This primary source document reveals Russia's growing distrust of the United States and its desire to strengthen its position in the global community through greater military security.

Consider how U.S. foreign policy changed in the aftermath of WWII, and analyze the philosophical, geopolitical, and economic factors that influenced these changes. In this interactive lesson from WGBH, students develop a written argument...

How much did the events of the tumultuous postwar era reshape American national identity? Kim discusses the extent to which developments like the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, and student protests of the 1960s changed...

World War II ended in 1945 and the Cold War began immediately. Read about the mistrust Western Europe and the United States felt towards the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin. Learn how the Soviets expanded their realm of influence and...

Read about the surprising and swift collapse of the Soviet Union and its satellite countries beginning with Poland in 1989. Watch a map which shows the change from a single country, USSR, into many independent countries, and find out...

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?"

This video and support materials detail the Hollywood blacklist and House Un-American Activities Committee, chronicling the fear of Communism and resulting blacklist based on political ideology. The video is from the American Masters...

In this lesson about the Vietnam War, young scholars will understand the motivations behind the United States joining the conflict in Vietnam. This lesson will also discuss the role of the Cold War and communism on US policy.

After Fidel Castro loosened emigration policies, some 125,000 Cubans landed on U.S. shores over a span of five months. The Mariel Boatlift of 1980 was a mass emigration of Cubans to the United States. The exodus was driven by a stagnant...

Learn about the Rosenberg trial, HUAC, and Joseph McCarthy.

A map showing the area of the American Civil War in the east, including the major battle sites of Bulls Run Creek, Manassas Junction, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill,...

Learn about the first hot war in the Cold War: Korea.

These videos and support materials explore the intense division experienced by those who testified before and blacklisted by HUAC during the Cold War, focusing on the testimony of Elia Kazan. The videos are from American Masters None...

Read about the campaign and election of 1960 in which the Democratic candidate, Senator John F. Kennedy, ran against the Repbulican candidate, Vice-President Richard M. Nixon. Find out about the issues, the famous debates, and Kennedy's...

Read about President Truman's two-pronged foreign policy for Europe. Find out about his containment policy and the Truman Doctrine, which was manifested in the Marshall Plan.

A map showing the major battle sites in the east in 1862-1863 during the American Civil War. The map shows major cities, rivers, and the sites of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Mount Cedar, Mechanicsville,...

A quick comprehension check over the Red Scare.

Resource gives information about the United States and its role in the Stabilization Force following the ethnic war in former Yugoslavia.

A quick overview of the Korean War, its causes, outcome, and its role in the Cold War.

This article discusses the growing tensions between Russia and the United States, focusing on Stalin's desire to strengthen his country's military security. (August 2, 1950)

A brief survey of the beginning of the Cold War and the challenges that faced the United States in confronting communist totalitarianism.

Learn that during Reagan's years in office the Cold War began to thaw and the Middle East started to heat up.

Read about the tense 1962 standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union that nearly resulted in nuclear war.

See the "long telegram" sent by George Kennan to Secretary of State George Marshall in which he expressed his unflattering view of the USSR.