Lesson Plans

World Civilizations: The Global Experience ©2001

by Stearns, Adas, Schwartz, and Gilbert

Focus Lesson 21

Chapter 36: "Russian and Eastern Europe"

AP* Course Description

1914–Present
Major Developments

1. The World Wars, the Cold War, nuclear weaponry, international organizations, and their impact on global framework (globalization of diplomacy and conflict; global balance of power; reduction of European influence; the League of Nations, the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Nations, etc.)
2. New patterns of nationalism, especially outside of the West (the interwar year; decolonization; racism; the Holocaust, genocide; new nationalisms, including the breakup of the Soviet Union)
3. New forces of revolution and other sources of political innovations

Key Components

• Instructor's Manual:
  Chapter 36, pp. 277–284
• Study Guide, Vol. II:
  Chapter 36, pp. 146–156
• Test Bank:
  Chapter 36, pp. 474–486

Key Web Sites Listed in the Student Text

• Chapter 36: p. 911

Key Words and Terms

Suggested Pacing

Test Strategy

Key Concepts

• The rise of the Soviet Union
  Chapter 36 chronicles the rise of the Soviet Union, "the most significant event in 20th-century Eastern Europe," and one that had major impact on the rest of the world. After World War II, the USSR became one of the world's two superpowers. It brought about Communist takeovers in Eastern Europe and supported pro-Communist efforts in other parts of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The Russian Revolution of 1917 served as the model for revolutions in China and Cuba. While successful in exporting revolution, its leaders were not successful in raising the standard of living of their own people or in providing political freedoms. This inability to improve Soviet life resulted in the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of its position as a superpower.
  
  
• Beyond communism
  The authors of the text conclude that although the Communist experiment has ended in Russia and Eastern Europe, some things have not changed. Among these are the resurgence of ethnic rivalries that had been submerged under communism. Another is the desire among many for a strong, central government and the continuation of the welfare state. Democracy has not taken firm hold in all of the former Communist dictatorships.

Summing Up Student Understanding

1. To continue their work in their map notebooks, have students do research to find maps showing the latest boundaries of what once was the USSR and the nations of Eastern Europe. Have students draw a map showing the region after World War II and then draw a second map showing current nations and boundaries. Students should include scale and a key for each map, as well as a one-paragraph explanation of how the number of nations changed after the collapse of communism and the Soviet Union in 1989.
2. As an additional or an optional activity, have students create a time line of political events in the former USSR and Eastern Europe between 1945 and 2000.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Sources of the West, Vol. II, edited by Kishlausky—Part VI
• Documents in World History, Vol. II, edited by Stearns, Gosch, and Grieshaber—Section Three