Cold War 2: Was the Cold War Good for the US? Did We Win It?

Course Structure: (1) This is the second in a series of 2 courses that should be taken in sequence but do not have to be taken in numerical order. (2) Handouts will be available on the class site ahead of time to make students aware of terms to be used and the outstanding events connected with the Cold War. (3) A discussion-starting exercise will be used to help students raise questions about the Cold War that will be discussed during the class. (4) Content will be provided during the class in a slide show which will be given to students at the completion of class. (5) Class length will be 1 hour and will emphasize understanding, questioning, and imagination more than memorization of information.

Content: The course will center around 4 big issues. (1) How consistent was the foreign policy of the US under 9 different president? (2) How unified were the American people and both parties behind leading the free world and promoting democracy? (3) How prosperous were the American and world economies throughout the Cold War? And (4) what was the impact on American society when fear of international communism disappeared inn the 1990s?

Methodology: A slide show will present information with graphics and content that are explained in a lecture. Students are encouraged to ask questions or express views at any time, but there is no pressure to speak. An ice breaker activity at the beginning of the course will be used to encourage participation and set the expectation that students may speak up but will not be pressured to talk. The slide show will include links to websites for additional information so that sharing the slide show at the end of the course encourages students to view the class as the beginning of a learning adventure. 

Resources: No third party resources are used.