Unit 10
Cold War
Social Studies 8
The Cold War
Name: _____________
Mrs. Francis
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Mrs. Francis
Unit 10
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Mrs. Francis
Aim: How committed were the nations to lasting peace?
Do Now: Does the UN help today?
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HW :
•
The United Nations
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•
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•
•
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Aims of the UN
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The United Nations works to improve living conditions around the world. It takes action against
nations that are endangering world peace. To accomplish these goals, there are several major parts of
the United Nations. Each one of which has specific functions, but each part works in cooperation with
the other parts.
Directions: Complete the diagram below by filling in the functions of each part of the United Nations.
Major Parts of the United Nations
General
Assembly
Trusteeship
Council
Security
Council
United
Nations
International
Court of
Justice
Secretariat
Economic &
Social
Council
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The United Nations
This fact sheet tells you about the work of some of the main parts of the United Nations system. After reading
each information box, sum up in just ONE word the main role/focus of each part of the United Nations.
Re-read the information box about the Security Council. Why do you think these five counties are the most
powerful in the Security Council? Are there any other counties you think should also be permanent members?
If so, why?
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Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What do these readings tell us about the United Nations?
Why did the United States and other world powers establish the United Nations in 1945?
Which do you consider the most important body of the United Nations?
How does the UN compare with the League of Nations? Would you expect the UN to be a more
effective organization? Why or why not?
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United
Nations
Supporters
and Critics
How does the cartoon reflect the weaknesses of the United Nations?
How does the cartoon reflect the strengths of the United Nations?
1. What do the cartoon and
the chart tell us about the
way the UN is viewed
around the world today?
2. How do its supporters
argue the UN’s strengths?
3. Why are some critics
pessimistic about the UN?
4. What changes would you
suggest in the UN to make
it more effective? Explain.
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Mrs. Francis
Unit 10
Cold War
Mrs. Francis
Aim: Was the US or the Soviet Union more responsible for the Cold War?
Do Now: Define Cold War: ______________________________________
HW:
Cold War

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
How did the US respond?
 ____________________________________________________________________________

Truman Doctrine ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Marshall Plan
 ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
What was the Berlin Crisis?
 Berlin was divided between the four allied nations. But the city was in the middle of the soviet
zone. Stalin closed all routes to West Berlin.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
What is NATO?
 In 1949, the US and other western powers formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
________________________________________________________________________
How did the Soviet Union respond?
 ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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Cold War
Two Versions of the Cold War’s Origins
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Unit 10
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Mrs. Francis
Questions:
1.
How does the Soviet view of the origins of the Cold War compare with the U.S, view? Explain.
2. In your opinion, which nation – the United States or the Soviet Union – was more responsible for
starting the Cold War?
3. Could the development of a “Cold War” between the two superpowers have been prevented?
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Questions:
1. What does this worksheet tell us about Stalin’s actions after Yalta?
2. How did Stalin violate the Yalta agreement?
3. Why did Winston Churchill say that an “iron curtain” had descended across the continent of
Europe? What did he mean by this phrase?
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Two Germanys
Intended as a temporary measure, the partition and occupation of
Germany which followed World War II led to the establishment of
two separate countries, East Germany and West Germany. The
reunification of Germany pledged by the Allies finally took place
forty-four years later, in 1989. Read about the two Germanys below.
In February of 1945 Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt, sometimes
called “The Big Three” met at Yalta to coordinate the final military
assault on Germany and to plan for the occupation that would follow.
They knew that to prevent future wars, Germany must be
demilitarized and de-Nazified. Until free democratic elections could
be held, the victorious Allies would govern the country. Germany
was divided into zones for this occupation. Each Ally, including
France, which was not represented at Yalta, would be responsible for
a zone.
The partition and occupation were intended as temporary measures, and in February of 1948 Britain, France and
the United States agreed to reunite the zones they occupied and establish a constitutional democracy. In May of
1948 these zones became the German Federal Republic, or West Germany, with Bonn as its capital. The new
Federal Republic established alliances with the United States and other western countries. Later, in June 1949,
the Russian occupied zone became the German Democratic Republic, governed by the Communist party and
supported by the Soviet Union.
Although Germany’s historic capital, Berlin, was entirely within the Russian occupation zone, the four powers
divided it into four zones during the occupation and it was governed by a committee. When Stalin learned of
the reunification of the American, British and French territories, he ordered a blockade of West Berlin.
Beginning on March 31, 1948, the Russians denied the Western Allies land access to the city. Stalin hoped that
starvation would force the citizens of the Western occupation zone to accept his government, bringing to an end
the joint occupation of the city. The United States and Great Britain responded by initiating the Berlin Airlift,
sometimes called “Operation Vittles.” Beginning on June 26, 1948, planes delivered up to 2,500 tons of food,
fuel, and supplies a day to Berlin. Planes flew around the clock, and during the peak daylight hours, planes
landed at the rate of one per minute. The blockade ended in June 1949, but the airlift continued until September
30. In 15 months two million tons of food valued at 224 million dollars had been delivered, and West Berlin
remained free. Like Germany itself, Berlin was reunified in 1989.
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Containment
Aim: Was the Policy of containment the best way to deal with Soviet expansion?
Do Now: Define containment
HW -
Containment:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
The Truman Doctrine
_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________-____________
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
The Marshall Plan
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Marshall Plan: economic aid would create a strong European allies and future trading partners for the
U.S.
Would speed the economic recovery of Western Europe and created good will towards the U.S.
Division of Germany
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_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
1948: French, British and Americans united their zones into a single West German state.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Berlin Airlift
_________________________________________________________________________________
The Western Allies began a massive airlift to feed and supply the city.
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
After 11 months, Stalin admitted defeat and lifted blockade.
Berlin Airlift
NATO
NATO: The U.S., Canada, and ten Western European countries formed North Atlantic Treaty
Organization in 1949.
Purpose:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Each NATO member pledged to defend every other member if it was attacked.
Warsaw Pact
 ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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Questions:
1. What does this worksheet tell us about the response of the United States and its allies to the spread of
communism after World War II?
2. How does President Truman try to stop the spread of Communism in Greece and Turkey?
3. Was the Marshall Plan an effective way to stop the spread of Communism in Western Europe? Why or
why not?
4. How was the formation of NATO an attempt to stop the spread of Communism?
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Unit 10
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Mrs. Francis
Aim: Could the conflicts during the Cold War been avoided?
Do Now: Define demilitarized zone ________________________________________________
Berlin Blockade
►Time/Place: _________________________________________________________________
►Nations involved: _____________________________________________________________
►Causes: _____________________________________________________________________
►Results:_____________________________________________________________________
►Questions: Why could this have led to war? Should the Allies have given the territory away?
China
►Time/place: _________________________________________________________________
►Nations involved: _____________________________________________________________
►Causes: _____________________________________________________________________
►Results: ____________________________________________________________________
►Questions: Should we have gotten involved in this dispute? Explain
Korean War
►Time/place: _________________________________________________________________
►Nations involved: _____________________________________________________________
►Causes: _____________________________________________________________________
►Results: ____________________________________________________________________
►Questions: Did the results of the war make it worthwhile?
Bay of Pigs
►Time/place: _________________________________________________________________
►Nations involved: _____________________________________________________________
►Causes: _____________________________________________________________________
►Results: ____________________________________________________________________
►Questions: Should the US have helped the Cuban exiles? Why might some say Kennedy failed
here?
Cuban Missile Crisis
►Time/place: ________________________________________________________________
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►Nations involved: ___________________________________________________________
►Causes: _____________________________________________________________________
►Results: ____________________________________________________________________
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Questions:
1. What did this reading tell us about the conflicts that developed during the Cold War?
2. Was each conflict more the fault of the United States, the U.S.S.R., or were both nations equally to
blame?
3. To what degree was each Cold War conflict a victory for the United States? For the Soviet Union? A
standoff?
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The Korean War
Background Times were prosperous after World War II,
yet there was a lingering hint of fear in the air. Many
people believed the United States was filled with
communists. Indeed, some communist spies were
discovered here, the Rosenberg case being the most
infamous example. There was also the question of the
atomic bomb. The U.S. discovered it was no longer alone
in this area when Russia tested an atomic bomb son after
the war. China was another threat. Before World War II
a civil war had broken out in that country with two groups
fighting for control. During World War II they joined
forces to fight their common enemy, Japan, but once the
war ended they went back to fighting each other, with the
communists eventually winning.
War Events At the end of World War II, Korea was divided in two at latitude 38 degrees north (also
known as the 38th parallel) with the intention of bringing the two together. Promised free elections
were never allowed, and in 1950 Kim Il Sung, the leader of North Korea, sent his powerful army into
South Korea. The United Nations responded quickly, imposing military sanctions. The United States
and 19 other nations committed troops to this “police action.” Despite initial heavy losses, the
combined UN forces finally began to win. Then the situation changed when General Douglas
MacArthur, the commander of UN troops in Korea, disobeyed orders to stay in South Korea. Going
beyond the 38th parallel into North Korea brought communist China’s well –trained and well-equipped
army into the war. When the fighting finally ended in 1953, no one was truly victorious. The 38th
parallel dividing line remained intact.
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Unit 10
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Mrs. Francis
Aim: How was the Cold War waged in the US?
Do Now: Define Closed Shop______________________________________________________
HW :
At the end of the war, Americans faced a number of decisions. How would the nation return to a
peacetime economy?
What was the GI Bill of Rights?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
How did the nation deal with inflation?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
How did workers react?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
What was the Taft-Hartley Act?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Closed Shop

________________________________________________________________________
What happened in the election of 1948?

________________________________________________________________________
What was the Fair Deal?

________________________________________________________________________
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Unit 10
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Mrs. Francis
Unit 10
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Mrs. Francis
Aim: How did fear of communism affect Americans?
Do Now: Why do people fear communism?
HW:
•__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
•_________________________________________________________________________________
Soviet Spies
•1946-1950 – _______________________________________________________________________
•__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
•_________________________________________________________________________________
•1947 – Truman ordered investigations of government workers – thousands were questioned.
__________________________________________________________________________________
McCarthy’s Campaign
• 1950 –
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
• ________________________________________________________________________________
• Over the next four years he created fear and suspicion across the country. Many people were fired.
• 1954 –
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 1954__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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The Rosenbergs and McCarthy
When Americans learned that the Russians had exploded an
atomic bomb in September of 1949, the news sent shock waves
throughout the nation. Now that another country had the ABomb, American security was gravely threatened. Millions of
Americans worried about protecting themselves and installed
bomb shelters in their backyards. Students in school were
regularly drilled on what to do in case of a nuclear attack.
The question next turned to how the Russians had obtained the
information to build an atomic bomb. Many Americans
believed that Russia did not have the capability of producing
such a weapon themselves and assumed that Russia somehow must have learned U.S. secrets. A wave of
hysteria was touched off when Dr. Klaus Fuchs, a British physicist, confessed to giving atomic bomb secrets to
the Soviet Union. Alger Hiss, a high-ranking official in the State Department, was accused of passing important
secrets to communist spies. These cases set the stage for the most sensational spy case of the century. In 1951
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were charged with treason for plotting to arrange for the transfer of atomic secrets to
the Soviet Union during World War II. Ethel’s brother, David Greenglass, had been spying for the Soviets, and
he named the couple as leaders of his spy ring. Even though the charges were never proven, the Rosenbergs
were prosecuted and sentenced to death.
After the trial the Justice Department began taking drastic measures to
protect the U.S. against communist subversion. Loyalty oaths were
required for jobs that had nothing to do with national security, and
President Truman authorized investigations into the backgrounds of all
federal employees. Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, a littleknown Republican senator, led the Red Scare that was to sweep the
country be announcing that he had a list of people working for the State
Department who were members of the Communist party. Although he never produced this list of communists,
he continued to make even more irresponsible accusations. In the process he destroyed the reputations of many
innocent persons, including hundreds of film directors and actors who were blacklisted because of these
accusations. Even members of his own staff came under attack. McCarthy met his match, however, when he
tackled the U.S. Army. As a result of those hearings, the Senate voted to condemn Senator McCarthy for his
abusive actions. His influence quickly declined, but the term “McCarthyism” came to be synonymous with the
character assassination that he carried out.
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McCarthyism
The U. S. Senate also participated in the growing feelings of fear and mistrust. In the early 1950s,
Senator Joseph R. McCarthy made a series of shocking accusations about communist influence in our
government. McCarthy hinted at the involvement of General Marshall, Secretary of State Dean
Acheson, and Presidential candidate Governor Adlai Stevenson.
McCarthy was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Operations. He led his own
anti-communist investigations. He made brash charges and ignored the civil rights of those he called
to testify. As a Senator, McCarthy had immunity from prosecution for things he said about others
when conducting official business. He never discovered any conspiracy or any communists in
government.
Senator McCarthy’s committee hearings on television drew national attention. To many people, he
was the hero of the great anti-communist crusade of the early 1950s. His fellow Republicans enjoyed
his attacks on the Democrats in the Truman administration. When McCarthy began attacking the
Eisenhower administration, the Republicans too became upset with him.
What can happen to basic rights when a society becomes fearful?
Loyalty and Dissent: The Oppenheimer Case
As McCarthy continued, fears of communist conspiracies grew. Even Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer,
developer of the first atomic bomb, became a “security risk” during the Eisenhower administration.
Oppenheimer opposed the development of the more powerful hydrogen bomb. Oppenheimer quit his
government job in 1954, and continued to help the Atomic Energy commission.
Eisenhower had to prove to a fearful society that he could clean up security risks better than the
Democrats. He canceled Oppenhieimer’s security clearance at the AEC. The AEC dropped
Oppenheimer as a consultant. Dr. Oppenheimer expressed doubts about the bomb but he was never
disloyal. He was another victim of society in a time of fear. Years later, Oppenheimer was cleared.
“McCarthyism” finally ended when McCarthy said he would get the communists out of the United
States Army. The Army lawyers met McCarthy head on before millions of Americans in televised
hearings. Television showed America that McCarthy had no factual basis for the charges he made.
America in Uncertain Times
General Douglas MacArthur was in command of American troops. He urged President Truman to use
the opportunity to invade China and overthrow its communist government. MacArthur was even
willing to use atomic weapons if necessary. Truman refused, and when MacArthur criticized the
President in the press, Truman removed him from his command. The war soon reached a stalemate.
Neither side could force the other to move. In 1952, Dwight Eisenhower was elected President on a
pledge he would end the war in Korea. Fighting ended when a peace agreement was signed in 1953.
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Cold War
Mrs. Francis
The agreement left Korea divided exactly as it had been before the North Korean invasion three years
earlier.
The Effect of the Cold war on U.S. Security
In 1945, America was the only atomic power. By 1949 the Soviet Union developed its own atom
bomb, leading to a nuclear arms race. The U.S. and the Soviet Union began developing more and
more powerful bombs. Both countries believed nuclear weapons were cheaper than large armies.
The Soviets Launch Sputnik (1957)
In World War II, German scientists had greatly improved rocket technology. After the war, both the
U.S. and the Soviet Union had programs to develop this technology still further. In 1957, the Soviet
Union launched Sputnik, the first man-made space satellite. Not only did this mark the beginning of
the space race, but it had great military importance. With missiles that could travel into space, the
Soviet Union clearly had the ability to fire nuclear weapons at the U.S. from great distances. The U.S.
launched its own first man-made space satellite in 1958.
Life in the 1950s
Aim: How did the U.S. change socially in the 1950s?
Do Now: Define baby boom _______________________________________
HW –
The Baby Boom
• _______________________________________________________________________________
•
_______________________________________________________________________________
•
________________________________________________________________________________
Economic Prosperity
•
•
•
•
_______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Americans bought large numbers of washing machines, vacuum cleaners, tvs, and automobiles.
Suburbs
•
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
•
•
________________________________________________________________________________
William Levitt – __________________________________________________________________
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Cold War
Mrs. Francis
Television
•
•
•
•
1946- _________________________________________________________
1950s – ________________________________________________________
Offered something for everyone: puppet shows – Howdy Doody, quiz shows, drama, and westerns.
______________________________________________________________
Music
• Rock n’ Roll provided an opportunity for younger Americans to show their independence.
• ______________________________________________________________
Prices of the 1950s
•House - $14,500
•Car - $1339-$2262
•TV - $199
•Milk - $.82
•Gas - $.20
In 1945, American troops returned home, many starting new lives and families
•
•
•
•
•
•
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Most were affordable, cookie-cutter houses fashioned after the phenomenally successful Levittown,
Long Island
William J. Levitt had pioneered the suburb by building neighborhoods of nearly identical, quickly
built housing
____________________________________________________________
By the end of the 1940's, Americans had seen the Soviets try to cut off Berlin from the West, Mao's
Communist Party come to power in China, and the Soviet Union explode its first atomic bomb.
Threat of Communism
• The "containment of the Communist threat" colored US foreign policy decisions for decades to
come.
• A former Communist Party member charged former Roosevelt advisor, Alger Hiss, with being a
Communist spy, Hiss denied the charges before the House Un-American Activities Committee,
which investigated alleged communist subversion in the U.S, government.
•America's movement to the suburbs spurred the growth of shopping malls, drive-ins, and supermarket
•_____________________________________________________________
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Unit 10
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Unit 10
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Mrs. Francis
Aim: How did the Civil Rights Movement affect Americans?
Do Now: Define segregation and boycott
________________________________________________________________________
HW:
Segregation
Definition: _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Integration

___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People –
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Brown vs. Board of Ed.
Linda Brown wanted to attend an all white school near her home instead of traveling to the
segregated school where she was assigned. The school board refused.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Montgomery Bus Boycott

December 1955 – Rosa Parks was riding on a bus home from work. The driver ordered her to
give up her seat for a white man.

__________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the leader of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA)
to support the protest.
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The boycott went on for just over a year. The MIA organized car pools for the African
Americans to get to work.
1956 – Supreme Court ruled that segregation of riders on Alabama buses was unconstitutional.
Civil Disobedience
 __________________________________________________________________________
1. Emancipation Proclamation
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Reconstruction Amendments
13th – ______________________________________________________________________
14th – _______________________________________________________________________
15th – _______________________________________________________________________
3. NAACP
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
4. Brown vs. Board of Ed. 1955
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
5. Little Rock, Arkansas 1957
____________________________________________________________________________
Sit-ins and Freedom Rides
7. March on Washington, D.C. 1963
250,000 people marched on D.C. to protest against discrimination.
“I have a dream” speech
8. 24th Amendment 1964
24th Amendment – _____________________________________________________________
Voting Rights Act – ___________________________________________________________
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Making Schools Equal
There was a time in the United States when separate schools for
blacks and whites were common, especially in the South, and
perfectly legal. The case of Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 had ruled
that schools could be separate as long as they were equal.
Unfortunately, the equal part was never realized and conditions in
black schools were mostly deplorable. With the case of Brown v.
the Board of Education of Topeka in 1953, the tide was finally
turned in the right direction. Here is a look at the ruling and the
events that led up to the case.
When Oliver Brown went to register his daughter Linda at their
neighborhood school, he learned it was for whites only. Topeka,
Kansas, where they resided had city laws which set up separate
schools for blacks and whites. Linda would have to walk six blocks through heavy traffic before reaching
the bus stop where she would board the school bus for black students. Mr. Brown did not want his
daughter subjected to these hazards, particularly when the neighborhood school was safe seven block
walk from their home. The decision was made to fight the Topeka Board of Education in court. Linda
Brown was joined by dozens of other students as plaintiffs. Thurgood Marshall, senior counsel of the
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, directed the case. Much of their argument centered on the interpretation of
the 14th Amendment. It was the NAACP’s stand that the purpose of the Amendment was to put an end to
segregation in the area of education. The nine Supreme Court justices heard the arguments, and on May
17, 1954, they announced their decision. In his opinion Chief Justice Earl Warren stated that separate but
equal had no place in American education.
Once the decision had been handed down, the justices faced the task of determining how the ruling would
be enforced. For a year the debate raged on until the Supreme Court declared that the states had control
over how the order would go into effect. Many states dragged their feet and did little about integration
until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed.
One district in Little Rock, Arkansas, agreed to begin integration in 1957. The nine black students who
tried to enter Central High School were greeted by National Guard troops who prevented them from going
into the building. After three weeks, President Eisenhower ordered army paratroopers to escort the nine
to school. Other states continued to stall efforts to enroll black students in white schools, and
desegregation moved at a slow pace well into the 1960s.
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Mrs. Francis
An Extraordinary Bus Ride
She has been called the mother of the civil rights movement, but Rosa
McCauley Parks does not consider herself to be extraordinary. Born on
February 4, 1915, in Tuskegee, Alabama, McCauley had a normal
childhood. She grew up on a farm and attended an all-black school in
her neighborhood. Her high school education was cut short by her
mother’s death, bus she finished her schooling after her marriage to
Raymond Parks. In 1943 she joined the NAACP (National Association
for the advancement of Colored People) and worked with the Voters’
League, registering African Americans to vote. Then came the fateful day.
The bus ride on December 1, 1955, began as usual. After completing her job as a seamstress for a
Montgomery department store, Parks boarded the bus to go home. As was required, she took a seat in the
back of the bus. When all of the seats filled up, Parks was asked to vacate hers for a white man who was
just getting on the bus. (At that time in Montgomery the law required blacks to sit at the back of the bus
and to give up their seats for white people when all other seats were filled.) On this day, however, Parks
refused to move. The bus driver stopped the bus and called for policemen who whisked her away to jail.
NAACP leader Edgar Daniel Nixon posted her bail and determined that Rosa Parks would be the last
African American arrested for such an action.
Along with other black leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nixon declared a one-day boycott
of all city buses. Leaflets announcing the boycott were distributed throughout the city, and on the
appointed day the results were dramatic. Not one African American rode on any buses there. Because it
was such a success, the boycott was extended indefinitely.
For their actions blacks were harassed on the street, hundreds of their leaders were arrested, and many lost
their jobs. Still, the boycott continued with African Americans turning to alternative methods of
transportation, including walking, carpooling, riding bicycles, and even riding mules. The boycott ended
when after 381 days, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Rosa Parks and declared Alabama bus
segregation laws unconstitutional. It had cost the bus company $750,000 in lost revenues, but the gains in
human dignity were priceless.
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Mrs. Francis
Excerpt from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I have a Dream” speech:
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I
still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of
former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of
injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom
and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be
judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having
his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in
Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and
white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made
low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the
glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able
to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to
transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With
this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail
together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My
country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the
pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the
prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New
York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
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Unit 10
Cold War
Mrs. Francis
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let
freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village
and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all
of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will
be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last!
thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
Questions
1. What was the purpose of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech?
2. What motivated him to give it?
3. What does this speech mean to you?
Writing Activity
Write about your own dream using Dr. King’s style. Finish the sentence starters below:
I have a dream that one day this nation will….
I have a dream that one day…
I have a dream that one day…
I have a dream that…
I have a dream today.
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Unit 10
Cold War
I have a dream that one day…
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day…
This is my hope and faith. With this faith we will be able to…
This will be the day when…
~ 39 ~
Mrs. Francis
Unit 10
Cold War
Review for Test on Cold War and 1950s
1. Identify:
Truman Doctrine
Marshall Plan
2. Brown vs. board of education
3. Rise of suburbs –
4. Women and African Americans in post WWII –
5. Martin Luther King Jr.
6. Bus boycotts
7. Freedom rides
8. Civil Disobedience
9. Formation of NATO –
10. Containment policy –
11. Occupation of Japan after WWII
12. Communist leader of China in 1949
13. Korean War14. Berlin Wall –
15. Cold War tensions –
16. Cuban Missile Crisis –
17. Berlin Airlift –
18. United Nations –
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Mrs. Francis