George Orwell's "Animal Farm" combines animal fable with political satire targeting Stalinist Russia. John Sutherland describes the novel's genesis, its struggle to find a publisher, and its eventual success.

This site provides some excerpts from a translation of Khrushchev's famous Secret Speech denouncing Stalin policies.

Archived by the Library of Congress and presented here by Hanover College, these are excerpts of historical records from the early decades of the Soviet Union, when Stalin forced collectivism and industrialization on the Russian people.

An article in which the author argues that President Roosevelt misread Stalin and was naive about the nature of communism. This article was in response to an article by Arthur Schlesinger Jr.in which he suggested that FDR's policy toward...

Provides information on the Berlin blockade, the Berlin airlift, President Truman's role, the pressures on Josef Stalin, and Europe's reaction. The story comes out in the form of an interview between Jim Lehrer and several subject matter...

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...

An extensive site chronicling the public consensus shown to the media among Allied members: the USSR, Great Britain, and the USA. Gives ample primary sources and student activities.

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...

This excellent lesson plan lays out the framework of the lead-up to World War II in Europe. It covers the problem the support of Czechoslovakia caused Great Britain and France, the policy of appeasement exercised by Prime Minister...

This is a brief summary with pictures of the Potsdam Conference.

This site explores the Cold War race to develop the hydrogen bomb, a weapon that would change the world. Content details all the people who were involved in the race for the H-Bomb, as well as notable events during this time period....

A detailed article on the life of Vladimir Lenin. Discusses his life before becoming the leader of the Soviet Union, his political accomplishments as a leader and his death.

The events and countries involved in the nuclear arms race are profiled. Text plus a colored graphic flowchart make the topic visually appealing and of interest to both students and educators.

The outbreak of World War Two in Europe began with Hitler's invasion of Poland. Through text and a colored graphic flowchart, the events and battles and eventual end of the war, can be visually traced. Suitable for both students and...

This article discusses the development of the Soviet Union's Communist buffer zone after World War II and its evolution into the Iron Curtain of the Cold War.

Complete text of the Communist Manifesto.

This site gives a great overview of the early Cold War under President Truman. Describes relations with the Soviet Union, the atomic bomb, actions in western Europe, and the Korean War. A great piece that gives the reader a fantastic...

Read the document that presented the protocal adopted at the Yalta Conference which addressed many world issues, primarily what would happen with Germany and Japan at the end of World War II.

This is a very extensive look at the Yalta Conference. Find the problems addressed at the conference, the enumerated possible solutions, the positions each of the Big Three leaders held, and the actual results of the conference. Included...

This extensive site from the National Portrait Gallery explores presidential actions in relation to the Cold War from the Yalta Conference to the presidency of George H.W. Bush. Click on Franklin Roosevelt to find out about the decisions...

A great article from the New York Times on January 24, 1943, reporting on the meeting between President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill at Casablanca. At this meeting it was confirmed that the United Nations would accept only...

A thorough discussion of what transpired at the Tehran Conference in December, 1943, among the Allied leaders. Find out about future war strategy as well as postwar plans for Europe and the Pacific.

Examines the conditions that fostered the rise of Fascism and Nazism, the events during the lead-up to the outbreak of war, and what Roosevelt did to help affected nations yet still keep the United States neutral.

After Franklin Roosevelt's meeting with other Allied leaders in Tehran and Cairo in December, 1943, he gave a fireside chat on December 24 to inform the American public what transpired and how the Allies planned on ending the war.