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A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History
The Cold War Back to History Unit

(a) describing outcomes of World War II, including political boundary changes, the formation of the United Nations, and the Marshall Plan;

Boundaries of Postwar Europe
CNN Interactive: The Cold War Experience

Description: This web page from a technically sophisticated project website demonstrates the boundaries of Europe immediately following World War II. (Secondary source material).



Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestion
  • Students can examine the map and the interactive text and make a timeline of the events at the end of WWII, which led to Churchill dubbing the division between Eastern and Western Europe the "Iron Curtain."
Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson
  • Students can use this map, along with a map from prewar Europe, to draw a comparison map. In one color, students can draw the borders of prewar Europe (the teacher might want to specify which countries to include). In another color, students can draw the borders of postwar Europe, including the Iron Curtain. The teacher might ask students to annotate the major changes in the geography of Europe. This webpage is part of CNN's Cold War Interactive Site. There is a link in the left column to an "Educator's Guide." Teachers might find the guide useful in planning additional Cold War activities. Teachers might also consider investing in the any or all of the episodes of the Cold War series.

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