Lesson 1: Origins of the Cold War
Duration of Days: 3
Lesson Objective
Students will explain the causes of the Cold War by analyzing ideological, political, and economic differences between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Why did the Cold War emerge after World War II?
How did ideology shape postwar tensions?
Cold War, capitalism, communism, containment, spheres of influence
APWH Unit 8 Topic 8.1
Skill 2.A
Reasoning Process: Causation
Identifying multiple causes and evaluating their significance.
This lesson establishes the ideological and geopolitical foundations of the Cold War.
Purpose: Analyze origins of ideological conflict
DOK: 3
Modern ideological rivalries and global power competition.
Students may believe the Cold War began immediately after WWII without underlying causes.
Cause-ranking activities; guided reading supports.
Formative multiple-choice questions focused on causation.
AP World History textbook, postwar political maps