Cold War and Contemporary Europe

Introduction

Photograph of the Iron Curtain in Slovakia As WWII ended, in many ways the allies simply traded one conflict for another. Europe remained divided, now East vs. West, as the Soviets and the Americans began a 40+ year standoff. Though the Cold War did not result in the Eastern and Western nations fighting each other directly, there were still numerous conflicts between the two around the globe. "Brinkmanship," or the policy of always being on the edge of war, led to tensions throughout all nations. Society responded with student riots and decolonization. Great strides were made in science and a growing consumer culture reaped the rewards of an economic post-war boom. For those living behind the Iron Curtain, life was harsh, with strict controls on politics and economics. Democratic uprisings, such as the Hungarian revolts and the Prague Spring were harshly suppressed, leaving many resigned to Communism as a way of life.

By 1970, the idea of a divided Europe seemed the norm. The Brezhnev Doctrine made Soviet invasion in the face of a political protest an inevitability. In light of this, the tension-filled standoff eased into détente as both sides found ways to coexist. The reforms created under Mikhail Gorbachev sparked later demands for reform and, rather than fixing the strained communist system, it managed to break it into pieces. By the end of 1989, the Eastern Bloc countries had all broken away from Communism and the USSR soon followed.

The end of the 20th century saw many changes to Europe, including a movement to work cohesively. Out of this came the European Union. While not every country is a member of the EU, it is essentially the governing body for the majority of European nations and marks the first widescale cooperative movement Europe has seen throughout its history. Times are rapidly changing and Europe is facing a barrage of challenges including terrorism and increased tensions due to immigration. Women see major changes during this time as well.

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

East vs. West: Beginnings of the Cold War - The end of World War II fundamentally changes Europe as it is divided into 2 sides: Democratic West and Communist East.
How much Destalinization is too much Destalinization?: The Khrushchev Years. - Disentangling from the Stalinist Regime leads to challenges under the new leader, Khrushchev.
Creating a New Society: Culture and Society During the Cold War - Science and technology expand rapidly in the post war years while consumerism and class structure mark changes in society. Students begin making big impacts on the politics of the time.
Women - The Women's movement moves into its second phase.
European Colonies Gain Independence - The post-war world sees Europe losing control as colonies fight for independence.
Cold War Economics - Modern monetary system is devised after World War II. The 1970s see multiple crises that impact all Europeans.
Art during the Cold War - Abstract Expressionism takes hold.
Cold War Thaws - West Germany makes inroads with the USSR to achieve a détente. Despite the harshness of the Brezhnev regime, USSR undergoes a societal shift paving the way for future revolution. Poland takes the first steps to break free of the communist bloc.
The End of the Cold War - Poland falls, followed quickly by the other Soviet bloc nations, and eventually, Russia itself.
Creating a New and Improved Europe: Unifying Europe after the Cold War - The European Union seeks to create a unified economic front while cooperating on a number of matters all in hopes of preventing future wars and bettering European society.
Review module – Review of the module.

Essential Questions

Understand the physical restructuring of Europe post World War II.
Be able to recognize the ideological struggles between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.
Be able to trace the political leaders of the post World War II era.
Be able to understand the nature of a "cold war" and the events and issues which defined this type of war throughout the 20th century.
Be able to recognize the significance of nuclear weapons in the 20th century political and military struggles.
How did the challenges to Communism, particularly in satellite nations, bring about the downfall of the Communist bloc?
How did the anti-communist movements of the 1950s and 1960s influence the development of European solidarity?
How did Margaret Thatcher impact England and Europe in the 1980s?
What is the European Union, and how was it developed?
Was the development of the European Union an absolute necessity in obtaining peace across Europe?
Compare and contrast different views of the European Union.
How did migration in twentieth century Europe affect modern society?
How has the threat of terrorism impacted Europe?
How have women's roles in the workforce changed over the course of the 20th century?
How was the world of art affected by World War II and the Cold War?
What developments in Christianity occurred during the latter half of the 20th century?
How have the technological advancements of the 20th century changed the modern world?

Textbook Assignment and Questions

As you work through this module, be certain to read the Cold War and Contemporary Europe chapters in your textbook. As you are reading, you may wish to jot down notes in the unit review form. Pay careful attention to the political and social changes of this period. This is for your notes, not to submit. Use the textbook and other resources to answer the questions that accompany the lessons. The module assessment may contain two randomly selected questions for you to complete.

Download a copy of the unit review form here.

Key Terms and People

Complete the attached identifications. The module assessment may contain these ids for you to match with correct answers.

Download a copy of the ID List for this module here.

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