Traveling from the rise of the Iron Curtain to the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the Cold War was the central story of the second half of the 20th century.  Although the United States and the Soviet Union were the major antagonists, the conflict between these two superpowers affected almost every nation of the globe.  We will focus on a succession of crises and flash points during the 1940s and 50s made ever more dangerous by a continually escalating international arms race.  The shifting balance of nuclear war all but guaranteed “mutual assured destruction” should either side push the button.  Paradoxically, it was this threat of nuclear catastrophe that kept the peace, restraining Soviets and Americans from armed conflict for five decades – at least directly.  Global confrontations between the superpowers, as well as their surrogates, provide the framework for our international focus in

(Unit III).

In addition, we will focus on the impact of the Cold War on American society.  From the fear and anxiety of the Second Red Scare to the massive expansion of the U.S. economy, through the conformity of suburbia to the rebellion of the Beats we will explore the social upheavals and major cultural changes of the decade.

04/21/11

(Unit II) World War II Exam

Homework: vocabulary words from “America and the Holocaust” classroom activity

04/25/11

Post Mortem (Unit II) World War II Exam

Review vocabulary homework

Watch “America and the Holocaust”

Homework -- CN (Chapter 21 / Sections 1 and 2)

04/26/11

Continue with “America and the Holocaust” and complete questions

04/27/11

Review (Chapter 21 / Sections 1 and 2)

Lecture -- #1 Cold War containment doctrine

Containment cartoons

Homework -- CN (Chapter 21 / Section 3)

04/28/11

Review (Chapter 21 / Section 3)

Lecture -- #1 Cold War containment in action

Korean War reading and questions

Homework -- CN (Chapter 21 / Section 4)

04/29/11

Review (Chapter 21 / Section 4)

Watch Korean War film

Homework -- CN (Chapter 22 / Sections 1 and 2), (READ only) “The Age of McCarthyism” and “Loyalty vs. Liberty: The McCarthy Era”

05/02/11

Review (Chapter 22 / Sections 1 and 2)

Lecture -- #2 Second Red Scare

Review The Age of McCarthyism and Loyalty vs. Liberty: The McCarthy Era

Create Second Red Scare posters

Assessment for (Unit III)                   Cold War / 1950s Essay Prompts due (May 10th)

05/03/11

Lecture -- #2 Ike and the Cold War

Butter Battle Book

05/04/11

Cold War / 1950s Essay work time in the library

05/05/11

Lecture -- #3 American culture in the 1950s

05/06/11

1950s Film