Primary
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

Harry S. Truman Library and Museum: The Long Telegram

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Writing in u.s. History: Shaping the Postwar World

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1980 Present: Continuity and Change in the Postwar Era

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Cold War to Culture Wars, 1980 2000: Political and Cultural Fusions

For Students 9th - 10th
This section outlines political and cultural events of the 1980s, including the ERA movement, government failure to act on HIV/AIDS, the war on drugs and the conservative Christian reach. Questions for discussion and critical thinking,...
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: From Cold War to Culture Wars, 1980 2000: A New World Order

For Students 9th - 10th
Page featuring information on a changing order both at home and abroad during the 1980s. Several links to primary source material, glossary and questions for student discussion.
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Contesting Futures: America in the 1960s: The Kennedy Promise

For Students 11th - 12th
Discusses Kennedy's rise to power and the challenges he faced from within the government, his focus on foreign policy, the conflict with Cuba, American involvement in Vietnam, support for racial equality and civil rights, and Kennedy's...
Article
Country Studies US

Country Studies: End to the Cold War

For Students 9th - 10th
This site discusses how US-Soviet relations took a dramatic turn for the better in 1990. Agreements and concessions made by both sides would eventually bring about the end to the Cold War.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Cold War Erupts

For Students 5th - 8th
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...
Website
Country Studies US

Country Studies: Eisenhower and the Cold War

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief look at President's Eisenhower's commitment to restraining Communism in the Cold War years of the 1950s.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The End of the Cold War

For Students 5th - 8th
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...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: What Caused the Korean War and Why Did the Us Get Involved?

For Students 9th - 10th
The Korean War (1950-1953) was the first military action of the Cold War. It was sparked by the June 25, 1950 invasion of South Korea by 75,000 members of the North Korean People's Army. The line they crossed, the 38th parallel, was...
Article
Country Studies US

Country Studies: The War in Vietnam

For Students 9th - 10th
The Vietnam War encompassed many decades and many presidents. This site from Country Studies provides a brief, yet comprehensive, history of the war in Vietnam.
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
Country Studies US

Country Studies: Lithuania the Soviet Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses the Soviet Republic that existed in Lithuania during the Cold War.
Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: The Polish People's Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses the Soviet Union's influence in Poland following World War II and during the Cold War.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Huac and Hollywood

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Lesson Plan
Other

Nearpod: The Vietnam War: Introduction to the Causes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson about the Vietnam War, learners 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.
eBook
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Epsid 2019 2020 Us History

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Flexbooks 2.0 are interactive, customizable, digital textbooks. Flexbooks are standards-aligned. Flexi, a student tutor, is integrated into each book to guide you on your learning journey. Flexi can assist in learning, answer questions,...
Handout
ibiblio

Ibiblio: The Soviet Union and the United States

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ibiblio.org gives information about the historical relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States. After reading the summary on this page, click on the links at the bottom of the page to read about early...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: The Mariel Boatlift: How Cold War Politics Drove Thousands of Cubans to Florida in 1980

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Handout
CNN

Cnn: The Reagan Years: Inside the White House

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of a cnn.com in-depth special "The Reagan Years", this site provides you with brief explanations of the US in 1980, the 1980 presidential election and assorted topics of Reagan's presidency including the assassination attempt, the...
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: Anticommunism in the 1950s

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the Rosenberg trial, HUAC, and Joseph McCarthy.
Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Women in the 1950s

For Students 9th - 10th
Looks at what life was like for women in 1950s America. Examines the tension between the expectations of conformity and domesticity and an emerging discontent as many women chose to continue working after World War II. Meanwhile, African...
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: The War in the East, 1861 1865

For Students 9th - 10th
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,...