Lesson  9.01 - When Did the Cold War Start? 

  

 

The protracted conflict known as the Cold War involved the competition between the United States and her allies, and the Soviet Union.  While no actual combat between the two nations occurred, the domestic policies of the two nations centered on the eventual possibility that these two nations could come to war.  Both nations prepared for war.

Historians disagree when the actual conflict between the two superpowers began.  The traditional view is that it started right at the end of World War II.  In the following assignments, you will have the opportunity to counter that claim or support it!

 

  

Assignment 9.01 - When Did the Cold War Start

 

The Big Question: Did the Cold War begin in the period 1919-39?

This assignment has several steps to it.

First access the site at

http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/coldwar/default.htm

Click on, “Did the Cold War really start in 1919-1939?

In examining the primary sources that are listed you need to complete the following 3 charts.  These charts can be downloaded or copied and pasted so that you can toggle between the chart and the documents or the Website can save your chart as you work!

Click on each case study for:

First:  The Russian Civil War

Read the primary source documents and complete the chart below.  Remember you can save your work on the site itself

The Big Question: Did the Cold War begin in the period 1919-39? 

Is it possible to argue that the Cold War began in the period 1919-39?

Features of the Cold War

Evidence of this feature in Case Study 1

 

Governments using the media to criticize the actions of the other side

 

Claiming that their system was better than the system of the other side

Convincing their own people that the other side had spies in their country

Making friends with anyone who was an enemy of the other side

 

Building up huge armed forces to threaten the other side

 

 

Second:  The Zinoviev Letter

Read the primary source documents and complete the chart below.  Remember you can save your work on the site itself

 

The Big Question: Did the Cold War begin in the period 1919-39?

 

Is it possible to argue that the Cold War began in the period 1919-39?

Features of the Cold War

Evidence of this feature in Case Study 2

Governments using the media to criticise the actions of the other side

 

Claiming that their system was better than the system of the other side

 

Convincing their own people that the other side had spies in their country

 

Making friends with anyone who was an enemy of the other side

 

Building up huge armed forces to threaten the other side

 

 

Third: The Munich Agreement and after 1938-9.

Read the primary source documents and complete the chart below.  Remember you can save your work on the site itself

 

The Big Question: Did the Cold War begin in the period 1919-39?

 

Is it possible to argue that the Cold War began in the period 1919-39?

Features of the Cold War

Evidence of this feature in Case Study 3

Governments using the media to criticise the actions of the other side

 

Claiming that their system was better than the system of the other side

 

Convincing their own people that the other side had spies in their country

 

Making friends with anyone who was an enemy of the other side

 

Building up huge armed forces to threaten the other side

 

 

In a well thought out essay you have to answer the essential question: Is it possible to argue that the Cold War began in the period 1919-39?   Compose a well thought out essay that answers the essential question.  Provide examples from the documents to support your conclusions. 

 

  

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