The Cold War 

The Cold War was a period of time, not too long ago, in which strategic and political struggles existed among nations after World War II. At any given time during the Cold War, the tensions between two countries rose to what could have started World War III.  The Cold War was a decades-long struggle for global supremacy that pitted the capitalist United States against the communist Soviet Union.  The Cold War lasted for forty-six years, and is regarded by many historians, politicians, and scholars as the third major war of the twentieth century.

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Your Task

1.   You and your group members will be assigned one of the topics below to research.

2.   As a group you will produce and present a multimedia presentation for the class using Microsoft PowerPoint. You will also create an Independent practice activity (worksheet, venn diagram, etc.), and an assessment tool for determining how well students understand what you taught (quiz, test, questions, class discussion, etc.)

3.   Establish roles for each member: You may combine and share roles if necessary.

4.   Research the Internet and resources for information related to the Cold War

5.   Use the research links below each topic to gather information


**** Understand that you will be presenting your topic for at least one full class period.  Do Not take any shortcuts.  Do Not just "copy and paste" your work on the powerpoint.  Use you own words so that WE can understand your topic.  WE can all tell if this is not your own work.  Tell a story by using the questions and answers that you found.  Good Luck!!!!  

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Project Evaluation

1.    Did you cover the major events of your assigned time period?

2.    Is your work supported by accurate research?

3.    Does your multimedia project, independent practice activity, and assessment tool  follow the project criteria?

4.    Did you fully answer all of the questions posed under your topic heading?         

Just click the Microsoft Word image on the left to download and view or print the Cold War Webquest Rubric

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Topic 1:  Communism

Find answers to these questions

• How would you define and describe Communism, Socialism, and Capitalism?
  


• What role did Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, and Ho Chi Minh play in the development and/or spread of Communism?
  


• What is the relationship between the Bolshevik Revolution, Red Scare, McCarthyism, and Cold War?
  


• What countries of the world are still communist?
  


• What happened to communism in Russia? How has communism changed in China today?
  

Use these sites to get your answers

Defining Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism   

Economic Systems

The History Channel Red Scare

The History Channel McCarthyism

Names of Leaders
 Marx        Lenin        Stalin        Mao Zedong    
Fidel Castro    Ho Chi Minh   

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Topic 2:  Vietnam War

Find answers to these questions.

• What were the reasons the War started?
  


• What countries were involved?
  


• What was the outcome of the War?
  


• Who were the historical personalities involved and their roles?
  

Use these sites to get your answers

The History Channel Vietnam War

The History Learning Site Vietnam War

Battlefield Vietnam

Vietnampix.com

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Topic 3:  Bay of Pigs Invasion

Find answers to these questions

• Why did the United States feel they needed to invade?
  


• Who did they get to invade?
  


• What countries were involved?
  


• What was the outcome of the invasion?
  


• Who were the historical personalities involved and their roles?
  

Use these sites to get your answers

The History Channel Bay of Pigs

History of Cuba: The Bay of Pigs 

Thinkquest: The Bay of Pigs

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Topic 4:  The Cuban Missiles Crisis

Find answers to these questions

• How were the missiles discovered?
  


• Why were the missiles sent to Cuba?
  


• What countries were involved?
  


• Describe what the outcome was.
  


• Who were the historical personalities involved and their roles?
  

Use these sites to get your answers

The History Channel Cuban Missile Crisis

The History Learning Site Cuban Missile Crisis

The National Security Archive: The Cuban Missile Crisis

Cold War: Cuban Missile Crisis

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Topic 5:  The Berlin Airlift/Berlin Wall

Find answers to these questions

• Why did the Airlift have to take place?
  


• What impact did it have on the people of Germany and Eastern Europe?
  


• What countries were involved?
  


• Why was it considered a symbol of the Cold War?
  


• Who were the historical personalities involved and their roles?
  

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• What reasons was the Berlin Wall built?
  


• What impact did it have on Germany and its people?
  


• What countries were involved?
  


• Why was it considered a symbol of the Cold War?
  


• Who were the historical personalities involved and their roles?
  

Use these sites to get your answers

The History Channel Berlin Wall

The History Learning Site Berlin Wall

Retracing The Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall Online

The History Channel Berlin Blockade

History Channel Berlin Airlift

Harry S. Truman Library: The Berlin Airlift

 PBS The American Experience: The Berlin Airlift

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Topic 6:  The Space Race/Arms Race

Find the answers to these questions

• Explain the growth of atomic weapons between the two superpowers.
  


• Who were the two superpowers during the Cold War?
  


• Why was the launch of Sputnik so historically significant toward the space race?
  


• List the achievements (firsts) of the Superpowers involved in the Space Race.
  


• What were the outcomes of the Space race and Arms race between the two Cold War superpowers?
  

Use these sites to get your answers

The History Channel Space Race

Smithsonian: The Space Race

The Cold War and Space Race Era

The History Learning Site: The Nuclear Arms Race

The History Channel Arms Race

PBS Race for the Superbomb: The Arms Race

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