Crossroads: High School Curriculum
Unit XI: Leader of the Free World: 1945-1975

Lesson 2

Contents

Major Concepts

Objectives

Suggested lesson/activities


Major Concepts:

Lesson 2 is a continuation of Lesson 1, moving from the worldwide political and military confrontation at the heart of the Cold War to domestic events and public attitudes towards the Soviet Union and Communism.

Objectives: The student will be able to:

  1. Identify and explain major causes of the Red Scare.

  2. Evaluate the impact of government and private anti-Communist initiatives in the realm of public discourse during the 1950s and early 1960s.

Suggested lesson/activities:

  1. This is an independent-study lesson. The teacher should assume the roles of facilitator and consultant. Distribute the two CROSSROADS Resources for Lesson Two.

  2. Allow the students to read the two assignments, and respond to any questions they have.

  3. Use the remainder of the period to construct a scoring rubric.

A Crossroads Resource: ANALYTIC EXERCISE - Cold War Events and Public Attitudes toward Soviet Union and Communism
A Crossroads Resource: TOPIC EVALUATION - Dramatic narrative/dialogue on the impact of the Cold War

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