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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Cold War Erupts

For Students 5th - 8th
World War II ended in 1945 and the Cold War began immediately. Read about the mistrust Western Europe and the United States felt towards the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin. Learn how the Soviets expanded their realm of influence and...
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Unit Plan
National Archives (UK)

The Learning Curve: Allies at War

For Students 9th - 10th
An extensive site chronicling the public consensus shown to the media among Allied members: the USSR, Great Britain, and the USA. Gives ample primary sources and student activities.
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Handout
ibiblio

Ibiblio: The Soviet Union and the United States

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Munich: Anatomy of a Crisis [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This excellent lesson plan lays out the framework of the lead-up to World War II in Europe. It covers the problem the support of Czechoslovakia caused Great Britain and France, the policy of appeasement exercised by Prime Minister...
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Graphic
US Navy

Naval Historical Center: The Potsdam Conference, July August 1945

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a brief summary with pictures of the Potsdam Conference.
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Website
PBS

Pbs American Experience: Race for the Superbomb

For Students 9th - 10th
This site explores the Cold War race to develop the hydrogen bomb, a weapon that would change the world. Content details all the people who were involved in the race for the H-Bomb, as well as notable events during this time period....
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Vladimir Lenin

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed article on the life of Vladimir Lenin. Discusses his life before becoming the leader of the Soviet Union, his political accomplishments as a leader and his death.
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Handout
Flow of History

Flow of History: Nuclear Arms Race

For Students 9th - 10th
The events and countries involved in the nuclear arms race are profiled. Text plus a colored graphic flowchart make the topic visually appealing and of interest to both students and educators.
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Graphic
Flow of History

Flow of History: World War Two in Europe

For Students 9th - 10th
The outbreak of World War Two in Europe began with Hitler's invasion of Poland. Through text and a colored graphic flowchart, the events and battles and eventual end of the war, can be visually traced. Suitable for both students and...
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Handout
Other

St. Martin: Iron Curtain 1945 1947

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses the development of the Soviet Union's Communist buffer zone after World War II and its evolution into the Iron Curtain of the Cold War.
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Primary
Yale University

The Avalon Project: Manifesto of the Communist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
Complete text of the Communist Manifesto.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Truman: Foreign Affairs

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives a great overview of the early Cold War under President Truman. Describes relations with the Soviet Union, the atomic bomb, actions in western Europe, and the Korean War. A great piece that gives the reader a fantastic...
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Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Yalta Conference

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the document that presented the protocal adopted at the Yalta Conference which addressed many world issues, primarily what would happen with Germany and Japan at the end of World War II.
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Lesson Plan
Digital History

Digital History: The Yalta Conference [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This is a very extensive look at the Yalta Conference. Find the problems addressed at the conference, the enumerated possible solutions, the positions each of the Big Three leaders held, and the actual results of the conference. Included...
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: The Presidency and the Cold War: Franklin Roosevelt

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive site from the National Portrait Gallery explores presidential actions in relation to the Cold War from the Yalta Conference to the presidency of George H.W. Bush. Click on Franklin Roosevelt to find out about the decisions...
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Article
New York Times

New York Times: On This Day: Roosevelt, Churchill Map 1943 War Strategy

For Students 9th - 10th
A great article from the New York Times on January 24, 1943, reporting on the meeting between President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill at Casablanca. At this meeting it was confirmed that the United Nations would accept only...
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Website
US Department of State

Office of the Historian: Tehran Conference, 1943

For Students 9th - 10th
A thorough discussion of what transpired at the Tehran Conference in December, 1943, among the Allied leaders. Find out about future war strategy as well as postwar plans for Europe and the Pacific.
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eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: World War Ii 1941 1945: Origins of War: Europe, Asia and United States

For Students 11th - 12th
Examines the conditions that fostered the rise of Fascism and Nazism, the events during the lead-up to the outbreak of war, and what Roosevelt did to help affected nations yet still keep the United States neutral.
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Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Fdr: Fireside Chat 27: On the Tehran and Cairo Conferences

For Students 9th - 10th
After Franklin Roosevelt's meeting with other Allied leaders in Tehran and Cairo in December, 1943, he gave a fireside chat on December 24 to inform the American public what transpired and how the Allies planned on ending the war.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian: Dividing the Spoils

For Students 9th - 10th
Historian Michael Beschloss discusses Harry S. Truman's role in the Potsdam Conference and examines how his decisions there paved the way for the Cold War. (December 2002)
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Article
Council of Foreign Relations

Foreign Affairs: The Cold War Reopened

For Students 9th - 10th
In his article entitled "Inside Enemy Archives: The Cold War Reopened," Melvyn Leffler discusses the ramifications of archival documents from the Russians on the Cold War era. Can Soviet actions during that time be viewed in a different...
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Website
BBC

Bbc: President Truman and the Origins of the Cold War

For Students 9th - 10th
BBC correspondent Arnold A Offner discusses the role Harry S. Truman played in development of the Cold War. American history from a British point of view.
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Primary
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

Harry S. Truman Library and Museum: The Long Telegram

For Students 9th - 10th
This primary source document reveals Russia's growing distrust of the United States and its desire to strengthen its position in the global community through greater military security.
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Article
New York Times

New York Times: The Bitter Legacy of Yalta

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] New York Times correspondent Jason DeParle reflects on the controversial legacy of the Yalta Conference. (November 26, 1989)

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