1. Cold War Thesis Practice and Graded Discussion

2. Thesis:
To what extent did economic interests rather than ideology lead to the breakdown of the grand alliance between 1943 and 1949?

3. examples
While economic interests were a factor in the breakdown of the grand alliance between , it was ultimately differing ideologies that separated the USSR from the US and UK.
The breakdown of the Grand Alliance from between the US, USSR, and UK, was somewhat fostered by economic interests such as the US desire for a strong global economy. However, the Alliance’s breakdown was largely due to ideological differences including expansionism and containment by the US and Britain against the USSR.

4. examples
Between 1943 and 1949, the breakdown of the Grand Alliance can be primarily attributed to differing conceptions of post-war economic spheres of interest and expansionism between the US, UK, and USSR; however it was political ideology that created and exacerbated these differences from the outset.
The differing ideologies caused tensions among the three powers in the Grand Alliance, however they were put into practice through economic interests thus making it a more significant factor to the breakdown of the Grand Alliance.

5. Graded Discussion Groups
2nd Period
3rd Period
Kevin Matt Anumita Pankhuri Heli Max Anna Jaanhavi Leevi Alexandra Gordon Alyssa Stephanie Julie Regan Cara Liam Judy Alaka Nils
Athena Srilakshmi Paige Minttu Abby Julia Benjamin Sreya Ali Santtu Velvet Mike Jackie Tom Sahana Jacalyn Amelia Ashley Tania Cameron Daniel

6. 1.4 Graded Discussion
Discuss the causes, impact, and significance of the Berlin blockade.
Compare and contrast the treatment of Germany post WWI and WWII.
Discuss the impact of [the division of Germany] on the emergence of superpower rivalry between

7. examples
While economic interests were a factor in the breakdown of the grand alliance between , it was ultimately differing ideologies that separated the USSR from the US and UK.
While ideological differences caused some tension in the Grand Alliance, the opposing economic interests between that were caused mainly by Germany and the recovery in Europe between the US, UK, and USSR were the main causes of the breakdown of the alliance.

8. examples
The US’s Marshall Plan alienated Stalin from the Grand Alliance by strengthening the economic power of countries opposed to the USSR, forcing him to retaliate with COMECON and further exacerbating the divides of the Grand Alliance between 1943 and 1949.
To some extent, economic interests rather than ideology lead to the breakdown of the Grand Alliance between 1943 and Contrary to the USA’s recovery oriented economic policy the USSR’s policy focused on expansion, however this was tied to the opposing ideologies of the two nations ultimately making the alliance an inevitable failure.

9. Thesis:
Evaluate the treatment of two defeated powers, each chosen from a different region, from

10. Graded Discussion Groups
2nd Period
3rd Period
Kevin Matt Anumita Pankhuri Heli Max Anna Jaanhavi Leevi Alexandra Gordon Alyssa Stephanie Julie Regan Cara Liam Judy Alaka Nils
Athena Srilakshmi Paige Minttu Abby Julia Benjamin Sreya Ali Santtu Velvet Mike Jackie Tom Sahana Jacalyn Amelia Ashley Tania Cameron Daniel

11. Graded Discussion
Discuss the impact of communist China’s victory in the Civil War on superpower relations.
To what extent was the North Korean invasion of South Korea an extension of Cold War tensions?
Impact on development of Cold War?
Why is China involved? Is this really their fight?
Discuss the impact of Chinese involvement.
Compare the causes, impact, and significance of the Berlin Blockade and the invasion of South Korea.

12. Thesis:
Evaluate the treatment of two defeated powers, each chosen from a different region, from
Japan became a parliamentary democracy.
The occupation, codenamed Operation Blacklist, was ended by the San Francisco Peace Treaty, signed on September 8, 1951, and effective from April 28, 1952, after which Japan's sovereignty – with the exception, until 1972, of the Ryukyu Islands – was fully restored.

13. examples
After the end of WWII, from , the defeated nations of Germany and Japan received starkly different treatment, as well as post war outcomes. Although both Japan and Germany surrendered unconditionally, the former acquired more leniency in terms of the post-war outcome, as well as only having one foreign occupational power, while the later was subject to the dominance of multiple parties, ultimately becoming emblematic of the rising Cold War tensions between world powers.
While the US provided economic assistance to both Germany and Japan, aiming to contain communism and create stability, Soviet influence and subsequent tension due to differing post-war political ideologies caused varying success.

15. examples
In the aftermath of WWII, the treatment of defeated powers varied greatly. The treatment often corresponded to the amount of damage the losing power had inflicted upon its new occupier. In East Germany, for examples, the USSR stripped the land of natural resources, used the economy to bolster its own, and used German labor to rebuilt the USSR after the massive damage done to it by Germany during the war. In Japan however, the US did not take such drastic measures and only dismantled aspects of the economy and government that led to Japan’s imperialistic nature. The correlation between these two shows how the damage done to an occupied power by the newly occupied one determines how well the occupied power will be treated.

16. examples
Although WWII resulted in the unconditional surrender of both countries, the US-only occupation of Japan allowed Japan to recover more quickly than the occupation of Germany by opposing Allied powers, which led to multiple Cold War conflicts from
Following WWII, where Germany was partitioned by the Allies by East and West, Japan was singularly occupied by the United States; as a consequence, Germany later developed into two separate states, but Japan stayed united.

17. thesis
Compare and contrast the causes of two Cold War crises, each chosen from a different region.

18. examples
Both the Cuban Missile Crisis and the crisis in Berlin were caused by tensions between the US and USSR, stemming from perceived threats to the domestic security on either state, ultimately reflecting brinkmanship, as well as the determination of their respected leaders to avoid nuclear confrontation.

19. examples
Despite tensions between the US and USSR rising throughout occupations of Berlin and Korea and creating ideological divisions within, varying degrees of superpower control mean Berlin remained an example of brinkmanship while Korea escalated into armed conflict.

20. Graded Discussion Groups
2nd Period
3rd Period
Kevin Matt Anumita Pankhuri Heli Max Anna Jaanhavi Leevi Alexandra Gordon Alyssa Stephanie Julie Regan Cara Liam Judy Alaka Nils Tania
Athena Srilakshmi Paige Minttu Abby Julia Benjamin Sreya Ali Santtu Velvet Mike Jackie Tom Sahana Jacalyn Amelia Ashley Cameron Daniel

21. 2.8 and 2.10 Graded Discussion
Discuss the causes, impact, and significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Brinkmanship
Compare and contrast the causes and impact of the North Korean invasion of South Korea, the Berlin Crisis, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

22. thesis
To what extent was Khrushchev’s policy of peaceful-coexistence responsible for the Sino- Soviet split of the 1960’s?

23. Graded Discussion Groups
2nd Period
3rd Period
Kevin Alaka Regan Gordon Julia Anna Tania Anumita Pankhuri Alexandra Stephanie Cara Jaanhavi Nils Heli Max Matt Alyssa Liam Judy Leevi
Athena Paige Amelia Cameron Daniel Jacalyn Santtu Srilakshmi Abby Tom Jackie Velvet Sreya Ali Minttu Julia Sahana Ashley Mike Benjamin

24. 2.9 Graded Discussion
To what extent was Khrushchev’s policy of peaceful-coexistence responsible for the Sino-Soviet split of the 1960’s?
Compare and contrast the Taiwan Strait Crises with another Cold War Crisis. What is the best option for a second crisis if you want to use Taiwan.

25. examples
While Khrushchev’s peaceful-coexistence policy conflicted with Mao’s political ideology, Mao’s efforts to become more independent and gain power through the Taiwan Strait crisis, coupled with Khrushchev’s weakened position after the Cuban Missile crisis were largely responsible for the Sino-Soviet split in the 1960’s.
Although Khrushchev’s policy of peaceful-coexistence played a role in the Sino-Soviet split due to the alienation of Mao, Khrushchev’s other policies, like de-Stalinization, also had a significant impact on Sino-Soviet relations in the 1960’s, and eventually caused the breakdown of the Sino- Soviet alliance.

26. examples
While Khrushchev’s policy of peaceful-coexistence played a large role in the Sino-Soviet split in the 1960’s, it was ultimately Mao’s desire for equal power within the communist world and independence from Soviet imperialism that was responsible for the split.
Although Khrushchev’s policy of peaceful-coexistence played a role in the Sino-Soviet split due to the alienation of Mao, Khrushchev’s other policies, like de-Stalinization, also had a significant impact on Sino-Soviet relations in the 1960’s, and eventually caused the breakdown of the Sino- Soviet alliance.

27. Graded Discussion Groups
2nd Period
3rd Period
Kevin Alaka Regan Gordon Julia Anna Tania Anumita Pankhuri Alexandra Stephanie Cara Jaanhavi Nils Heli Max Matt Alyssa Liam Judy Leevi
Athena Paige Amelia Cameron Daniel Jacalyn Santtu Srilakshmi Abby Tom Jackie Velvet Sreya Ali Minttu Julia Sahana Ashley Mike Benjamin

28. 4.1 Graded Discussion
Evaluate the state of the Soviet Union in the 1970’s and early 1980’s.
Discuss the impact of the Brezhnev Doctrine on the course of the Cold War.