THE COLD WAR
A definitive, two-part DVD series by renowned filmmaker Phil Sheppard, about the events that shaped the second half of the 20th Century.
Phil worked for 10 years at CLASSROOM VIDEO as producer and associate producer / editor on over 100 programmes. History credits include: Causes of World War I - Conflict In Indo-China - Life at the Beginning of the 20th Century - Life Under Stalin - The Russian Revolution - The Western Front - WW II Conflict in the Pacific Parts 1 & 2 - Australian History Parts 1 & 2 - Australian Identity.
Historical consultant for the series was Paul Latham, formerly Chairman of Modern History of the NSW Board of Studies.
SUBJECT AREAS: SENIOR Modern History, Society & Culture JUNIOR History, SOSE
STUDY AREAS: SENIOR Peace & Conflict, 20th Century History 1945 - 2000, War & Society Power & Conflict JUNIOR History, Shaping of The Modern World, Post World War II
THE COLD WAR Part One 1945-1961 35 minutes
Chapters
INTRODUCTION - ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR - THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE AND MARSHALL PLAN - BERLIN AIRLIFT 1948 - CHINESE CIVIL WAR - KOREAN WAR AND ITS CONSEQUENCES - IMPACT OF THE COLD WAR IN THE USA - THE HUNGARIAN UPRISING - THE ARMS RACE - THE SPACE RACE - THE BERLIN WALL
Key Learning Areas:
The Cold war began after Europe was divided-up following World War II at the Yalta and Potsdam conferences, but ideological differences between capitalism and communism alienated former allies.
The Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and the Berlin Blockade created greater distrust.
A communist victory in China and the subsequent Korean War, moved the focus of The Cold War to Asia, and with it the fear of the domino effect.
Added to these conflicts were the Space and Arms Races, as the superpowers vied for supremacy.
The nuclear deterrent kept them from open conflict, although they exerted influence worldwide.
When the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, it seemed the threat of a world war would always exist.
You can view the script for Part One. You can view the teacher's notes.
ê View a preview of excerpts from Part One.
THE COLD WAR Part Two 1962 - 1991 38 mins
Chapters
INTRODUCTION - THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS - SINO-SOVIET SPLIT 1954-1963 - VIETNAM WAR - THE PRAGUE SPRING 1968 - DETENTE - AFGHANISTAN - THE REAGAN ERA - GORBACHEV, PERESTROIKA and GLASNOST - 1989 - THE 1990s
Key Learning Areas:
For 13 days during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the world faced the threat of a nuclear holocaust.
During 1963 the Sino-Soviet Split reached it's lowest ebb, and the Vietnam War escalated after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.
Political and military tension began to lessen in the late 1960s, during the period of Détente which lasted until 1979. Disarmament agreements were signed by the superpowers, but flash points threatened to destabilise any move towards a peaceful world.
The Red Army's intervention in Czechoslovakia during The Prague Spring of 1968, demonstrated that the Soviets were going to keep Eastern Europe firmly under control.
The Yom Kippor War of 1973 in the Middle East saw the USA and the Soviet Union again supporting opposing nations at war.
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 signaled the end of Détente. Ronald Reagan was elected as president of the USA in 1981, and his attitude and policies were extremely anti-Soviet.
However, when he met Mikhail Gorbachev, his attitude, and US-Soviet relations improved dramatically.
A change swept through Eastern Europe, and in 1989 communism collapsed. The Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991 into fifteen independent republics. The Cold War was finally over.
You can view the script for Part Two. You can view the teacher's notes.
ê View a preview of excerpts from Part Two.
To purchase DVDs of THE COLD WAR Parts One or Two separately - $120 plus $6 postage and handling.
If you purchase DVDs of THE COLD WAR Parts One & Two - $200 for the 2 part series, plus $6 postage and handling.
Purchasing enquires email: philsheppard@optusnet.com.au