"Mutual Assured Destruction"
CNN Interactive: The Cold War Experience
Description: This sophisticated project website focused on nuclear policy of "mutual assured destruction" between the superpowers contains very interesting features, among other things a component ("You Make the Call") that allows students to make policy decisions based on historical facts and then view the real decisions and reasons behind their outcome. There are also many links to archival photographs and documents of the period. (Primary source material organized skillfully around secondary source commentary).
Teaching Tips:
"Do Now" Suggestion
- On the CNN site, there is a link to "Brinksmanship: You make the call." In this brief exercise, students decide how to respond, from the perspective of Robert McNamara, when the Soviet Union begins to deploy an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system to protect the country and its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). They read a brief introduction to their character and advice from three of his advisors to help them make a decision.
- After the class has discussed the concept of "Mutual Assured Destruction," the students can link to "Online Spotlight: Close Calls" on the CNN website. The resource describes incidents, which came close to escalating into nuclear war. The students can record their findings in a Topic Description Organizer.