(Cold War) To Do:
Links to Follow: You need a background to understand the following activities. Please read the information at the following site before you proceed to Activity One.
Activity 1 Background: Communism versus Capitalism. Or The U.S. Versus The Soviet Union, China, or Any Other Communist Country You Can Think Of: In order to understand any aspect of the Cold War, you must have some understanding of the ideological differences between the ideas expressed in Communism and Capitalism. In short, Capitalism preaches the praises of the individual man. "You can rise as high as your wishes can grasp. Nothing stands in the way of a determined individual. If money is your goal, your success is only as far away as your determination. In competition the cream will rise to the top." These are but a few of the ideas behind Capitalism. Under Communism competition is replaced with cooperation, individual drive or importance is replaced by collective importance, or the state. An act or individual is juged according to how it adds to the state or the collective whole. If you have seen the Borg on Star Trek, The Next Generation, this gives you some idea of the "collective" or if you have ever seen bees in action this too gives some indication of the importance of the collective.
Specific historical events also helped to divide the two camps. During World War I, the Soviet Union (Russia) signed a separate peace with Germany, leaving the west to fend for itself, while the United States during this same time period attempted to overthrow the new govenment the Communists installed in Russia.
When the Tzar and his family were executed in this new Russia, (The Soviet Union) western countries saw this as an example of communist treachery and godlessness.Additionally, in American after the end of the first World War, ideas of communism, unionism, and immigration (in particular eastern european immigration) were linked together in the minds of many Americans. The first Red Scare, was marked by intolerance, the Plamer Raids, Sacco and Vanzetti execution, the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts, all of which helped to foster an atmospher of fear and intolerance against communism, iimmigrants and union.
Events during and after World War II; a few World War II conferences, where each side left with the belief that their agenda had been met, only to find their incomplete understanding of these events would later be used as ammunition that the "other" had broken the pact had been met mixed with a continued presence of Soviet troops on the eastern soil of Europe. These events mixed with the older fears and suspicions each side had for the other, to help usher in the period known as the Cold War.
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Activity 1 Background: More Cold War Terms: With Activity 1 hopefully you discovered some of the inherent problems between Capitialism and Communism. Additionally, specific individuals, events and actions were involved in the joust between the two camps. In fact, billions of dollars were spent by the United States, the Soviet Union along with other Captialist and Communist nations, in an attempt to check the power and influence of the other. Billions were spent on defense, in particular on nuclear and missile technology, along with millions others on propaganda, each side used to influence the populace of their own nation.
Some have argued this money could have been better spent on education, internal improvements or to help each of these nations end the poverty found withing their borders. For example, the cost, as of 1998, according to a 1998, CBS news report for one Tritant submarine, hovered around 2 billion dollars. If you compare this to the Grossmont Union School district total educational budget of around 116 million dollars, for the 1997-98 school year, (which includes salaries, supplies, and transportation for around twenty thousand students) you can see that monies spent for national defense is substantial when compared to education.. This is not to say that defense is not important; it is just to say that with advances made daily in technology the cost for these advances and technology do come at a price.
Concurrent with the Cold War was our ever increasing ability to lay havoc to ourselves and our planet. Nuclear technology, or the ability to destroy every living creature along with our planet, for the first time made the possibilty of a local war (if nuclear weapons figured in) a world affair. A war between the United States and the Soviet Union, if nuclear weapons figured in was unthinkable.
Activity 1 Links
Actvity 1 Directions: Cold War Terms Continued: (Define the terms in the chart below. Top grades for this activity will only be given to those who can demonstate what in specific the term did, along with its importance. In other words, a one line definition will not be sufficient enough. (Marshall Plan, Truman Doctrine, Eisenhower Doctrine, Massive Retaliation, Sputnik, Iron Curtain, NATO, WARSAW, McCarthyism, Brinkmanship, Containment, Domino Theory, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, The McCarran Act, NSC-68, Dennis v. U.S., Black Listing, HUAK, | Cuban Missile Crisis, Bay of Pigs, Berlin Airlift Peace Corps, U2 incident) (88 Points Possible)
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| Marshall Plan | |
| Truman Doctrine | |
| Eisenhower Doctrine | |
| Massive Retaliation | |
| Sputnik | |
| Iron Curtain | |
| NATO |
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| WARSAW | |
| McCarthyism | |
| Brinkmanship | |
| Containment | |
| Domino Theory | |
| Julius and Ethel Rosenberg | |
| The McCarran Act | |
| NSC-68 | |
| Dennis v. U.S | |
| Black Listing | |
| HUAK | |
| Cuban Missile Crisis | |
| Bay of Pigs | |
| Berlin Airlift |
Activity 2: Cold War in Europe, Asia and Latin American and the African Continent. The United States and the Soviet Union never fought each other directly during the Cold War. Perhaps the possibility of total destruction to each was enough to keep them from this. The Cold War between them, was really a war of proxy, where each side used propaganda; where native troops in Europe, Asia, Latin American and the African continent fought each other, often in Civil wars which were financed on one side by Capitalist nations, usually the United States, with the other financed by Communist nations, often the USSR. Sometimes money, instead of troops were used to expand the influence of one side over the other. The Alliance for Progress along with the Peace Corp are examples of money spent to help contain communism. In fact this is the one item that each side had in common, the massive amount of financial resources needed to carry on this war of proxy. Two times, once in Korea (1950-52), the other in Vietnam (1961-73), US troops were the greater part of the forces involved in the fighting. In each of these instances the United States was involved in a Civil War tied together with a "War of Liberation" against Imperialism in some manner. Additionally, both of these war were undeclared wars. The Soviet Union found itself involved in its own Vietnam (Afghanistan) starting late in 1979. This invasion into Afghanistan, by Soviet troops, led to an eventual boycott of the 1980 Olympic games, held in Moscow, by the United States under President Carter. Some even argue, the Soviet Union's downfall in the late 80's, was really the result of spending too many resources on defense, while too little on domestic needs.
Activity 2 Links:
Activity 2 Directions: In essay form, respond to this prompt: Please discuss the implementation of the policy of "containment" in terms of people, places nd events as it applied to Europe, Asia, Latin America and the African continent. Grades will be determined by the historical accuracy of your paper as well as your ability to incorporate the ideas of the Cold War as they apply into your paper. Click here for the writing rubric. Minimum Length, three pages: (Possible Points 100) Note: All essays will be graded according to the Helix Writing and Points Rubrics .
Activity 3 Background: Howard Zinn's summary of the Smith Act's prosecutions against American Communists; and the McCarran Act of 1950. Starting with the end of the WW II in 1945, the Cold War began in ernest. A series of world events occured which help to shake American confidence in themselves. In 1949, the Soviet Union tested its first Atomic bomb while China fell to the Communists. In 1950, Alger Hiss was convicted of helping to steal US nuclear weapon secrets. Into this arena of fear stepped Joseph McCarthy and his accusation of Communist infiltration within the highest levels of government. Thus began the "Second Red Scare."
Much like the first Red Scare, which took place shortly after the end of World War I, there appeared to be a conflict between the First Amendment and laws passed that attempted to stop communism or anarchy from taking hold. The Smith Act along with the McCarran Act in the 1950's were two such acts. Earlier the Supreme court had ruled whenever an act can be interpreted to be a "clear and present danger," the rights of the state supercede those of individuals rights. In short, there is no guarantee of 100% free speech during times of war or while an action might present a "clear and present danger." You might make this analogy, during good times, times of safety, rights seem to expand, while the opposite holds true during times of war and fear; a restriction of rights takes place.
Howard Zinn has his own perspective on the Cold War along with the passage of the Smith and McCarran Acts. In order to understand his perspective you one must realize that he writes from a leftist perspective. He does somes show some sympathy towards leftist idealogies, (Socialism, Communism). Never the less it should be noted that all history is written from some perspective. Being a historian is not necessarially an unbias occupation. With this in mind you should read Mr. Zinn and compare his version of history with that of other texts.
Activity 3 Links:
Activity 3 Directions: Read chapter 16, from Howard's Zinn's, A People's History of the United States. In order to understand the prompt below you must read all 5-6 pages. Starting in 1947 with Truman's Executive Order 9835 which "initiated a program to search out any infiltration of disloyal persons" in the United States and continuing with the Smith and McCarran Acts of 1950's we continued to hunt down commies or reds. You job is to attempt to answer the following prompt.
The Prompt: Why does Mr. Zinn believe the Smith and McCarran Acts were passed? What evidence does he present to back his claims? You will need to read all of chapter 16 to answer this question. (writing rubric to be used) Minimum length: two and a half to three pages, typed double spaced. (50 Points Possible) Note: All essays will be graded according to the Helix Writing and Points Rubrics .
Activity 4 Background: Cold War Relationships: Thousands of U.S citizens were touched in some manner by the second Red Scare. In fact duirng its heyday, hundreds of Americans were taken before the HUAC committee in the Senate and grilled, in an attempt to get then to confess as to what they knew about the communist party in the United States. Some named names, while others hoping to fall back on rights,as listed in the Bill of Rights refused.
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Activity 4 Directions: In a minimum of one page each, explain the relationship of the following individuals and their relationship to communism (1/2 page minimum per individual) (20 points each)
Activity 5 Directions: Propaganda Posters or Cartoons Selecting from the list of terms you defined in "Activity 2," create three propaganda posters or cartoons that attempt to explain the same concept from the perspective of following three countries: the United States, the Soviet Union and China. In addition to each poster or cartoon you create, you must explain to me the meaning of each, in no less than half a paragraph, for each. Attach your explanation to each work you create.
Activity 5 Links
