Topic 22
International relations after World War II
Objectives
Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
To know the development and characteristics of the Cold War after the
Second World War
To understand the ideological differences between the USA and the USSR
and their importance in the formation of the Cold War
To understand the importance of the atomic bomb in the development of
the Cold War and the formation of balance of power between the USA and
the USSR
Skills
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
To arrange historical facts in chronological order
To locate places on map
To identify characteristics
To judge, contrast, extend and cite sources
To compare, elaborate and explain sources
Attitude
To develop the attitude of tolerance and acceptance
Teaching Flow
Items
Format
Teaching Objectives
Content
Why did ideological
differences contribute to
confrontation between
the USA and the USSR
from the 1950s to the
1970s?
List of events during the
Cold War
1
Question to Questioning
ponder
To guide students explore the
question
2
Task 1
3
Task 2
4
Task 3
Data-based
question
5
Task 4
Data-based
question
6
Extended
activity
Individual
short essay
To let students analyze the
confronting camps during the
Cold War
To enable students to understand
the characteristics of the Cold
War
To let students analyze the
ideological differences between
the USA and the USSR
To let students explore the part
played by the atomic bomb
during the period of
confrontation between the
American and the Soviet camps
To deepen students’
understanding of the question
and to train students’ writing and
thinking skills
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Conclusion
Summary
chart
Arranging
events in
order
Group
discussion
To consolidate what students
have learnt
Description of the Cold
War
Communism of the USSR
and human rights of the
USA
Impact of the frightening
power of the atomic bomb
on the Cold War
Compare the importance
of ideological differences
and the deterring power of
the atomic bomb in the
Cold War
Revisit major issues
discussed in this topic
1
QUESTION TO PONDER
Why did ideological differences contribute to
confrontation between the USA and the USSR from
the 1950s to the 1970s?
To know more (1)
Ideological differences between the USA and the USSR brought about
confrontation between the two camps headed by each of them. Capitalism in
the USA is different from communism in the USSR.
The two camps competed with each other in securing economic and military
supremacy, and many countries were dragged into either camps, resulting in
regional conflicts and serious loss of human lives and material properties.
However, the frightening power of the atomic bomb forced the two camps to
remain in perpetuating tension, which led to confrontation.
Task 1: Confronting camps during the Cold War period
There were a few major military conflicts that involved the USA and the USSR after the
Second World War. According to information from library or internet and the map
below, write down on the list of events below the year of the conflict and put the events
in sequence by numbering them with 1 for the earliest event and 5 for the latest.
2
List of events of confrontation
Suggested answer:
Order
4
Year
1962
Events of Confrontation
Confronting Camps
Cuban Missile Crisis
The USA opposed setting up of
missile bases in Cuban by the USSR
The USA supported West Germany.
The USSR supported East Germany
2
1948-1949
Berlin Blockade
5
1963-1973
Vietnam War
1
1945-1949
Civil War in China
3
1950-1953
Korean War
The USA supported South Vietnam.
The USSR and China supported
North Vietnam
The USA supported the Chinese
Nationalist Party. The USSR
supported the Chinese Communist
Party
The USA supported South Korea.
The USSR and China supported
North Korea
Topic 22
International relations after World War II
The locations of the military conflicts listed above are indicated on the map below.
Locations of major military conflicts after the Second World War:
2. Which two countries of the two confronting camps are seen most often in the conflicts
on the list above?
Suggested answer:
X：The USA (or the USSR)
3
Y：The USSR (or the USA)
3. On the world map above, fill in X and Y on the locations of these two countries fill in X
and Y on the world map above.
Based on the answers for 1 and 2, differentiate the two camps by filling in the names of
the countries below in the appropriate column:
Britain, the USA, East Germany, West Germany, North Korea, South Korea, People’s
Republic of China, France.
Suggested answer:
Camp X/Y*
Camp X/Y*
Britain
East Germany
the USA
North Korea
West Germany
People’s Republic of China
South Korea
France
*Delete the inappropriate letter.
Task 2: What are the characteristics of the Cold War?
Source A is a description of the Cold War.
Unlike the First and Second World Wars, Cold War was not a total war. That is to
say, although in the areas in which war was conducted, many people died and much
property was destroyed, many countries which took sides in these confrontations,
such as the United States and the Soviet Union, did not see war touching their own
territory.
For the most part, from the end of the Second World War to the 1980s, an ideological
gulf divided the United States and the Soviet Union, as the result of which, they and
their allies contested for economic and military superiority. Many countries were
drawn into the two camps led by them. This constant state of tension between the two
camps was known as the Cold War.
Group Discussion in Class
1. Identify from Source A the characteristics of the Cold War.
Suggested answer:
4
a
Did not develop into a total war
b
Regional wars resulted in great loss of human lives and material
properties
c
Ideological differences between the USA and the USSR
d
Many countries were dragged into the American or the Soviet camps
e
Other reasonable inferences
2.
Infer from your background information why there was no direct war between the
USA and the USSR during the Cold War period.
Key discussion points:
a. Human and economic losses brought about by wars
b. Did military strengths of the USA and the USSR have deterring effects?
c. The aims of confrontation between the American and the Soviet camps
d. Other reasonable hints
Suggested answer:
c
Avoiding repeat of great casualties and consumption of the two world
wars.
Both sides possessed great military might and new weapons like atomic
bombs.
Members of both camps involved in regional conflicts competing for
resources and military supremacy.
d
Other reasonable inferences.
a
b
Topic 22
International relations after World War II
Task 3: What are the ideological differences between the USA and the USSR?
To know more (２)
The anthem of international socialism:“The Internationale.”
The song (L’Internationale in French) is one of the most famous songs in
international socialist movement. It has also been the song most widely sung in
the world. Its original lyrics (in French) were written by Eugène Edine Pottier
in 1871 (using the melody of La Marseillaise of the time). Pottier wrote the
melody for the song in 1888. The song has been translated into many languages
of the world. The traditional practice when singing The Internationale is that
the singers would hold their hand in fist as a sign of respect. The Internationale
has been sung by not only the communists but also socialists, social democrats
and anarchists in many countries, and was the official song of the First
International and the Second International.
Teaching Tips:
When playing The Internationale sung in Chinese, the teacher may distribute
the Chinese lyrics to the class or show them by visualiser, so that students can
follow the lyrics along with listening to the song.
Source B shows the content of The Internationale:
First Stanza
Chorus
Arise, ye workers from your slumber,
Arise, ye prisoners of want.
For reason in revolt now thunders,
And at last ends the age of cant!
Away with all your superstitions,
Servile masses, arise, arise!
We'll change henceforth the old tradition,
And spurn the dust to win the prize!
So comrades, come rally,
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale,
Unites the human race.
So comrades, come rally,
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale,
Unites the human race.
Source：http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_Internationale#English_lyrics
5
1. Source B mentions “workers from your slumber”, “prisoners of want”, etc. Do you think these
refer to the capitalists or the working class? (Hint: Information from Topic 15 Industrial
Revolution.)
Suggested answer: The working class.
2. Explain which phrases in the chorus of the The Internationale are related to notions in
communism such as “revolution” and “Down with the capitalist”.
Suggested answer: Promoting revolution and overthrowing the capitalists; e.g.
a.
“So comrades, come rally, and the last fight let us face. The Internationale,
Unites the human race.”
b.
“We'll change henceforth the old tradition, and spurn the dust to win the prize!”
3. How do you think the objective of “spurn the dust to win the prize” can be achieved by the class
you identified in question 1 above?
Suggested answer:
To stage revolutions and overthrow the capitalists / bourgeoisie so as to establish a government
dominated by the workers / the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Source C is about Soviet Communism:

In 1918, Lenin, who emerged as the leader of the Russian Revolution, declared
that it was the policy of the Soviet Republic (later to become the U.S.S.R.) to
abolish private ownership of land, factories, mines, railways and banks. All land,
factories, mines, railways and banks were to be owned by all the people within the
state. The state, therefore, would be led by the working class.

Internationalism, the abolition of private property, and the control of the state by
the working class, under the leadership of the Communist Party, were the essential
tenets of Communism.

The U.S.S.R. was committed to promoting Communism throughout the world. At
the end of the Second World War, the Soviet Union set up communist regimes in
Eastern Europe, including Poland, Rumania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East
Germany and Bulgaria. A communist camp led by the Soviet Union was formed
vis-à-vis the Western camp led by the United States and Britain.
6
4. With reference to Source C, list the characteristics of the communism carried out in the
USSR.
Suggested answer:



The Soviet Republic carried out the policies of abolishing private ownership of land,
factories, mines, railways and banks.
The state was controlled by the working class under the leadership of the Communist
Party.
The USSR would take up the task of spreading communism to the whole world. After
the Second World War, it supported the rise of communist regimes in Eastern Europe.
Topic 22
International relations after World War II
Teaching Tips:
The teacher may, in accordance with students’ ability and interests, adopt the
format below for discussion by letting students fill in the table below and
provide the clues.
Suggested answer:
The Internationale

Arise, ye workers from your slumber,
Arise, ye prisoners of want.


Soviet Communism

The Soviet Republic implemented the
policy of abolishing private ownership
of land, factories, mines, railways and
banks
Away with all your superstitions,
Servile masses, arise, arise!

We'll change henceforth the old
tradition,
And spurn the dust to win the prize!
Under the leadership of the
Communist Part, the state was
controlled by the working class

The Soviet Union took up the task of
spreading communism to the whole
world. After the Second World War, it
supported communist regimes in
Eastern Europe
Source D is about USA’s human rights idea. Below is the inaugural speech made by the
American President John F. Kennedy in January 1961:

We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom. For I have
sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed
nearly a century and three quarters ago.

The world is very different now…the belief that the rights of man come not from the
generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.

Born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud
of our ancient heritage – and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of
those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which
we are committed today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know…, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any
hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the
success of liberty.
Source: Inaugural Address of John F. Kennedy, 20 January 1061, http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres56.html
7
1. In his speech, John Kennedy emphasized that “We observe today not a victory of party,
but a celebration of freedom”. What are the characteristics of human rights to be
preserved by the new generation of Americans that he wanted to express? Illustrate by
citing other parts of Kennedy’s speech.
Suggested answer:
 “the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God”
(Rights entitled to human beings.)
 One can clearly see from the speech that in Kennedy’s mind the core value that the
new generation of American should preserve is “freedom and liberty”.
Source E is part of the American Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life,
Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; that, to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that
whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of
the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation
on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most
likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
8
Source: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
With reference to Source E and the sources in Task 2, identify the differences between the
ideas of Soviet Communism and USA’s ideas of human rights, both of which indicated the
pursuit of “freedom”.
Suggested answer:
Communism
Ideas of Human Rights
Private
Ownership
Rights
Abolish / Oppose
Support
Must protect working class
Everyone enjoys equal rights
Power to
control state
Working class
Opposed to control of government by
any single social class
Group Discussion
Examine the relationship between the above-mentioned differences and Soviet-American
conflicts.
Teaching Tips:
The teacher may remind students to synthesize and analyse the historical facts
about Soviet expansion in Task 2 and about American expansion in the
reference books or through internet search.
課題 19: 歐洲的民族主義
Topic 22
International relations after World War II
Suggested answer:

The Soviet Union attempted to spread Communism to the whole world in order to
overthrow exploitations of capitalism around the world and to set up proletariat regimes.
Therefore, after the Second World War, it supported communist regimes in Eastern
Europe, including Poland, Rumania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Germany and
Bulgaria. (Task 2 Sources)

In order to defend world freedom, the USA led the Western European countries to
confront the expansion of the Soviet Union. (Refer to library books or online sources)

Both parties were in constant conflicts from the 1950s to the 1970s. (Refer to library
books or online sources)
Task 4: To examine the part played by the atomic bomb during the period
of confrontation between the American and the Soviet camps
Source F: American President John F. Kennedy spoke on the issue of preventing war in a
speech.
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond
doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they never be employed.
But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our
present course – both sides overburdened by the costs of modern weapons, both rightly
alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain
balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind’s final war.
Source: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/jfk-inaug.htm.
Source G: Scene of Hiroshima after explosion of the atomic bomb.
Source：http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Hiroshima_aftermath.jpg。
9
1. In Source F, Kennedy mentioned “two great and powerful groups of nations” in his
speech. Which two camps was he referring to?
Suggested answer:
The communist camp of the Soviet Union and the capitalist camp of the USA.
2. Describe the power of destruction of the atomic bomb with reference to the scene of
Hiroshima in Source G.
Suggested answer:
The power of destruction was extremely strong. It led to serious casualties in Hiroshima
and the entire city turned into debris.
3 Discuss, from the perspectives of research and development and the use, the attitude of the
USA and the USSR in handling the atomic bomb and nuclear weapons with reference to
Sources F and G and using background knowledge.
Suggested answer:
10
Research and Development
Use
Both sides understood that
the economic burden of
research and development
of atomic bombs and
nuclear weapons was
extremely heavy.
Both sides understood the terrifying power of destruction
of atomic bombs, which might even destroy human
beings, and so neither side had ever used nuclear
weapons.
Both sides engaged in a
continuous armament race.
Both sides possessed atomic bombs for the purpose of
frightening the other side. The more they owned, the
greater would be the frightening effect, and that turned
into a balance of power situation.
Both sides did not want the proliferation of atomic bombs
in case that would threaten their leading position.
However, there were still six to seven countries in the
world that possessed atomic bombs.
As a result there were only small-scale regional wars
during the Cold War. No country ever used any nuclear
weapon.
Extended activity
Write a piece of short essay to explain the importance of different factors which
affected the development of the Cold War.
Suggested topics:
a. Do you agree that the deterring power of atomic bombs was more important
than ideological differences in affecting the development of the Cold War?
b. To what extent was ideological differences a major factor which affecting the
development of the Cold War?
Topic 22
International relations after World War II
Conclusion
The formation of the Cold War was due to the ideological confrontation between the
USA and the USSR and the great destruction power of atomic bombs after the Second
World War. The former led to the condition of constant confrontation between two great
camps, resulting in economic and military competition between them; the latter had the
effect of deterring the opponent and each side sought to avoid direct war. As a result
there were a series of regional conflicts and no general war between the two sides ever
broke out.
Summary Chart
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