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Curated OER

The Kite Runner: Concept Analysis

For Students 9th - 12th
Considering using The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini’s story of Amir, a young boy from Kabul, as whole-class reading or for book groups? Check out this resource that provides background materials on Afghanistan, a synopsis of the...
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ProCon

Is Homework Beneficial?

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Does homework improve student achievement, or does it increase stress? Scholars use the included debate topics website to prepare for a class discussion or debate about whether homework is advantageous. After reading a brief background...
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ibiblio

Ibiblio: The Soviet Union and the United States

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ibiblio.org gives information about the historical relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States. After reading the summary on this page, click on the links at the bottom of the page to read about early...
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Federation of American Scientists

Fas: Soviet Union Security Concerns

For Students 9th - 10th
This article examines the Soviet Union's concerns about its sphere of influence during the Cold War and its desire to protect its interests.
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AllRefer

All Refer Reference: Soviet Union: Economic Policy

For Students 9th - 10th
A great overview of the economic policies implemented in the Soviet Union between 1917 and 1985. Describes collectivization, economic priorities, successes, and failures. Readers will come away with a sound understanding of Soviet...
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AllRefer

All Refer Reference: Soviet Union: The Khrushchev Era

For Students 9th - 10th
This article surveys Soviet Union and its leader Nikita Khrushchev, who eventually wielded virtually supreme power after the death of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in 1953.
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The Cold War Museum

The Cold War Museum: Fall of the Soviet Union

For Students 9th - 10th
The Cold War Museum offers many resources on the Cold War, including this particular article on the "Fall of the Soviet Union."
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Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Economy of the Soviet Union

For Students 9th - 10th
This economic history of the Soviet Union begins with its revolutionary beginnings and examines the state of the economy throughout the decades of the twentieth century.
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Other

Soviet Union: The Big Problems of Small Ethnic Groups

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting article on the special problems of small ethnic groups in the former Soviet Union. Ethnic groups in the northern part of Russia are focused on.
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Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Forced Labor of Germans in the Soviet Union

For Students 9th - 10th
This site discusses the Soviet Union's use of German citizens and prisoners of war as forced laborers as a feature of war reparations during and after World War II.
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AllRefer

All Refer Reference: Soviet Union: Mutual Economic Assistance

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an excellent resource for learning about the USSR and The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON). Provides a great background of its origins, membership, evolution, and plans. Nicely broken down into chunks to allow for...
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Country Studies US

Country Studies: Latvia the Soviet Period

For Students 9th - 10th
This article details the occupation of Latvia by the Soviet Union following World War II and during the Cold War.
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US Holocaust Memorial Museum

U.s. Holocaust Memorial Museum: Nazi Persecution of Soviet Prisoners of War

For Students 9th - 10th
This article details the Nazi treatment of Soviet prisoners of war in World War II. Though it is not frequently discussed, there were almost as many Soviet prisoners killed by the Nazis as there were Jews.
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Other

Close Combat: Germany Attacks the Soviet Union

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of the 1941 German attack upon the Soviet Union, violating the Nazi-Soviet pack and opening another front of the war.
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AllRefer

All Refer Reference: Soviet Union: Congress of People's Deputies

For Students 9th - 10th
The Congress of People's Deputies was a Russian representative body (legislature) created during the Gorbachev era. This is an excellent article describing how the body was formed, membership, and responsibilities.
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Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Hungary 1956 Statement From Soviets

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief response from the Soviet Union in reaction to the Hungarian Revolution. Describes their regret and their decision to pull their military from army units from Budapest. Also includes a message from Imre Nagy (Hungarian leader).
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BBC

Bbc: Ex Putschists Defend 1991 Soviet Coup

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at those who participated in the 1991 Soviet Coup. Leaders of the failed coup describe how they had no regrets for their actions. Article dated July 5, 2001.
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Country Studies US

Country Studies: Lithuania the Soviet Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses the Soviet Republic that existed in Lithuania during the Cold War.
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Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Joseph Stalin

For Students 9th - 10th
An in-depth biography of former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Content includes information on his childhood and early years, his rise to power after Lenin's death, his policy of collectivisation, his consolidation of absolute power by the...
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BBC

Bbc: Three Days That Shook the World

For Students 9th - 10th
In 1991, communist hardliners attempted to overthrow Mikhail Gorbachev for his reforms leading to the break-up of the Soviet Union. The coup lasted for three days. Article dated August 15, 2001.
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Digital History

Digital History: Cuban Missile Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
In October 1962, the Soviet Union and the United States went eyeball-to-eyeball and were on the brink of nuclear war. Surveillance photographs taken by a U-2 spy plane over Cuba revealed that the Soviet Union was installing...
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Digital History

Digital History: The Dealth of Stalin and the Cold War

For Students 9th - 10th
In March 1953, Joseph Stalin, who had ruled the Soviet Union since 1928, died at the age of 73. His feared minister of internal affairs, Lavrenti Pavlovich Beria, was subsequently shot for treason. Nikita Khrushchev then became first...
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Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Vladimir Lenin

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed article on the life of Vladimir Lenin. Discusses his life before becoming the leader of the Soviet Union, his political accomplishments as a leader and his death.
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Other

St. Martin: Iron Curtain 1945 1947

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses the development of the Soviet Union's Communist buffer zone after World War II and its evolution into the Iron Curtain of the Cold War.

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