The Cold War
Teacher Resources
Lesson Guide
Note that this guide includes all the usual information on pacing and sample answers, but it also includes some more-detailed instructions for a full-class simulation. Be sure to read ahead of time.
Blog Post: The Cold War Ended in 1991…Right?
Tensions between superpowers didn’t end in 1991. Help your students understand these new tensions in this blog.
Driving Question: What were the causes of the Cold War?
In this lesson, you’ll uncover the roots of US–Soviet rivalry, the global consequences of their competition, and the fear of nuclear war that shaped politics, culture, and everyday life. From proxy wars to space races, you’ll examine the causes and costs of a divided world.
Learning Objectives:
- Use evidence to understand how economic and political systems fueled Cold War tensions.
- Evaluate the causes and consequences of the Cold War.
Vocab Terms:
- containment
- ideology
- nuclear
- proliferation
- superpower
The origins of the Cold War revolve around two opposed ideologies. Can you tell what’s capitalism and what’s communism?
Annotation strategy: Have students use colored highlighters. While they read, students highlight the claim of the paragraph in one color and supporting evidence for that claim in another. If there’s a counterclaim, they would highlight that in a third color. This allows them to see the key points and how the author is structuring the text. Read an article and do a think-aloud of this strategy together before having students complete one on their own.
Dive into the early tensions that sparked the Cold War. Discover how the race for influence, clashing ideologies, and new global challenges reshaped the world after 1945.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- Why did the United States create the Marshall Plan?
- What are the two explanations for the economic recoveries in Germany and Japan?
- How did former colonial powers maintain economic control after independence?
- What strategies did African and Asian leaders use to resist economic dependency?
- Who was left out of postwar prosperity in the United States?
After you read
Respond to this question: How did decolonization and the Cold War together reshape global production and distribution after 1945?
Alert! Your students are solving a mystery in this activity—be careful not to give away the name of the Cuban Missile Crisis or any other important details until they begin their detective work!
Read the Lesson Guide for the full instructions. You’ll need some envelopes labeled “Top Secret” and you’ll have to print out one set of Top Secret Documents for each group of 3–4 students.
Did you know: The famous Washington–Moscow “hotline” created after the Cuban Missile Crisis was never actually a red telephone. It began as a secure text communication link. Typed messages reduced the risk of mishearing something in a crisis.
Why did the US and the Soviet Union switch from allies to enemies after World War II? Explore the factors that led to the Cold War and how these tensions escalated during this 45-year battle of ideologies.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you watch
Preview the questions below, and then review the transcript.
While you watch
Look for answers to these questions:
- What events marked the beginning of the Cold War?
- What was the policy of containment and where did this policy originate?
- What alliance systems were created during the Cold War?
- What tools did the US and Soviet Union use to try to win the Cold War?
- How did the US eventually win the Cold War?
After you watch
Respond to this question: What lasting Cold War impacts are visible in our world today?
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- What was the arms race?
- What does MAD mean?
- What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
- How did the Cuban Missile Crisis affect international relations?
- How was the space race linked to the arms race?
After you read
Respond to this question: Do you think the space race offered hope for greater international cooperation, or was it just another extension of Cold War competition? Use evidence to support your answer.
You can turn Who Is Winning the Cold War? into a card game! Read this thread on the Community Forum and download this OER Project teacher’s card game!
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.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- What caused bloodshed in South Asia in the late 1940s?
- How did the British government respond to the violence in South Asia?
- How did the partition of South Asia affect the Cold War?
- How did the United States try to contain communism in Latin America?
- Why was the United States concerned about the former Belgian Congo?
After you read
Respond to this question: Which course frame—communities, networks, or production and distribution—best helps explain why the Cold War spread worldwide?
The Cold War had many hot spots. In this activity, you’ll choose one Cold War event and write a breaking news story from a perspective of your choice.
Sharpen your sourcing skills and while you’re at it, develop a deeper understanding of the Cold War's complexities and the varied perspectives of those who lived through it.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- What was the basic conflict at the center of the Cold War?
- What were the three main features of the Cold War?
- Why did Stalin want greater Soviet influence in Eastern Europe?
- What was the policy of containment?
- What example shows containment in action?
After you read
Respond to this question: Which of the course frames best explains the causes of the Cold War, and why?
