A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : Life Without the Cold War CNN Interactive: The Cold War Experience This component ("an exercise in alternate history") of a sophisticated project website on the Cold War Experience offers students three "what if" scenarios, which challenge them to consider the potential outcomes of the Cold War had history been different. Interaction with "alternative" or "counterfactual" history has always been a good way to reinforce student control of the material and encourage higher levels of thinking and analysis. (Secondary source material). (This resource is better suited as an "Activity") This resource is an exercise in "alternative history." It offers students three "what if" scenarios, which challenge them to consider the potential outcomes of the Cold War had history been different. The students can examine the three scenarios, and in each section there is a link to a "reality check," in which the students can compare the alternate history to reality. Students can then post a reaction on the website's message board.

(b) explaining the origins of the Cold War, and describing the Truman Doctrine and the policy of containment of communism, the American role in wars in Korea and Vietnam, and the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Europe;

Life Without the Cold War
CNN Interactive: The Cold War Experience

Description: This component ("an exercise in alternate history") of a sophisticated project website on the Cold War Experience offers students three "what if" scenarios, which challenge them to consider the potential outcomes of the Cold War had history been different. Interaction with "alternative" or "counterfactual" history has always been a good way to reinforce student control of the material and encourage higher levels of thinking and analysis. (Secondary source material).

Teaching Tips:

Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

This resource is an exercise in "alternative history." It offers students three "what if" scenarios, which challenge them to consider the potential outcomes of the Cold War had history been different. The students can examine the three scenarios, and in each section there is a link to a "reality check," in which the students can compare the alternate history to reality. Students can then post a reaction on the website's message board.