Module 8: The Cold War and Decolonization (1945–1991)
Throughout this module, you will use your class-linked Hypothesis account as well as the integrated commenting features to help add context, pose questions, make connections, make note of interesting or challenging concepts, and suggest potential further readings. I hope you take the opportunity to grow in your ability to ask deeper questions, leverage available technologies as well as peer resources to develop a stronger community aimed at helping each other improve in your literacy skills.
Primary Sources
These documents offer firsthand accounts and perspectives on key Cold War and decolonization events.
Cold War Primary Sources
1. The Truman Doctrine (1947) – Speech by President Harry Truman outlining U.S. policy to contain communism.
2. The Marshall Plan Speech (1947) – Secretary of State George C. Marshall’s speech introducing economic aid to Europe.
3. The Long Telegram (1946) – George Kennan’s analysis of Soviet intentions, shaping U.S. containment policy.
4. NSC-68 (1950) – A top-secret U.S. National Security Council report advocating military buildup.
5. Khrushchev’s Secret Speech (1956) – Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s denouncement of Stalin, signaling shifts in Soviet policy.
6. John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address (1961) – Famous “ask not what your country can do for you” speech, reinforcing Cold War rhetoric.
7. The Cuban Missile Crisis Letters (1962) – Correspondence between Kennedy and Khrushchev during the crisis.
8. Mikhail Gorbachev’s Perestroika and Glasnost Speeches (1980s) – Announcements of Soviet reforms leading to the Cold War’s end.
Decolonization Primary Sources
1. Atlantic Charter (1941) – Statement by FDR and Churchill, indirectly supporting self-determination.
2. Indian Independence Act (1947) – Official British legislation granting India and Pakistan independence.
3. Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny” Speech (1947) – First Prime Minister of India’s speech at independence.
4. Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghanaian Independence Speech (1957) – Call for African unity and self-determination.
5. The FLN’s Declaration of Independence (1954) – The National Liberation Front’s statement launching the Algerian War.
6. The Bandung Conference Final Communiqué (1955) – Statement from Asian and African leaders advocating non-alignment and independence.
7. Ho Chi Minh’s Declaration of Independence of Vietnam (1945) – Modeled on the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
8. Nelson Mandela’s Speech at the Rivonia Trial (1964) – Defining moment in South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle.
Secondary Sources
These provide context, analysis, and historiographical debates on the Cold War and decolonization.
Cold War Secondary Sources
1. John Lewis Gaddis, The Cold War: A New History – A clear, accessible overview of Cold War dynamics.
2. Odd Arne Westad, The Global Cold War – Emphasizes the Cold War’s impact on the Global South.
3. Melvyn P. Leffler, For the Soul of Mankind: The United States, the Soviet Union, and the Cold War – Explores leaders’ decisions shaping the Cold War.
4. Vladislav Zubok, A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to Gorbachev – Soviet perspective on the conflict.
Decolonization Secondary Sources
1. Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth – Analysis of colonial violence and the psychological effects of decolonization.
2. Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities – Explains the rise of nationalism, crucial for understanding decolonization.
3. C.L.R. James, The Black Jacobins – A Marxist perspective on Haiti’s revolution, influencing decolonization movements.
4. Pankaj Mishra, From the Ruins of Empire – Discusses how Asian intellectuals responded to colonialism and the rise of new nation-states.
5. Elizabeth Schmidt, Foreign Intervention in Africa: From the Cold War to the War on Terror – Examines Cold War-era interventions shaping postcolonial Africa.
6. Ronald Hyam, Britain’s Declining Empire: The Road to Decolonization, 1918-1968 – British imperial retreat analyzed.
Multimedia and Visual Sources
• Cold War Documentaries:
• The Fog of War (2003) – Documentary on Robert McNamara and Cold War decision-making.
• Cold War (1998) – CNN’s documentary series covering key events.
• Decolonization Films & Documentaries:
• The Battle of Algiers (1966) – Dramatic retelling of Algeria’s war for independence.
• Concerning Violence (2014) – Based on Frantz Fanon’s writings.
• Lumumba (2000) – A biopic on the Congolese independence leader.
I feel like there should be more sources that discuss South America. Specifically, documents that talk about how we could possibly link current issues related to unsafe living conditions driving migrant asylum seekers to events that happened during the Cold War.
ReplyDelete