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Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with winding streets and rows of houses.
Handout detailing the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution with introduction and text excerpt.
Document titled "The Alien Registration Act of 1940," outlining its purpose and implications.
A man in a suit with a tie and pocket square, seated and looking intently at the camera.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – Chapter 13

29 items

Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with winding streets and rows of houses.
Chapter 13: 1945-1960 Inquiry Organizer
Resource

Resource

How did anti-communist foreign policy, the liberal welfare state, and American cultural values shape the postwar world from 1945 to 1960?
Handout detailing the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution with introduction and text excerpt.
McCarthyism Warm-Up and Background Essay
Activity

Activity

What historical background of the Cold War and McCarthyism do students need to understand to evaluate anti-communist legislation? Use the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and this background essay to introduce these ideas for students.
Document titled "The Alien Registration Act of 1940," outlining its purpose and implications.
McCarthyism DBQ Student Document Packet
Activity

Activity

To what extent did anti-communist hysteria during the Second Red Scare violate civil liberties?
A man in a suit with a tie and pocket square, seated and looking intently at the camera.
George Kennan (“Mr. X”), “Sources of Soviet Conduct,” July 1947
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Man in a suit and glasses writing on paper at a desk, looking focused.
Harry S. Truman, “Truman Doctrine” Address, March 1947
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin seated together, surrounded by military officials.
Winston Churchill, “Sinews of Peace,” March 1946
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A man in a suit sits at a desk with hands clasped, speaking into the camera against a curtained background.
Richard Nixon, “Checkers” Speech, September 1952
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Black and white image of a man in a suit speaking at a podium, with curtains and a desk in the background.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, Farewell Address, January 1961
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Historical black-and-white photo of Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin shaking hands. Military personnel in the background.
Who Was Responsible for Starting the Cold War?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Which country, the United States or its previous ally, the Soviet Union, was responsible for the escalating tensions that led to the Cold War that would go on to last for decades? Two scholars debate this question.
A chart comparing two claims about the Cold War's primary responsibility: Claim A and Claim B.
Who Was Responsible for Starting the Cold War Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

40 Min

A handout to accompany the scholarly claims made in the corresponding Point-Counterpoint readings that helps student synthesize the claims put forth.
Mao Zedong delivering a speech with several officials at a historic ceremony. Black and white photograph.
Truman Intervenes in Korea
Essay - 2322 Words

Essay

2322 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the continuities and changes in Cold War policies from 1945 to 1980.
A man in a military uniform speaks at a podium with microphones, addressing a crowd in a historical setting.
Truman Fires General Douglas MacArthur
Essay - 3421 Words

Essay

3421 Words

Map depicting the Anglo-French invasion during the Sinai campaign, showing troop movements and locations, November 1956.
Eisenhower and the Suez Canal Crisis
Essay - 2453 Words

Essay

2453 Words

By the end of the section, you will explain the various military and diplomatic responses to international developments over time.
A historic black and white image of a crowd of children watching a plane landing in a rural area.
The Berlin Airlift
Essay - 2637 Words

Essay

2637 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the continuities and changes in Cold War policies from 1945 to 1980.
A serious-looking man in a suit, sitting at a table with a neutral background.
The Postwar Red Scare
Essay - 2428 Words

Essay

2428 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the causes and effects of the Red Scare after World War II.
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg separated by a wire screen
Cold War Spy Cases
Essay - 2511 Words

Essay

2511 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the causes and effects of the Red Scare after World War II.
Nikita Khrushchev and Richard Nixon engage in a discussion during a 1959 meeting, surrounded by onlookers.
The Nixon-Khrushchev Kitchen Debate
Essay - 1967 Words

Essay

1967 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the continuities and changes in Cold War policies from 1945 to 1980.
Three individuals in military-style clothing standing outdoors in a snowy landscape, partially obscured by foliage.
The Korean War and the Battle of Chosin Reservoir
Essay - 2605 Words

Essay

2605 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the continuities and changes in Cold War policies from 1945 to 1980.
Black and white photo of a baseball player swinging a bat, wearing a uniform with the number 42.
Jackie Robinson
Essay - 2308 Words

Essay

2308 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how and why various groups responded to calls for the expansion of civil rights from 1960 to 1980.
A smiling family of four stands together outside a house, with mountains visible in the background.
Dr. Benjamin Spock and the Baby Boom
Essay - 2359 Words

Essay

2359 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the causes of economic growth in the years after World War II.
Aerial view of a suburban area with densely arranged houses and winding roads.
Levittown Videos, 1947–1957
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Black and white photograph of a man looking thoughtfully while leaning against a wall with various objects around him.
Critics of Postwar Culture: Jack Kerouac, On the Road (Excerpts), 1957
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Map of the United States showing major highways and cities, created by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The National Highway Act
Essay - 2222 Words

Essay

2222 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the causes of economic growth in the years after World War II.
Art installation featuring a colorful map of the USA made from TVs and neon lights displaying various images.
Nam Paik, Electronic Superhighway, 1995
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Two men seated on a couch, reading a book together, dressed in 1940s business attire.
William F. Buckley Jr. and the Conservative Movement
Essay - 2404 Words

Essay

2404 Words

Illustration of five Russian space launch vehicles, showcasing their heights and models from 1957 to 1966.
Sputnik and NASA
Essay - 2219 Words

Essay

2219 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the causes of economic growth in the years after World War II.
An astronaut salutes while holding an American flag on the moon, with the lunar module and rover in view.
Was Federal Spending on the Space Race Justified?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Were the large amount of money to keep up with the Soviet Union in space exploration and to be the first country to land a man on the moon worth it? Brian Domitrovic and Jeff Broadwater debate this question.
A table comparing two claims about the justification of federal spending on the Space Race.
Was Federal Spending on the Space Race Justified Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

40 Min

A handout to accompany the scholarly claims made in the corresponding Point-Counterpoint readings that helps student synthesize the claims put forth.
A woman holds a large document titled "Declaración Universal de Derechos del Hombre."
Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations
Essay - 2969 Words

Essay

2969 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the continuities and changes in Cold War policies from 1945 to 1980.