WAR IN THE COLD WAR TO PRESENT DAY: AGREE TO DISAGREE OR FIGHT FOR YOUR

BELIEFS?

Noelle AguirreSocial Sciences

EDSC 307 Fall 2010

Goal and Objectives

Determine the causes of wars throughout the later half of the 20th century to today. We’ll primarily be looking at the wars and

conflicts the U.S. was involved in from the Korean War through the present involvement in the Middle East.

Examine important ideological issues involved.

Students in groups will look at a particular war to discuss their views based on historical data.

Students should familiarize themselves with current events and politics to formulate opinions and analysis.

Essential Questions Why did the United States get involved in

wars and conflicts during the Cold War through the present day?

What ideological differences do the nations involved in these conflicts possess?

How did these conflicts get resolved or are trying to be resolved?

How have the reasons for declaring war or military occupation changed throughout U.S. history?

How is the use of and improvement in technology involved?

Historical Background

Review of aftermath of World War II What was life like for soldiers when they got

home? How did ideological differences help fuel the

clear battle of good vs. evil (democracy vs. dictatorship, FDR vs. Hitler, etc.) in WWII influence public opinion of the war and treatment of WWII veterans?

In what ways did the end of WWII lead to Cold War tensions felt soon after? Ex) How did we go from being allies with the

Soviet Union to having decades of tension and fear between us and our former comrades?

Historical Background

Cold War What were the causes of the Cold War? How was communism under the Soviet Union

and its allies different from democracy under the United States and its allies?

What technological advances were created during this time and how did that increase Cold War tensions?

What were some of the biggest issues facing Americans during this time period?

Historical Background

Major conflicts during the Cold War Bay of Pigs Invasion Cuban Missile Crisis The “Space Race” Korean War Vietnam War

Note that these are just a few conflicts. We are only going to look at a few in details for our analysis and class project.

Historical Background

Korea and Vietnam Why were these countries divided? Why and how did the United States get

involved? What were the results of these conflicts? Particularly looking at Vietnam, what was it

like on the domestic front during and after the war? Student protests Anti-War sentiments Use of the mass media Treatment of Vietnam war veterans

The Rest of the 20th Century

How did the rest of the Cold War play out? Look at the fall of the Berlin Wall and the

collapse of the Soviet Union What other military conflicts did the U.S.

get involved in? How did differing ideologies come to play? How do Americans view involvement in these

military conflicts? How does new technology or the fear of others

having new technology influence foreign policy?

Present Day

United States involvement in the Middle East Brief timeline of the involvement in the Middle

East Look at current events and newspaper

archives and primary documents in small groups to discuss

What ideological issues are involved? How is technology involved in the cause of the

conflict and how the conflict is carried out? How do Americans view U.S. involvement in

the Middle East? How are the military and soldiers viewed?

Putting it All Together

Compare reasons for going to war or using the military involvement from WWII to present day.

Compare public opinion of war/military conflict and the treatment of veterans.

Discuss how differing ideologies can lead to conflict and analyze in what ways military conflict is necessary or if it’s better to agree to disagree.

Join groups for in-class debate on the issue.