Analyzing the Cold War

Question

This activity will help you meet this educational goal:
You will examine primary sources to analyze the opinions and perspective of the author.

Directions
Read the instructions for this self-checked activity. Type in your response to each question, and check your answers. At the end of the activity, write a brief evaluation of your work.

Activity
In this activity, you will identify the characteristics of each Cold War superpower. You will then read and analyze a speech by British prime minister Winston Churchill.

Question 1
Question
Drag each tile to the correct location.

Match each characteristic with the appropriate Cold War superpower.

Joseph StalincommunistdemocraticWarsaw PactHarry TrumanNATO
Correct!
Explanation:

The NATO pact was created by the United States in alliance with several Western nations during the Truman administration. The alliance encouraged democracy, common security, and collective defense among the member nations.

The Soviets under Stalin imposed a communist form of government that exerted total control of its people. The Warsaw pact was founded in response to NATO. It was led by the Soviet Union and included many Eastern European countries.

Question 2
Winston Churchill was one of the most inspirational speakers of his time. Read his famous 1946 speech The Sinews of Peace in which he describes the growing power of the Soviet Union. As you read, feel free to look up any unfamiliar words in a dictionary. Also watch at least part of the video that accompanies the speech to get a sense of Churchill’s speaking style. Then answer the following questions.

Part A
What do you think Churchill meant when he said in his speech that an “iron curtain” had fallen across Europe?

Space used(includes formatting): 0 / 30000
Part B
Based on the speech, what was Churchill’s stance on Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and the people of the Soviet Union?

Space used(includes formatting): 0 / 30000
Self-Evaluation
How did you do? Rate your work on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 as the highest score. Then write a brief evaluation of your work. Note what you learned and what challenged you.

Answer 1

Question 1

Match each characteristic with the appropriate Cold War superpower:

• Joseph Stalin: communist
• Harry Truman: democratic
• Warsaw Pact: communist
• NATO: democratic

Explanation: The NATO pact was created by the United States in alliance with several Western nations during the Truman administration. The alliance encouraged democracy, common security, and collective defense among the member nations.

The Soviets under Stalin imposed a communist form of government that exerted total control of its people. The Warsaw Pact was founded in response to NATO. It was led by the Soviet Union and included many Eastern European countries.

Question 2

Part A: What do you think Churchill meant when he said in his speech that an “iron curtain” had fallen across Europe?

When Churchill referred to an "iron curtain" that had fallen across Europe, he was metaphorically describing the division between the Western democratic nations and the Eastern communist nations. This "curtain" symbolized the ideological conflict and separation between the two blocs, indicating that the communist countries, led by the Soviet Union, were cut off from the influence and freedom enjoyed by Western countries. The imagery of an "iron curtain" also conveyed a sense of oppression and a lack of transparency in the Eastern bloc, contrasting with the openness of democratic nations.

Part B: Based on the speech, what was Churchill’s stance on Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and the people of the Soviet Union?

In his speech, Churchill expressed deep concern about Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union's intentions. He viewed Stalin's leadership as aggressive and a threat to global peace, emphasizing the need for vigilance against Soviet expansionism. While Churchill recognized the Soviet Union's significant role in World War II as an ally, he was wary of their post-war ambitions and the totalitarian nature of Stalin's regime. He advocated for a united response from Western democracies to counteract the potential spread of communism and ensure the protection of democratic values.

Self-Evaluation

I would rate my work a 5 out of 5. I found the activity engaging and informative, particularly in analyzing Churchill's speech and understanding the geopolitical context of the Cold War. I learned about the stark contrasts between the superpowers and the significance of rhetoric in shaping public perception. The challenge lay in fully grasping the nuances of Churchill's metaphor and the broader implications of the "iron curtain" concept. Overall, this activity enhanced my comprehension of the ideological divisions during the Cold War and the importance of leadership narratives in influencing international relations.