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Article
A&E Television

History.com: Why the Air Force Almost Blasted the Moon With an H Bomb

For Students 9th - 10th
Detonating a thermonuclear weapon on the moon? It sounds like the bizarre scheme of a deranged comic-book villain -- not a project initiated inside the U.S. government. But in 1958, as the Cold War space race was heating up, the U.S. Air...
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Primary
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: On American Intervention in Korea, 1950

For Students 9th - 10th
The Modern History Sourcebook offers a very interesting primary source that presents the Soviet position of the beginning of the Korean War. A great resource for comparing US/USSR claims about the origins of the Korean War.
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Handout
The History Place

The History Place: The Vietnam War America Commits

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The History Place provides a lengthy timeline, accented with many quotations, explaining how America came to be directly involved in Vietnam. This is a great site to check out on the subject.
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eBook
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Epsid 2019 2020 Us History

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Flexbooks 2.0 are interactive, customizable, digital textbooks. Flexbooks are standards-aligned. Flexi, a student tutor, is integrated into each book to guide you on your learning journey. Flexi can assist in learning, answer questions,...
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Handout
Other

The Origins of the Korean War: From the Soviet Archives

For Students 9th - 10th
Three conclusions brought on by newly unclassified documents from the Soviet archives. Offers new interpretations on the beginning of the Korean War, including Stalin's opposition to war.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: The Mask of Lincoln: Ulysses S. Grant

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Portrait Gallery publishes a photographic portrait of Ulysses S. Grant. In the accompanying caption, learn about Grant's approach to the war, which differed from that of other Northern generals. Also, learn why Lincoln...
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Article
Country Studies US

Country Studies: Us Soviet Relations

For Students 9th - 10th
The 1980s was a dynamic period in U.S.-Soviet relations. At the beginning of the decade, tensions between the two superpowers rose until 1985, when arms negotiations ensued between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail...
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PPT
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Bobby Fischer: 1943 2008

For Students 9th - 10th
NPR presents a slide show on the life of chess sensation Bobby Fischer who "became a cold war hero by dethroning the Soviet world champion" Boris Spassky in 1972. Fischer was the first U.S. born world chess champion.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Containment

For Students 9th - 10th
Article outlines the U.S. policy to keep the spread of communism at bay and the Soviets in check.
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Primary
Other

The "Evil Empire" Speech, 8 March 1983

For Students 9th - 10th
The full text of President Ronald Reagan's "Evil Empire" speech delivered in Orlando, Florida, which stated U.S. policy vis-a-vis the Soviet Union during its last years.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Consensus and Change

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief illustration of the changes in U.S. domestic and foreign policy that occurred following WWII.
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Primary
Other

Nuclearfiles.org: Oppenheimer Affair

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Nuclearfiles.org allows you to read about Robert J. Oppenheimer's role in the Manhattan Project, as head of the Atomic Energy Commission and then his dismissal as a "security threat" to the U.S. government during the era...
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Primary
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Woodrow Wilson Center: Digital Archive: Nikita Khrushchev Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
Documents containing the thoughts and opinions of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. Most are from Russian archives, along with a few Bulgarian and Romanian documents. The collection includes comments on Stalin, the post-Stalin Soviet...
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Primary
Other

Hellenic Resources Network: Helsinki Final Act 1975

For Students 9th - 10th
This primary document is a copy of the Helsinki Agreements of 1975 which recognized the borders in central and Eastern Europe that were set up since the end of WWII. They show the acceptance of the Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. and...
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Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Pentagon Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
The Pentagon Papers, a study of U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967, were leaked by whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg to the New York Times newspaper in March 1971 revealing that the US government had been...
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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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Article
Other

Jewish News: Gorbachev, Shamir Mark Decade of Soviet Aliyah

For Students 9th - 10th
This article provides insight into religious persecution in the former Soviet Union and Gorbachev's efforts to curb intolerance.
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Article
Hartford Web Publishing

World History Archives: David Hoffman: The Russian Economy's Big Black Hole

For Students 9th - 10th
An article about one of Russia's steel mills that has, like many other industries in Russia, fallen on hard times in the new free-market economy.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: Apollo Soyuz: Space Age Detente

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
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Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Nasa Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
This interesting NASA timeline provides the dates and facts about the important events and people involved in space exploration in the United States.
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Handout
Other

Temperament in Revolution Gorbachev

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent article about Gorbachev's appointment, goals, accomplishments, and personality.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Hungary and Suez Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University of Groningen summarizes political turning points of 1956, giving detail on the Soviet and American political desires shown in their responses to Israel's attack of Egypt.
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Website
AllRefer

All Refer Reference: Soviet Union: Science and Ideology

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief article on science in the Soviet Union. Describes the role of the state in guiding science. Succinct but informative.
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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.