View the recordings from this 2021 History School course, led by Joe Welch. This content is intended for middle and high school students.
The Cold War
About the Course
Two “superpowers”—the United States and the Soviet Union—emerged from the devastation of World War II. Mistrust, fear, and deep ideological differences between the two nations led to a cold war that lasted more than forty years. The geopolitical struggle, and the underlying threat of nuclear confrontation, drew in much of the world, directly and indirectly, and had wide-ranging consequences at home and abroad. This course provided an overview of the origins and consequences of the Cold War both globally and domestically, spanning from the end of World War II through the collapse of the Soviet Union. The course concluded with a special guest who discussed what it was like to live in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The videos featured in this Cold War course were created and produced by Retroreport.org.
Topics Covered
April 5, 2021: The Origins of the Cold War
April 12, 2021: The Cold War Fear at Home: McCarthyism and Space
April 19, 2021: The Cold War Gets Hot: Korea, Berlin, and Cuba
April 26, 2021: The Arms Race, Concluding Years, and Legacy
Class 1
The Origins of the Cold War
Recorded April 5, 2021
Additional Resource
Watch Retro Report’s How a Cold War Airlift Saved Berlin with Food, Medicine and Chocolate
Class 2
The Cold War Fear at Home: McCarthyism and Space
Recorded April 12, 2021
Additional Resources
Watch Retro Report’s The Cold War on TV: Joseph McCarthy vs. Edward R. Murrow
Watch Retro Report’s How the Cold War Arms Race Fueled a Sprint to the Moon
Class 3
The Cold War Gets Hot: Korea, Berlin, and Cuba
Recorded April 19, 2021
Class 4
The Arms Race, Concluding Years, and Legacy
Recorded April 26, 2021
Additional Resource
Watch Retro Report’s Why the Cold War Race for Nuclear Weapons Is Still a Threat
About the Teacher
Joe Welch, an American history teacher from suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was recognized as the 2018 National History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute. He was also honored as the 2020 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, 2019 National Middle Level Educator of the Year, and 2019 Pennsylvania Social Studies Teacher of the Year. In Summer 2019, he served as a master teacher alongside Dr. Donald Miller for The Story of World War II, a Gilder Lehrman Teacher Seminar, and in Spring 2020, Mr. Welch taught the Gilder Lehrman History School course Facing Crisis Head On. An Apple Distinguished Educator and National Board Certified Teacher, he is a strong believer in bringing diverse stories, personal emotions, and community connections into his lessons as well as fostering excitement for high-quality, engaging history education.