Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Kennedy's New Frontier

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about John Kennedy's vision for America upon his becoming president. Find out about the space race with the Soviet Union, and expanded social programs for the poor and elderly in America.
Handout
Travel Document Systems

Tds: Armenia: Economy

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at the current state of the economy in Armenia from the U.S. Dept. Background Notes. The country's economy is becoming stronger after the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Courage in Denmark: Resistance to the Nazis in Wwii by Us Holocaust

For Students 7th - 8th
World War II (WWII), a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945 involved more than 100 million people and over 30 countries. The Allied powers - including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union - worked together...
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: Geography: Environment: The Incredible Shrinking Sea

For Students 4th - 8th
Describes the economic policies of the Soviet Union that turned the Aral Sea, once the world's largest body of fresh water, into two smaller seas and desert. Includes a video. [10:29]
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Stepanova, the Results of the First Five Year Plan

For Students 9th - 10th
Have you ever wondered what came before Photoshop? After the First World War, artists in Germany and the Soviet Union began to experiment with photomontage, the process of making a composite image by juxtaposing or mounting two or more...
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: Richard Nixon as President

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about Nixon's presidency, including his strategy to get the United States out of the Vietnam War, his foreign policy maneuvers with China and the Soviet Union, and his fall from grace due to the Watergate scandal.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: The Cuban Missile Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the tense 1962 standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union that nearly resulted in nuclear war.
Handout
Countries and Their Cultures

Countries and Their Cultures: Jews of Israel

For Students 9th - 10th
The state of Israel came into formal existence on 14 May 1948. The United States recognized the new state on the same day, and the Soviet Union followed on 18 May. On 15 May 1948 the new state was invaded by the armies of Egypt, Iraq,...
Website
A&E Television

History.com: Joseph Stalin

For Students 9th - 10th
The History Channel provides a biographical look at the Russian dictator Joseph Stalin, beginning with his early career, rise to power, time as a Soviet leader, and the partial dismantling of his police state in the years after his death.
Activity
National Archives (UK)

National Archives Learning Curve: Cold War

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses different aspects of the Cold War such as "Did the Cold War really start in 1919-1939?" and "Was the Vietnam War a turning point in the Cold War?"
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Latvia Transition to Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Library of Congress examines some of the struggles that came out of democratization. The end of the communist party lead to the rise of splintered political parties. Legitimate vs. illegitimate bodies of government are...
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Georgia Election of 1992

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Library of Congress describes the factors involved with organizing the 1992 Georgian election. Examines some of the election laws and the challenge of including people from all regions in the election.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Warsaw Pact

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia article from Wikipedia gives information on the Warsaw Pact, which the Eastern Bloc was formed under. Provides a concise history and role of the agreement. Links are also given for additional information.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Molotov Ribbentrop Pact

For Students 9th - 10th
An information-packed encyclopedia article from Wikipedia on the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact presents a good summary of the events that led up to the signing of the pact. There is also a link to the text of the pact.
Primary
PBS

Pbs: Red Flag

For Students 9th - 10th
Read two eyewitness accounts of life under Stalin. They explain how Communism became "an all-consuming, all-explaining ideology that appealed to their deepest hopes and dreams."
Handout
ibiblio

Ibiblio: Cuban Missile Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
Ibiblio.org provides a brief background of the crisis and links to letters (originals and translations) exchanged between JFK and Khrushchev.
Article
Hartford Web Publishing

World History Archives: Banditry Threatens the New Russia, Law

For Students 9th - 10th
An article about threats to Russia's free-market economy and the breakdown of law enforcement.
Article
Hartford Web Publishing

World History Archives: David Hoffman: The Russian Economy's Big Black Hole

For Students 9th - 10th
An article about one of Russia's steel mills that has, like many other industries in Russia, fallen on hard times in the new free-market economy.
Primary
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Khrushchev's Secret Speech

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides some excerpts from a translation of Khrushchev's famous Secret Speech denouncing Stalin policies.
Website
AllRefer

All refer.com: East Germany: Foundation of the People's Police

For Students 9th - 10th
This site describes the origin and transformation of former Nazi soldiers into East German police. Attempts to explain why it was created and Joseph Stalin's intent to control Eastern Europe.
Website
AllRefer

All Refer Reference: East Germany: Socialist Unity Party of Germany

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an informative site that describes the creation of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. This was essentially the communist party of Eastern Germany after WWII. Traces party history up through the 1980s.
Handout
Travel Document Systems

Tds: Belarus: History

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief but informative look at the history of Belarus. Find out what Revolutionary War hero was born there. Information is from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Presidency of Ronald Reagan

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides an extensive history of Reagan's administration including information on his presidential campaign, domestic policies, foreign policies, and domestic and international events of his presidency.
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Cold War Estrangement

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Library of Congress discusses the progress of World War II, and the nature of the postwar settlement at conferences in Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam.

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