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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: World War Ii for Kids: After Wwii Post War

For Students 9th - 10th
Kids learn about the history of what happened after World War II. How Europe and Japan recovered. Post war, plus the start of the Cold War.
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: What Caused the Korean War and Why Did the Us Get Involved?

For Students 9th - 10th
The Korean War (1950-1953) was the first military action of the Cold War. It was sparked by the June 25, 1950 invasion of South Korea by 75,000 members of the North Korean People's Army. The line they crossed, the 38th parallel, was...
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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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Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars)

For Students 9th - 10th
The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) was the United States response to possible nuclear attacks set up to develop an advanced anti-ballistic missile system to enable the United States to prevent missile attacks from the USSR and other...
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Handout
Federation of American Scientists

Fas: Soviet Union Security Concerns

For Students 9th - 10th
This article examines the Soviet Union's concerns about its sphere of influence during the Cold War and its desire to protect its interests.
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Website
Other

Calvin College: German Propaganda Archive (East Germany)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides links to primary source Cold War propaganda from East Germany.
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Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: Latvia the Soviet Period

For Students 9th - 10th
This article details the occupation of Latvia by the Soviet Union following World War II and during the Cold War.
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Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: Lithuania the Soviet Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses the Soviet Republic that existed in Lithuania during the Cold War.
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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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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Truman and His Doctrine: Revolutionary, Unprecedented, and Bipartisan

For Students 11th - 12th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] This 5-page PDF is the nonfiction article "Truman and His Doctrine: Revolutionary, Unprecedented, and Bipartisan" by Elizabeth Edwards Spalding which discusses Truman's policy to provide aid to Turkey...
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Lesson Plan
Tate

Tate Liverpool: Picasso: Peace and Freedom: Educator's Pack [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Art historical context and analysis of an exhibition of Picasso's work on the artist's interest in representations of war and peace during the cold war period [Tate Liverpool, 2010]. This illustrated educator's pack, though designed to...
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Website
BBC

Bbc: Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan

For Students 9th - 10th
This article details the significance of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, focusing on how these documents demonstrate the growing tensions between the United States and Russia during the Cold War. Archived.
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Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: The Polish People's Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses the Soviet Union's influence in Poland following World War II and during the Cold War.
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Website
American Chemical Society

The Pharmaceutical Century: The 1950s

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive review of the advances in medical research and technology in the 1950s credits the Cold War and Cold War thinking with promoting scientific research and government funding of that research, including medical issues. Find...
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Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 9: Modern Times

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive learning module examines the extent to which conservatism successfully challenged liberal dominance in American culture and politics, and redefined economic policies and political behaviors. It looks at how the end of the...
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Website
Other

Southwestern Academy: Eisenhower's Foreign Policy [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A well-organized look at President Eisenhower's Cold War policies throughout his two terms as president. Find out about his policies toward the USSR, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.
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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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Primary
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Woodrow Wilson Center: Digital Archive: Interkit, 1966 1987

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of primary source documents surrounding the Interkit Story. These documents give insight into policy coordination and national interests in the Soviet Bloc in the second half of the Cold War.
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Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Huac and Hollywood

For Students 9th - 10th
This video and support materials detail the Hollywood blacklist and House Un-American Activities Committee, chronicling the fear of Communism and resulting blacklist based on political ideology. The video is from the American Masters...
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Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Huac: Backlash and Implications

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
These videos and support materials explore the intense division experienced by those who testified before and blacklisted by HUAC during the Cold War, focusing on the testimony of Elia Kazan. The videos are from American Masters None...
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Self Determination

For Students 9th - 10th
This site defines self-determination and discusses how the concept evolved throughout World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. Looks at issues related to self-determination and cases of countries around the world that sought...
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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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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: The Modern Era

For Students 3rd - 8th
For a brief overview of the period after World War II until the present, visit this Library of Congress resource. Learn about the Cold War and the first man to walk on the moon.
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Handout
US Department of State

U.s. Department of State: Decades of Change: 1960 1980

For Students 9th - 10th
Summary of the rise of cultural and ethnic pluralism that took place in America between 1960 -1980 causing major social change. Included were such movements as civil rights, women, Latino, Native-American, counterculture,...