OBJECTIVE To better understand the impact that the Warsaw Pact and NATO had on the geopolitical landscape of Europe and the Cold War GUIDING QUESTIONS Why do you think many nations were anxious to join alliances (which often lead to war) so quickly after the end of World War II? How did the work done by the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan effect the decisions of European nations? Many countries like Germany and Yugoslavia were torn between two very different interests.  What effect do you think this would have on the people of those countries?

DISCUSSION

I love to play the game RISK!  Many nights in college a bunch of us guys would stay up all night in a heated game of “world domination”!  I now even have a “Lord of the Rings” version.  Much about the Cold War can be learned from the game RISK.  Many times my game was over almost before the first round.  Very often this was due to the fact that I allied myself with the wrong person.  Occasionally, it was over before it started.  Usually this happened when luck (or lack thereof) dealt me one of the “undesirable” territories on the map.  Theses places on the map were impossible to defend and unless you were willing to ally yourself with a powerful neighbor you could expect a very short night.

At the end of World War II Nations in Eastern Europe began to scramble to find some security in a very unstable world.  Many small nations were being torn between two Superpowers and very often the ramifications of their decision would be long lasting and almost irreversible.

Assignment 7.02 - Cold War Geography

For this assignment we are going “old school”.

1. You will have to download a copy of the map linked below.  This is a PDF file so it may take a few seconds. 

• Cold War Map Link

2. PRINT out the map and get out your colored pencils!  YES…I said colored pencils.  I want this thing to be done VERY neatly.  Too often on-line students can hide behind the digital production of technology but when they are asked to take their time and make something look neat by hand they don’t put in the time.  For overall appearance my daughter will be grading this assignment.  She is 6 years old and she knows what quality “coloring” looks like. 
3.  Here is how your map should be completed.  Use the maps in the Chapter-Cold War Conflicts of your textbook.  For some of this information you can also refer back to Assignment 7.01.

v     Label all nations and bodies of water.

v     Shade in all NATO nations a color of your choice.

v     Shade in all Warsaw Pact nations a different color.

v     Place a $$ in all nations that received Marshall Plan money.

v     Draw dotted lines in Germany (on the big map) that reflect how it was divided after World War II.
o       Locate and label the city of Berlin (on the big map) to show what sector it was in.

v     Draw dotted lines in the detailed city map of Berlin that reflect how it was divided after World War II.

v     Draw a thick dark line to show the “Iron Curtain”.  Make sure to label Stettin and Trieste

4. In a Word document write at least 1 paragraph (3-5 sentences) to answer each of the following questions.  Again refer to Chapter 18 in your text for information.

1.      How did the location of the city of Berlin lead to the Berlin Airlift?  Briefly describe what happened leading up to the airlift and the outcome of it.

2.      Why was the Soviet Union so intent on controlling Eastern Europe?  Stalin had referred to a “buffer zone”, what did he mean by this?

3.      Why was the United States so intent on bringing Greece and Turkey into NATO?

4.      What do you notice that is unique about Yugoslavia?  How do you think this effected people living in this country?

5.      Do you think the United States should have invested so much money assisting nations in Eastern Europe why were resisting communist influence?  Explain.

You might also consider using the following websites to assist you in answering the questions above.
Iron Curtain Speech:  http://www.fordham.edu/HALSALL/MOD/churchill-iron.html
General Cold War Information:  http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/

5. Once you have finished “illustrating” your map and answering the questions you will insert both items in an envelope and MAIL them to me (I TOLD YOU WE WERE GOIN ‘OLD SCHOOL’).  Make sure you don’t wait till the last minute because ‘snail mail’ is a little slower than e-mail.  My address is:

6537 E. Kerckhoff
Fresno, CA  93727