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What Was the Cold War?

Cold War · US History · World History · Captions

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About This Video

The decades-long “Cold War” (1947-1989) between the United States and the Soviet Union was so named because the two global powers never came to direct blows. Yet, the war was not without its victims. In fact, millions of Cubans, Koreans and Vietnamese suffered under Communist tyranny. In this video, renowned British historian Andrew Roberts explains why “The Cold War” could just as easily be called “The Third World War.”

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Standards Met in Ohio

  • 9-12.AH.23Grades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thThe United States followed a policy of containment during the Cold War in response to the spread of communism.
  • 9-12.AH.25Grades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thThe Cold War and conflicts in Korea and Vietnam influenced domestic and international politics.
  • 9-12.AH.26Grades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thThe collapse of communist governments in Eastern Europe and the U.S.S.R. brought an end to the Cold War.
  • 9-12.MWH.17Grades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thThe United States and the Soviet Union became superpowers and competed for global influence.
  • 9-12.MWH.22Grades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thThe break-up of the Soviet Union ended the Cold War and created challenges for its former allies, the former Soviet republics, Europe, the United States and the non-aligned world.
  • AMH.9-12.20.aGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thDescribe the events that brought the United States into World War II.
  • AMH.9-12.23Grades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thThe United States followed a policy of containment during the Cold War in response to the spread of communism.
  • AMH.9-12.23.aGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thDescribe how the United States tried to contain communism during the Cold War
  • AMH.9-12.23.cGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thIdentify a communist country and a democratic country from the Cold War era.
  • AMH.9-12.24.aGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thExplain reasons for Cold War fears.
  • AMH.9-12.24.bGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thExplain what the term cold in Cold War means.
  • AMH.9-12.24.cGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thIdentify people who were influential during the Cold War.
  • AMH.9-12.25Grades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thThe Cold War and conflicts in Korea and Vietnam influenced domestic and international politics.
  • AMH.9-12.25.aGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thExplain how Korea and/or Vietnam exemplified the policy of containment during the Cold War.
  • AMH.9-12.25.bGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thExplain what “cold war” means.
  • AMH.9-12.30.aGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thDescribe a post–Cold War technological development and its impact.
  • MWH.9-12.14cGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thIdentify one consequence of World War I.
  • MWH.9-12.15bGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thProvide examples of oppression during World War II.
  • MWH.9-12.15cGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thIdentify an example of oppression during World War II.
  • MWH.9-12.16bGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thIdentify countries that occupied Eastern Europe and Japan.
  • MWH.9-12.16cGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thIdentify an area that was occupied after World War II.
  • MWH.9-12.17Grades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thThe United States and the Soviet Union became superpowers and competed for global influence.
  • MWH.9-12.17aGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thExplain key differences between the United States and the Soviet Union in the decades following World War II (e.g., government and economic systems)
  • MWH.9-12.17bGrades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thDescribe the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union in the decades following World War II (e.g., the Cold War)
  • MWH.9-12.22Grades 9th, 10th, 11th, 12thThe breakup of the Soviet Union ended the Cold War and created challenges for its former allies, the former Soviet republics, Europe, the United States and the non-aligned world.