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Friday Spy Day: History Camp

This is a ongoing class examining Soviet espionage in the United States during the early Cold War. Each class will focus on one spy, their involvement in espionage, and the impact of their actions on American law and history.
Ms. Coupe, BA, MSLS
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(77)
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
1 in-class hours per week
Homework
1 hour per week. Homework is not mandatory for this course. Students are encouraged to engage with provided materials prior to each class session. Likewise, if students have conducted any research on discussed individuals, or have any questions regarding sources, materials, or individuals discussed, they are welcome to share at any time.

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 11
This course is an ongoing class where students may sign up for the entire course or specific classes they are interested in. In each class, an individual involved in Soviet espionage, such as Alger Hiss, Elizabeth Bentley, Senator Joseph McCarthy, and J. Edgar Hoover will be examined in a lecture-style setting. While this class is ongoing, and learners may sign up for whichever class they like, the classes build on each other. It is recommended that learners enroll for the duration of the course. 

Information regarding spies will be made available to registered students prior to each class session. Students are encouraged engage with sources prior to class, and to ask any questions during the lecture. 

(*Students will be required to be on camera for the duration of class. Classes are recorded for learner safety and participation, and failure to appear on camera for any reason other than pre-discussed technical difficulties will result in students being dropped from the class session without a refund.  Learners who fail to show up for 2 of the scheduled classes will be withdrawn from the course without a refund. Learners are also expected to arrive to class on time. The instructor will allow up to 10 minutes after class has started to admit learners. Any learner who tries to enter class later than 10 minutes after the class has started will not be able to join class.*) 

Class schedule: 
Class 01: Agent Sonya 
Class 02: Abwehr: Nazi spies in the U.S.
Class 03:  Igor Guzenko 
Class 04: Elizabeth Bentley 
Class 05: Alger Hiss 
Class 06: Judith Coplon 
Class 07: J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI 
Class 08: Gerhart Eisler 
Class 09: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg  
Class 10: Aldrich Ames
Learning Goals
Students will learn about the scale, effects, motives, methods, and personalities involved in Soviet espionage during the early Cold War. Individuals will encompass, law officials, Congressional representatives, Soviet nationals, members of the Communist Party of the United States, and ordinary citizens. Students will learn about these individuals' attraction to, and involvement in, espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union. Entities such as the FBI, the Venona Project, the Manhattan Project, and the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) will be examined as well. 

Themes such as: free speech, right to assembly, and paranoia will be examined in the context of espionage as well; with McCarthyism playing a central role in understanding public sentiment at the time.  

The historical impact and precedent set by discussed individuals, and how this contributed to a fear of Communist infiltration in the early Cold War will be briefly examined in each class session. 

Overall, this course is intended as a fun and thought-provoking glimpse into the underworld of Soviet espionage, and help students understand the early Cold War.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
This class provides an overview of Soviet espionage in the United States. Subject material is intended for mature students, as some of the issues discussed (i.e: World War II, the Soviet Union, Communism, the American Legislative process, etc.) are serious in nature and impact. This course is intended to be a casual, light-hearted, albeit thought-provoking, look at the individuals involved in, and events surrounding Soviet espionage. All information provided or discussed will be done so in as non-partisan a manner as possible, without preference for or against any political entity. However, this topic requires maturity of students, as the events discussed may currently impact American life. All sources used by the instructor in the formation of each class is available for review upon request.
Supply List
The Instructor provides all applicable materials (i.e: primary sources, further reading, film clips, etc.) via email after each class session. Students are encouraged to engage with materials prior to each class session.
Language of Instruction
English
Joined March, 2020
5.0
77reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bachelor's Degree in History from Belmont Abbey College
B.A. in History with a minor in Government and Political Science; my undergraduate thesis offered an in-depth look at the scale and impact of Soviet espionage on the American legal system. 

Reviews

Live Group Class
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$12

weekly
1x per week
60 min

Completed by 48 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-17
3-15 learners per class

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