Should refugees fleeing poverty be allowed the same entrance into the United States as those fleeing persecution? High schoolers read about US foreign policy in the late 20th century regarding refugees from Cuba and Haiti, and engage in...

Nine historical documents, an interactive online notebook, and a fantastic opportunity for historical inquiry await your pupils in this 5-day lesson plan. Class members identify and discuss various causes for the Spanish-American War...

Why did the United States choose to invade Cuba in 1898? As part of a 3-day lesson, your young historians will first develop working hypotheses to answer this question, then work with a variety of historical primary source documents that...

After analyzing newspaper articles portraying different perspectives of the explosion of the Battleship USS Maine, your young historians will take a stand on which position is the most believable in both discussion and writing.

This video brings viewers up to modern history (1975) after taking them through WWII, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. Though the format of the timeline might appear straightforward, viewers will be engaged...

With a collage format that lends well to note-taking, this presentation allows your students to see the context and implications of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The narration is casual and conversational, as well as informative, and history...

A bright collage of photos, maps, and quotes open this video lecture, which details the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The most valuable part of this lecture, however, is hearing about the dynamics of the situation - why the US wanted to oust...

The 1983 invasion of Grenada was one of the first major military actions after the Vietnam War. The invasion took place during the tensions of the Cold War, making the stakes higher than what might be expected. Using President Ronald...

What was life like after the Cuban Revolution under the government of Fidel Castro? Historians consider the question by examining the firsthand accounts of people living there and old newsreels of the Batista regime ouster. A video from...

At one time, America, too, was a colonial power. Using clips from talks from historians, class members explore how this happened with the 1898 Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American War. Afterward, they consider whether the...

From 1500-2000, an interactive timeline details important events related to Latino Americans. Next, to each date are small, yet informative blurbs—some of which include videos. 

President John F. Kennedy bought 1,200 Cuban cigars the night before he enacted the Cuban trade embargo in 1962. Should the United States maintain the embargo? Using the website, pupils explore the topic to prepare for a class debate or...

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, and Christopher Columbus called it the most beautiful place on earth when he landed there in the 1400s. It's known for its beautiful beaches, and it has stunning mountain chains. While...

Today, Cuba and America sometimes struggle with diplomatic relations, but did you know that America went to war against Spain to free Cuba? Learners examine many interesting facts related to the Spanish American War using an informative...

Here you'll find a fine teacher reference for presenting the film Thirteen Days, a dramatic interpretation of the Cuban Missile Crisis during the Kennedy administration. It includes a brief description of the film, learning objectives, a...

Teaching a unit on the Cold War Era? A complete presentation discusses the causes of the Cold War, Truman doctrine, Berlin Blockade, arms race, Cuban Missile Crisis, Bay of Pigs, Rwandan Genocide, apartheid, and subsequent conflicts...

How did Fidel Castro's revolution affect the people of Cuba? Through a series of vivid images and light text, learners will consider life for Cubans under both Batista and Castro. The images can be used as discussion starters or to...

A lot happened after communism fell in the Soviet Union. Your pupils answer three prompts about this time period that require them to compose a short-essay responses for each. They describe Russia's move toward communism, the impact of...

Keep your scholars organized using this study plan and progress report tool, one of many great learning strategies featured in this online western civilizations resource! Although designed for use alongside the Western Civilizations...

Scholars explore U.S. Foreign Policy and Cold War ideologies adopted after WWII. They conduct Internet research on a topic or issue related to the Cold War Era, watch two films, and compose a time line and a multimedia presentation to...

In need of a PowerPoint focused on the Cold War? If the answer is yes, then look no further! Each slide expounds on the conflicts, politics, and economy that fueled the Cold War and worldwide decolonization. Note: There is a lot of...

Set the context for the often-strained relationship between the US and Cuba with this informative and entertaining presentation. From political cartoons to photographs of Fidel Castro and Fulgencio Batista, as well as heartbreaking...

With a combination of images, maps, and valuable information, this presentation is a strong resource for a history class that is coming out of a WWII unit and into a Cold War unit. Some points are outlined for students, while others are...