Lesson 1: Cold War

How did ideological conflict shape global politics during the Cold War?
Why did the Cold War influence conflicts across multiple regions?
How do rival political systems compete for influence?

Ideological conflict
Superpower rivalry
Containment
Geopolitics

HIS.9-12.3 Analyze complex relationships among multiple causes and effects of historical events.
HIS.9-12.4 Analyze the global consequences of historical events.

Students analyze informational texts and evaluate competing historical interpretations.

Students examine Cold War tensions and evaluate how ideological competition between the United States and the Soviet Union shaped global politics. Primary DOK level: 3.

Connections to modern geopolitical competition and international alliances.

Students may assume the Cold War involved direct military conflict between the superpowers.

Guided map analysis.
Structured discussion prompts.

Short analytical explanation describing how ideological conflict shaped Cold War politics.

Cold War maps, political speeches, propaganda examples.