Using Oral Histories to Learn About the Cold War Developed by Cindy Woolston, Brunswick High School, Brunswick, MO 2012 Naval Historical Foundation STEM-H Teacher Fellowship Instructional Goal: Listening To/Reading Oral Histories: 1. Become familiar with social science research methods. 2. Gain a deeper understanding of history through first-hand accounts. 3. Practice reading, writing, and evaluating information. 4. Look for biasness in documents and literature. 5. Appreciate the experiences of sailors, both enlisted and officers. 6. Relate personal stories to historical content. Missouri Learning Standard: High School American History II Theme 5: The American Stage- Following World War II, the United States emerged as a military, political, and economic super power. These great shifts taking place changed the nation, but also challenged many norms of the previous half- century. American involvement in foreign conflicts to contain communism brought great turmoil both home and abroad. A. Describe the causes, major conflicts, consequences, and enduring legacy of the Cold War. B. Evaluate the responses of American leaders to the challenges of global tensions. C. Trace changes in military strategies and technologies as a response to the challenges of the Cold War. Background: The Cold War refers to the post World War II confrontation between the United States and its allies and the Soviet Union and its allies. From 1945 to 1991 international policies were shaped by intense rivalries between these two groups - noncommunist and communists. This led to military coalitions, weapons development, space race, espionage, and propaganda. It included the "hot" wars of the Cold War: Korea and Vietnam. The Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Background Video: View "The U.S. Navy in the Cold War" for a 10 minute summary of the U.S. Navy's role across 5 decades after World War II, from the Cold War Gallery theater in the National Museum of the U.S. Navy in Washington DC at: http://usnavymuseum.org/education_lp0018.asp or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvatvfnu-rk#t=71. Oral History Resources: Naval Historical Foundation: http://www.navyhistory.org/programs/oral-histories/ The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum http://www.trumanlibrary.org/oralhist/oral_his.htm Library of Congress - Veterans History Project: www.loc.gov/vets/. Naval Historical & Heritage Command Oral Histories: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/oral-histories.html Cold War History Resources: History of the Cold War (Korea, Vietnam, POWs, Cuban Missile Crisis, Pirates, Terrorism, Other Operations): https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations.html Berlin Airlift: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviationhistory/involvement-by-conflict/cold-war/naval-aviation-s-involvement-in-the-berlin-airlift.html Photo Collections: https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/wars-andevents/cold-war.html NOTE: Example Student Worksheet and Teacher Help Guide on Following Pages. Basic Lesson Instructions: 1. Read the background information and view the short video on the U.S. Navy's role in the Cold War. 2. Review the worksheet below before reading or listening to an oral history of a U.S. military veteran. Complete the first two columns. 3. Look up an oral history using one of the websites listed above and complete the last column of the worksheet. 4. Be prepared to share any interesting or pertinent findings with the class and then turn in your completed worksheet to the teacher.
Worksheet for Oral History Lesson Name Prior to choosing an oral history from the websites provided, list at least 4 things that you know about the Cold War AND 4 things that you would like to learn. Next choose an oral history and complete the chart by listing at least 4 things that you learned from your listening/reading. Name of the Sailor: WHAT I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I LEARNED
Websites to use for your research: Naval Historical Foundation: http://www.navyhistory.org/programs/oral-histories/ The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum http://www.trumanlibrary.org/oralhist/oral_his.htm Library of Congress - Veterans History Project: www.loc.gov/vets/ Naval Historical & Heritage Command Oral Histories: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/oral-histories.html Oral History Activity Teacher Help Guide INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES FOR LESSON: 1. Review the background information on the Cold War (or assign as homework prior to the lesson). 2. Hand out the attached worksheet for students to complete while listening to an oral history of veterans. 3. Play the audio from an actual oral history using one of the links listed above as the students complete the worksheet. 4. Ask the students to then discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using oral histories. Write the list on the board. Below are some ideas that students may come up with when brainstorming: Advantages Disadvantages Real stories often overlooked in history books Could be biased Add personal touch to historic events Memories could be faulty Various perspectives may have an agenda Human experience 5. Have students individually look up an oral history using one of the websites listed below and complete another worksheet. 6. After completion have students share any interesting or pertinent findings with the class and then turn in their completed worksheet to the teacher. KEY TERMS:
Ranking System for the Navy which can be found at: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage.html Primary source Secondary source Have students become familiar with basic vocabulary and history from a given time period. EXTENSIONS: Students may also interview local veterans. Visit http://www.loc.gov/vets/questions.html for tips on how to conduct a quality interview.