In the period immediately following the end of World War II, the United States became embroiled in a new conflict that would set the course for foreign policy for the next fifty years. This new "Cold War" was less about armed conflict and more about tension, mistrust, and isolation in our nation's dealings with the other world superpower, the Soviet Union.
For the purposes of this digital history project, we will examine the role of the president as our ambassador to the world and the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces. This is not an exhaustive examination of the entire Cold War period or of all Cold War policies, but rather an in-depth analysis of specific issues that faced the eight Cold War presidents.
A great, student-friendly summary essay of the Cold War can be found here, on the Gilder-Lehrman Institute's website.
Through an investigation of original presidential campaign ads, electoral college maps, primary source texts, and secondary source analysis, you will evaluate the successes and potential failures the actions, policies, and/or doctrines of these presidents had on Cold War relations.
Your exploration of the Cold War Presidencies may take one of two possible tracks:
For the purposes of this digital history project, we will examine the role of the president as our ambassador to the world and the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces. This is not an exhaustive examination of the entire Cold War period or of all Cold War policies, but rather an in-depth analysis of specific issues that faced the eight Cold War presidents.
A great, student-friendly summary essay of the Cold War can be found here, on the Gilder-Lehrman Institute's website.
Through an investigation of original presidential campaign ads, electoral college maps, primary source texts, and secondary source analysis, you will evaluate the successes and potential failures the actions, policies, and/or doctrines of these presidents had on Cold War relations.
Your exploration of the Cold War Presidencies may take one of two possible tracks:
- Short Track: Each of the ten presidential election cycles is designed as a stand-alone module for investigating that particular four-year period of the Cold War. Follow the prompts on the pages to investigate the sources and produce an interactive historical project.
- Long Track: You may also choose to use this digital history project as a larger Cold War investigation. Select two or more (or, more ambitiously, all ten) presidential terms to compare and contrast the changing dynamics of Cold War presidential politics.
Cold War Warm-up Activity
Examine the political cartoon below and answer the prompts that follow to see how it illustrates the feel of the Cold War period.
“Time to Bridge the Gulch” From: https://multimedialearningllc.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/bridge-the-gulch.jpg
Questions
- List what you see in the above political cartoon.
- Explain what you see in the political cartoon (literal meaning).
- Explain the message of the political cartoon (inferential).
- Who is represented by the two animals?
- What does the chasm between the two animals represent?
- What do the notes on the papers have to do with the Cold War?
The Cold War Presidencies
 Eisenhower vs. Stevenson  Kennedy vs. Nixon  Nixon vs. Humphrey  Carter vs. Ford  Reagan vs. Mondale |  Eisenhower vs. Stevenson  Johnson vs. Goldwater  Nixon vs. McGovern  Reagan vs. Carter  Bush vs. Dukakis |
Reference Sources
All presidential pictures come from the public domain.
All presidential campaign ads courtesy of LivingRoomCandidate.org
All presidential pictures come from the public domain.
All presidential campaign ads courtesy of LivingRoomCandidate.org
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