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The Global Cold War

Driving Question: How did the conflict between the US and USSR affect the rest of the world?

From Vietnam to Afghanistan, Chile to Cuba, the Cold War was a global struggle. As the United States and Soviet Union battled for influence, they reshaped global politics and communities far beyond their borders.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Use evidence to understand how the Cold War spread around the world.
  2. Practice quick sourcing to evaluate how different individuals and nations responded to Cold War pressures.
  3. Use the historical thinking practice of CCOT to evaluate the continuities and changes from the Second World War to the Cold War.
STEP 1

Opener: The Global Cold War

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 2 of the Lesson 8.3 Teaching Guide Locked .

The Cold War was about many other nations besides the two superpowers. As you get ready to tour the global Cold War, consider the perspective of a smaller nation.

STEP 2

Proxy Wars

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 3 of the Lesson 8.3 Teaching Guide Locked .

Want to see a Gamified “Who is Winning the Cold War? External link ” Read this thread on the Community Forum.

Cold War rivalries played out in many different regions. These materials examine how local conflicts in Asia, Africa, and Latin America were shaped by global alliances, ideologies, and power struggles.

STEP 3

Who Won the Cold War?

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 5 of the Lesson 8.3 Teaching Guide Locked .

It’s hard to improve without feedback. Check on your student’s CCOT progress using the CCOT: Feedback Form.

The Cold War didn’t end with a final battle, but with big changes inside the Soviet Union. Trace how communism collapsed and reflect on how the world shifted from the end of World War II until the fall of the USSR.

STEP 4

Closer: The Global Cold War

Teaching Tools

To teach this lesson step, refer to page 9 of the Lesson 8.3 Teaching Guide Locked .

Need a reminder of why we do openers and closers in OER Project lessons? Look no further than the Openers and Closers Guide.