: Russia the Economy Historical Background

For Students 9th - 10th
This economic history of the Soviet Union examines the eras of Lenin and Stalin and postwar policy under Khrushchev, Brezhnev, and the reform period of Gorbachev.
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Primary
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Khrushchev's Secret Speech

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides some excerpts from a translation of Khrushchev's famous Secret Speech denouncing Stalin policies.
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Website
Then Again

Then Again: Web Chron: Summary of Cuban Missile Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains a short summary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The last paragraph tells of the resolution between the U.S., Cuba, and Soviet Union.
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Handout
AllRefer

All Refer Reference: Soviet Union: Economic Policy

For Students 9th - 10th
A great overview of the economic policies implemented in the Soviet Union between 1917 and 1985. Describes collectivization, economic priorities, successes, and failures. Readers will come away with a sound understanding of Soviet...
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Handout
AllRefer

All Refer Reference: Russia: The Brezhnev Era

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the political actions of the Brezhnev Era. Examines his political policies and practices. Abstract is short and contains a great deal of information.
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Handout
AllRefer

All Refer Reference: Russia: Postwar Growth Period

For Students 9th - 10th
This overview of Soviet economic policy after WWII looks at the command or planned economies and decisions of Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, and Gorbachev.
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Article
Other

John F. Kennedy National Security: u.s.s.r. (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This article summarizes U.S.-Soviet relations during the Kennedy administration, including the Russian Missile Crisis and the Vienna Summit.
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Primary
Steven Kreis, PhD

The History Guide: Khrushchev's Secret Speech, 1956

For Students 9th - 10th
Excerpt of Nikita Khrushchev's "Secret Speech," delivered before a closed session of the Twentieth Party Congress in 1956. In this speech, Khrushchev admits the many crimes and atrocities of former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: Atomic Bomb

For Students 9th - 10th
Extensive treatment of PBS movie "Race for the Superbomb". Includes timeline, maps, special features, and teacher's guide. Extensive links to people and events.
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Primary
Mount Holyoke College

Soviets Say a u.s. Attack on Cuba Would Mean Nuclear War

For Students 9th - 10th
A September 11, 1962 New York Times article relates the Soviet statement threatening nuclear war.