Library Guides: Cold War: Overview

Don't forget to cite and reference your sources. For help see the Junior School or Senior School referencing guides, and / or CiteMaker.

Resource Key

When accessing content use the numbers below to guide you:

LEVEL

Brief, basic information laid out in an easy-to-read format. May use informal language. (Includes most news articles)

LEVEL

Provides additional background information and further reading. Introduces some subject-specific language.

LEVEL

Lengthy, detailed information. Frequently uses technical/subject-specific language. (Includes most analytical articles)

General Capabilities

Enduring Understandings

Students will understand that ideology plays a fundamental role in decision making, whether it be political, social, cultural or economical. Students will also understand how people fight for their beliefs, and how the impacts everyone from the individual to global superpowers. Students will understand how conflict manifests in many ways.

Essential Questions

What are the fundamental differences between Communism and Capitalism?
What do you (the student) think of Communism and Capitalism?
What makes different countries adopt different ideologies?
What were the main issues/events of the Cold War?
How did leaders strengthen/weaken the possibility of a third world war?
What is the morality behind nuclear weapons and the arms race?
How do popular protests impact governmental change?

Quick Links

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Cold War | Overview: Articles

Cold War (Britannica Middle, n.d.)
"The rivalry that developed between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II was known as the Cold War... The Cold War created tension and competition between the two superpowers and their allies. Although the conflict did not result in actual war between the two countries, it did lead to a number of smaller wars and other military operations. Nonetheless, the Cold War was fought largely on political and economic levels." ("Cold War", n.d.)
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Reference / citation: "Cold War", (n.d.) or ("Cold War", n.d.)
Reference list / bibliography: Cold War. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://bt-libproxy.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au/levels/middle/article/Cold-War/440092
Cold War (Encyclopedia of Marxism, n.d.)
"The ‘Cold War’ was the war waged by the U.S. against the Soviet Union and its allies and the workers’ movement, by means of economic pressure, selective aid, diplomatic manoeuvre, propaganda, assassination, low-intensity military operations and full-scale war from 1947 until the collapse of the USSR in 1991." (Encyclopedia of Marxism, n.d.) Be aware of bias when using information from this site.
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Reference / citation: Encyclopedia of Marxism (n.d.) or (Encyclopedia of Marxism, n.d.)
Reference list / bibliography: Encyclopedia of Marxism. (n.d.). Cold War. Retrieved from https://www.marxists.org/glossary/events/c/o.htm

Arms race (Britannica High, n.d.)
"Arms race, a pattern of competitive acquisition of military capability between two or more countries. The term is often used quite loosely to refer to any military buildup or spending increases by a group of countries. This definition requires that there be a competitive nature to this buildup, often reflecting an adversarial relationship. " ("Arms race", n.d.)
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Reference / citation: "Arms race", (n.d.) or ("Arms race", n.d.)
Reference list / bibliography: Arms race. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://bt-libproxy.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au/levels/high/article/arms-race/605251
Cold War (Britannica High, n.d.)
"Cold War, the open yet restricted rivalry that developed after World War II between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies. The Cold War was waged on political, economic, and propaganda fronts and had only limited recourse to weapons."
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Reference / citation: "Cold War", (n.d.) or ("Cold War", n.d.)
Reference list / bibliography: Cold War. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://bt-libproxy.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au/levels/high/article/Cold-War/24721

Cold War | Overview: eBooks

The Cold War: Essential Events by Kayla Morgan
ISBN: 9781617587917
Publication Date: 2010
Essential Events explores historic happenings around the globe and how those events have sculpted societies, the sciences, and politics.

The Cold War by Meredith Day (Editor)
ISBN: 9781680483505
Publication Date: 2016
Immediately following World War II, former allies the United States and the Soviet Union began an open yet restricted rivalry that became known as the Cold War and played out around the world until the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. Many conflicts, such as the Chinese Civil War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Arab-Israeli wars, acted as proxy wars for the U.S.-Soviet competition. Other major issues explored in this examination of the Cold War include Europe's Iron Curtain, the nuclear arms race, decolonization in Africa, and the spread of communism into Latin America and Southeast Asia.
Understand the Cold War by Carole Bryan Jones
ISBN: 9781444127393
Publication Date: 2010
Understand the Cold War provides a fascinating insight into this complicated and hidden conflict, from how it began to the main characters involved and the culture it created. It will help you understand how the superpowers grew and vied for dominance, and how the balance was lost. All the important aspects of the war are covered, from what JFK and his assassin had in common to a discussion of whether the tension ended after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Give yourself the opportunity to understand the global reach of this 45-year-long conflict, which shaped the latter half of the twentieth century. NOT GOT MUCH TIME? One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started. AUTHOR INSIGHTS Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success.

Cold War | Overview: Online resources

Cold War Glossary: Learn the Special Terms of the Cold War (Thought.Co)
"Every war has its own jargon and the Cold War, despite the fact that there was no open fighting, was no exception." (Rosenberg, 2018)
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Reference / citation: Rosenberg, (2018) or (Rosenberg, 2018)
Reference list / Bibliography: Rosenberg, J. (2018, March 2). Cold War Glossary. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/cold-war-glossary-1779638
Cold War Timeline (Thought.Co)
"The Cold War was 'fought' in the aftermath of World War Two, from the collapse of the wartime alliance between the Anglo-American led Allies and the USSR to the collapse of the USSR itself, with the most common dates for these identified as 1945 to 1991." Wilde, 2019)
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Reference / citation: Wilde, (2019) or (Wilde, 2019)
Reference list / Bibliography: Wilde, R. (2019, March 6). Cold War Timeline. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/cold-war-timeline-1221188
Cold War biographies: Cold War International History Project [CWIHP]
Access a biographies of key people involved in the Cold War. "Since its establishment in August 1991, the Cold War International History Project (CWIHP) has amassed a tremendous collection of archival documents on the Cold War era from the once secret archives of former communist countries. CWIHP has become internationally recognized as the world’s preeminent resource on the Cold War." (Wilson Center Digital Archive, n.d.)

Cold War timeline and documents: Cold War International History Project [CWIHP]
Access a Cold War timeline and access to original documents. "Since its establishment in August 1991, the Cold War International History Project (CWIHP) has amassed a tremendous collection of archival documents on the Cold War era from the once secret archives of former communist countries. CWIHP has become internationally recognized as the world’s preeminent resource on the Cold War." (Wilson Center Digital Archive, n.d.)
National Archives (USA) Cold War records
"The National Archives and Records Administration holds and makes available for research a significant quantity of federal records and presidential materials that document Cold War era activities and concerns of the United States Government. This web page provides links and citations to NARA-prepared or NARA-sponsored sources of information about this Cold War documentation. " (National Archives, n.d.)

Cold War | Overview: Videos

To view this video on campus remember to first login to your school Google account using your mConnect username and password. Click here for more help on using YouTube on campus.

British Pathé Cold War video play list
23 contemporary news reels on different aspects of the Cold War from British Pathé.

What Was the Cold War? (Roberts, 2018)

Source

NOTE: PragerU, (Prager University), is NOT a university, it is a right leaning and conservative American non-profit organisation. Be aware of bias.

When using this video don't forget to cite and reference your sources. For more information and help see the Kerferd Library referencing guide and / or CiteMaker.
In text reference / citation: Roberts (2018) or (Roberts, 2018)
Bibliography / Reference list: Roberts, A. (2018). What Was the Cold War?, [eVideo]. PragerU. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/-QopdZ7G8ww

Cold War: Overview

Resource Key

LEVEL

LEVEL

LEVEL

General Capabilities

Enduring Understandings

Essential Questions

Quick Links

Cold War | Overview: Articles

Cold War | Overview: eBooks

Cold War | Overview: Online resources

Cold War | Overview: Videos

Source

Source

Cold War | Curriculum alignment and metadata

Area of Study 1: Competing ideologies