1971 Agreement between the US and USSR to avoid nuclear war

Students feel empowered when they can read and understand primary source documents. Often they are written in language far above the ability of most middle and high schoolers and so some students give up.

This document, written in 1971 between two nations that were on the road to detente, provides an opportunity to have a little fun. It’s easy to read and can be translated into “teenage speak”.

We’ve included the Agreement, an assignment and answers for your classroom use.

For more Cold War Era resources check out our:

US History PowerPoints

• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Truman to Kennedy
• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Johnson to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
• The 1950s
• 1960s
• Vietnam
• New! The 1970s
• Late History Overview: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

World History PowerPoints

• The Modern Era: 1945-1970
• The Modern Era 2: 1971-2009

Classroom history games

• Critical Decisions of Harry Truman
• Critical Decisions of John F. Kennedy
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 1: 1946-1960
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 2: 1961-1980
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 3: 1981-2008

Cold War cartoon on Iron Curtain

The Cold War is rich with symbols that help students truly understand the conflict. This cartoon is no exception.

Published in 1947 in the wake of Soviet involvement in Greece and Turkey, Jay “Ding” Darling captures the feelings of the hopelessness ahead in resolving issues with communist Russia.

We have included questions and answers for your classroom use.

For more Cold War resources check out our PowerPoints:

• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Truman to Kennedy
• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Johnson to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
• The 1950s
• 1960s
• Vietnam
• The 1970s
• Late History Overview: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s
• The 1980s
• The Modern Era: 1945-1970  World History
• The Modern Era 2: 1971-2009   World History

Classroom history games:

• Critical Decisions of Harry Truman
• Critical Decisions of John F. Kennedy
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 1: 1946-1960
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 2: 1961-1980
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 3: 1981-2008

Wing to Wing, 1951

The British government made this film in 1951 to explain the importance of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in defending the west.

Historical footage highlights several of the newer technologies and styles of aircraft.

For more on the Cold War Era check out our PowerPoints:

• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Truman to Kennedy
• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Johnson to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
• The 1950s
• 1960s
• Vietnam
• The 1970s
• The Modern Era: 1945-1970  World History

Classroom History games:

• Critical Decisions of Harry Truman
• Critical Decisions of John F. Kennedy
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 1: 1946-1960
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 2: 1961-1980
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 3: 1981-2008

Are you popular? 1947 film

This Coronet film is a typical post WWII-era film which stresses rigid gender roles and conformity. It was intended to be a social training tool for students to learn what makes a person likeable.

It might be fun to show older students in these opening weeks of school as a springboard for discussions: What items would you leave in if you were to produce a modern-day version? Is it appropriate for high school students? What does make a person popular? How are things the same/different from when this film was produced? And so on…

“Peace Little Girl” or “Daisy Girl” commercial, 1964

Perhaps the most controversial presidential campaign commercial ever aired, it is hard to grasp that it was only shown once, yet contributed to Johnson’s landslide victory in 1964.

We have included questions and answers for this commercial.

For more on this era check out our PowerPoints:

• U.S. Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Johnson to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
• 1960s
• Vietnam

Simulation games:

• Critical Decisions of John F. Kennedy
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 1: 1946-1960
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 2: 1961-1980

Israeli Declaration of Independence, 1948

After WWII ended, the new nation of Israel was announced by their Declaration of Independence.

They hoped for UN recognition and peace with surrounding nations.

We have included a copy of the Declaration as well as questions and answers.

This might be an interesting comparison with other historical declarations.

For more on this era check out our PowerPoint resources:

U.S. Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Truman to Kennedy

The Modern Era: 1945-1970

Hydrogen bomb in color

This very short but narrated video clip shows the amazing destructive power of the h-bomb.

For more on this era check out our resources:

US History PowerPoints

• U.S. Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Truman to Kennedy
• U.S. Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Johnson to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
• The 1950s
• 1960s
• Vietnam
• Late History Overview: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

World History PowerPoint

• The Modern Era: 1945-1970

Simulation games

• Critical Decisions of Harry Truman
• Critical Decisions of John F. Kennedy
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 1: 1946-1960
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 2: 1961-1980

The beginning of the Cold War

This cartoon, drawn by Bruce Russell in 1945, is an excellent example of the symbols and concepts used throughout the Cold War.

What is so interesting about it is that it was drawn in 1945, at the beginning of the decades long conflict.

We have included a copy of the cartoon with questions and answers for your classroom.

For more on this era check out our resources:

US History PowerPoints

• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Truman to Kennedy
• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Johnson to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
• The 1950s
• 1960s
• Vietnam
• Late History Overview: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

World History PowerPoints

• The Modern Era: 1945-1970
• The Modern Era: 1971-2009

Simulation games

• Critical Decisions of Harry Truman
• Critical Decisions of John F. Kennedy
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 1: 1946-1960
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 2: 1961-1980

J. Edgar Hoover’s Congressional Testimony

J. Edgar Hoover was the head of the FBI from its inception in 1935 through 1972.

Many of those years were dedicated to rooting out communists in America.

In this testimony before Congress in 1947 Hoover outlines the dangers facing the US during the Cold War.

We have included a copy of the testimony as well as questions and answers.

For more on this era check out our PowerPoints:

US History

• U.S. Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Truman to Kennedy
• U.S. Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Johnson to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
• The 1950s

World History

The Modern Era: 1945-1970

Simulation games:

• Critical Decisions of Harry Truman
• Critical Decisions of John F. Kennedy
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 1: 1946-1960
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 2: 1961-1980

Kennedy versus Khrushchev: Cold War Political Cartoon

The Cold War was a terrifying time because of the high stakes involved with new weapons and mutually assured destruction.

Tensions peaked in the early 1960s when JFK and Khrushchev took us to the brink of nuclear war, which would have killed billions and ended human civilization as we know it.

We have included a copy of this political cartoon along with questions and answers.

Check out our PowerPoints on this era:

• Cold War: Truman to Kennedy
• Cold War: Johnson to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
• 1960s
• Vietnam
• The Modern Era: 1945-1970

Check out our simulation games on the Cold War:

• Critical Decisions of Harry Truman
• Critical Decisions of John F. Kennedy
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 1: 1946-1960
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 2: 1961-1980