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Newspaper article. Headline reads Iron Curtain Threat
Iron Curtain Threat. Smyrna times (Smyrna, Del.), November 10, 1949

The Cold War: A New Primary Source Set for Teachers

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In the years after World War II, the rise of atomic weapons, along with competing political and economic ideologies from two global powers – the United States and the Soviet Union – set into motion an era of competition and mistrust known today as the Cold War.

A new primary source set from the Library of Congress supports teachers and students in investigating that historical period using newspapers, political cartoons, congressional speeches, maps, films, and other primary sources from the time.

Cartoon shows a huge dragon (labeled "China") with Mao Zedong's head breathing flames on a bear labeled with a hammer and sickle
[Chinese dragon breathing fire on Soviet bear], August 24, 1978
We hope that this set will spark ideas for use in the classroom and beyond. Keep an eye out for future posts about particular sources from the set, strategies for engaging students, and additional resources that support teaching and learning about the Cold War.

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