Cold War – Beyond the Battlefield

1. Cold War – Beyond the Battlefield Space and Nuclear Race Berlin Wall Cuban Missile Crisis End of the Cold War

2. Technological Advancements • Nuclear Arms Race • Reading: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/nuclear_arms_race.htm • Space Race: • Reading: http://www.history.com/topics/space-race • Read Chapter 9 of “Analysing Modern History” and complete the “Analyse the documents views” at the end.

3. Building the Berlin Wall • Constructed from August 1961 • Demolition began November 1989 • Complete the reading at: http://history1900s.about.com/od/coldwa1/a/berlinwall.htm • Explain in 3-4 points why and how the Berlin Wall was built in 1961 • “The Berlin Wall became the best symbol of Cold War tensions” – to what extent do you agree? Provide detailed examples and evidence to support your answer.

4. Cuban Missile Crisis • Watch Khan Academy video • Take notes on important events, people and dates • A 13-day political and military standoff – October 1962 • Soviets place missiles in Cuba for the defence of communist Cuba • Cuba’s communist resolve strengthened by the “Bay of pigs” invasion (17th April, 1961) • Cuban nationals in Florida are sponsored by the CIA to inspire an uprising (against communism) • Fails miserably, US is exposed • US does not like having nuclear missile sites so close to home • Public and private conversations portray different images of the crisis

5. The End of the Cold War • Gorbachev instrumental in ending the war through: • Nuclear disarmament (building and maintaining arms was expensive, USSR running out of cash) • New leadership approach (transparent government) • December 1989 – Bush and Gorbachev meet and declare the war over • Significant events: • Fall of the Berlin wall (November 1989) • Collapse of the Soviet Union (March 1990 onwards) • USSR officially ceases to exist: 1st January, 1992