After 1945, a new, colder conflict emerged. Meanwhile, colonized peoples fought for independence. What connections linked the Cold War and decolonization?

After World War II, a new and colder conflict began. Soon, colonized peoples rose up and shed the chains of empire. These were not isolated historical events—they were intertwined.

Orient yourself in time and space as you begin Unit 8, by using maps to make predictions about the Cold War conflicts and decolonization movements you’ll study in this unit.

A black and white version of the world in 1945 CE, that can be cropped to specific regions and easily printed.

A full-color political map of the world in 1945 CE, highlighting the major states, communities, and cities you’ll learn about in WHP.

An individualized tracker for new words encountered in Unit 8. Add to it as the unit progresses.

In Unit 8, continue the routine of building a class word wall, an important visual cue and literacy support.

This vocab guide provides a summary of the key vocabulary for the unit.

Vocab cards for each of the key words in this unit.

China and Latin America offer two contrasting stories of the global spread of communism—and fear of it—during the interwar period.

World War II devastated the world. While many economies recovered and grew, the Cold War also produced a global system of inequality between rich and poor nations.

Can you figure out the main themes of this unit? Read the statements to assess your abilities!

Life is getting better for a lot of people, but extreme inequality remains a feature of our world in the twenty-first century. Is income inequality getting better or worse?

You’ll use this activity to begin collecting relevant evidence from the OWID and WHP websites to support a prediction about the future.

In this simulation, you’re given “Top Secret” files to try and formulate a recommended course of action for a Cold War crisis.

Who started the Cold War? Dig into this big and important question by putting your sourcing skills to work.

From the 1940s to 1990s, the United States and Soviet Union struggled with each other to reshape the world. We call this global competition the Cold War.

Practice categorizing causes as you evaluate the most significant causes and consequences for the Cold War.

We called it a “cold” war because there were fewer guns and bombs than usual. But the conflict between superpowers created “hot” conflict all over the globe.

Time for some more quick-sourcing practice! Assess individual sources and then decide which texts can be grouped together to help you answer the guiding question for the source collection.

You may think that you know all the causes and consequences of the Cold War by now, but these sources might change your mind!

China’s revolution was both communist and anti-colonial, even though the country had never been formally colonized.

The Chinese Communist Revolution drew on earlier world revolutions, but in many ways, it went further. It’s an important case in any global history of revolutions.

Why did so many nations adopt communist and socialist policies during this era? The only way to find out is by using your quick-sourcing skills to find the answer.

What were the causes and consequences of the spread of communist and socialist states and policies throughout the world? Examine the sources in this collection to find out!

As the two superpowers struggled for control in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Central America, new leaders and movements sought to direct their nation’s future.

As Asian nations threw off the yoke of foreign colonial control and the Cold War intensified, wars in Korea and Vietnam reshaped East Asian politics.

The Cold War lasted for decades. Often, if appeared that one side was winning at certain points of time. Have a look at the events and decide who was “winning”.

After World War II, empires crumbled and fell. Was this the result of changing global structures, or the actions of anti-colonial activists and populations?

You’re almost to the end of the course! Here’s another opportunity to practice answering SAQs in preparation for the AP exam.

After World War II, independence movements across the world sought freedom from empire. John Green describes how nation-states were forged through nonviolence and revolution.

In the nineteenth century millions rose up against their colonial rulers. Historical sources clarify how nationalism, sovereignty, and the idea of community contributed to these uprisings

During the Cold War, Middle Eastern leaders sought to cast off the burden of old European colonialism. But they had to account for a Cold War between two new imperial superpowers.

How can you ace the writing portion of the AP exam? By practicing your quick-sourcing skills, of course!

What were the political and economic continuities and changes that occurred around the world c. 1900 to the present? Formulate an answer to this question using the sources in this collection.

How did colonial subjects resist foreign control? Of course, there were vast differences, but we can get some answers by looking closely at Ghana as a case study.

Kwame Nkrumah was the first president of Ghana, which achieved independence in 1957. He used his position to advocate in the Cold War and decolonization struggles.

Though some accounts leave them out of the story, women were integral to anti-colonial movements.

A worldwide struggle for decolonization, plus a struggle for racial equality and civil rights in the United States, became entangled in the Cold War that followed WWII.

Legalized racism has occurred in many places and many eras. One of history’s most glaring and most recent examples was the system known as apartheid in South Africa. Keyword: was.

From a literal wall in Berlin to the figurative “iron curtain”, its territories created the rise and fall of the Soviet Union is a dramatic story of the barriers we build and tear down with ideology.

It’s the last quick-sourcing activity of the unit. Show your teacher how you’ve become an expert using this skill!

How did various groups and individuals respond to existing state and political power after 1900 CE? Read the sources in this collection to find out!

It’s time to revisit the themes for Unit 8. Review your statements from Part 1 and see how your thinking has changed (and how much you’ve learned along the way!).

It’s time to review the map predictions you made at the beginning of the unit, as you examine a series of new maps to help you think about the unit problem.

A full-color political map of the world in 1945 CE, highlighting the major states, communities, and cities you’ll learn about in WHP.

A full-color political map of the world in 1975 CE, highlighting the major states, communities, and cities you’ll learn about in WHP.

A full-color thematic map of Decolonization and the Cold War in 1975 CE, meant to help you support, extend, and challenge the frame narratives.

You’ve been evaluating sample essays throughout the course. Now it’s time to use your expert understanding of the writing rubric to evaluate an essay by one of your classmates!

Believe it or not, it’s the final LEQ of the course! In this essay, you’ll evaluate the extent of the interconnection of decolonization and the Cold War in select regions.