Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum: Marshall Plan
Excerpts from an interview with George C. Marshall concerning the Marshall Plan. Questions are also supplied to assist in expansion of knowledge about the topics.
ibiblio
Ibiblio: The Soviet Union and the United States
This site from ibiblio.org gives information about the historical relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States. After reading the summary on this page, click on the links at the bottom of the page to read about early...
City University of New York
American Social History Proj.: Decoding u.s. Foreign Policy: Iran Contra Affair
Students explore the Iran-Contra Affair using a timeline and related documents, and practice critical thinking about US foreign policy during the late Cold War years, and about the actions of officials of Ronald Reagan's government. They...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: Anticommunism in the 1950s
Learn about the Rosenberg trial, HUAC, and Joseph McCarthy.
US House of Representatives
History, Art, and Archives: Us House of Representatives: Onto the National Stage
Women gained the right to vote and began to become active members of Congress as the United States faced many challenges. Early congresswomen served during the Great Depression, WWII, and the start of the Cold War. They had a voice in...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: The War in the East, 1863
A map showing the major battle sites in the east in 1862-1863 during the American Civil War. The map shows major cities, rivers, and the sites of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Mount Cedar, Mechanicsville,...
Digital History
Digital History: The Reagan Revolution in Perspective
By the end of Reagan's second presidential term, the US was a much different country than it had been when he became president in 1980. During his 8 years in office, Reagan accomplished many things, some good and some bad, and definitely...
US Department of State
U.s. Dept. Of State: Archive: Inf Treaty of 1987
Copy of the INF Treaty made by the US and the USSR in December of 1987.
Yale University
Avalon Project: Truman Doctrine: Address Before Congress, March 12, 1947
A transcript of President Truman's speech delivered before a joint session of Congress outlining the need for financial assistance to Greece and Turkey for US influence in the region.
BBC
Bbc: 1954: Us Tests Hydrogen Bomb in Bikini
This site explains the awesome power and destructive force associated with exploding a hydrogen bomb. Site is brief but informative. A great introduction to learning about the hydrogen bomb.
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Mc Carthyism" by Us history.org
A learning module that begins with "McCarthyism" by USHistory.org, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free teacher and...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: The United Nations
Discusses the formation of the United Nations after World War II as a way to provide a venue for resolving differences between countries and as an international peacekeeping organization.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Election of 1960
Read about the campaign and election of 1960 in which the Democratic candidate, Senator John F. Kennedy, ran against the Repbulican candidate, Vice-President Richard M. Nixon. Find out about the issues, the famous debates, and Kennedy's...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Containment and the Marshall Plan
Read about President Truman's two-pronged foreign policy for Europe. Find out about his containment policy and the Truman Doctrine, which was manifested in the Marshall Plan.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: The Start of the Space Race
Looks at the USSR's launch of Sputnik and the galvanizing effect it had on America's motivation to fund aerospace research. NASA was soon formed and more funding was put in place for public education in the sciences and math.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: u.s. Urges Alliance for Progress
In the field of foreign affairs, President Kennedy faced a series of challenging situations in Cuba, in Southeast Asia, and in Berlin. In 1961, he initiiated a program called the Alliance for Progress aimed to establish economic...
National Archives (UK)
Learning Curve: Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis
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...
Michigan State University
Michigan State University: Military Industrial Complex Speech Eisenhower
This is a speech given by President Eisenhower during the last days of his administration. In it, he cautions against the growing power and influence of the American military-industrial complex. A great primary source that still contains...
US National Archives
Docsteach: Apollo Soyuz: Space Age Detente
In July 1975, the first joint Soviet-American spacecraft docking took place. In this activity, students will analyze the way that government officials in both the United States and the Soviet Union valued space exploration for more than...
Other
Aerostories: Gary Powers' Misadventure
An excellent resource for learning about the U-2 spy plane flown by Francis Gary Powers that was shot down over Russia in 1960. Contains a very detailed examination of the origins of spy plane missions plus fabulous details that bring...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Detente
The establishment of detente following the Cuban Missile Crisis was a period of improved relations, cooperation, and an easing of tensions between the two superpowers of the East and the West and a temporary 'thaw' in US-Soviet relations.
The Guardian
Guardian: Stalin and the Soviet State
This article discusses the growing tensions between Russia and the United States, focusing on Stalin's desire to strengthen his country's military security. (August 2, 1950)
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Politics From Camelot to Watergate
A brief overview of the state of the United States between the election of 1960 and 1968. See how a nation full of enthusiasm and confidence could become so divided in eight short years.
Country Studies US
Country Studies: Estonia: The Soviet Era, 1940 85
This article examines the role of the Soviet Union in the governing of Estonia during World War II and the Cold War.