Activity 1 - Why did US/PRC become rivals?

  1. Recall - What was the nature of the US-China relationship prior to 1949? Examine this brief history of Sino-US relations. How would you describe their relationship?
  2. Investigate - Read pages 151-157 of Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, and answer questions 1-5.
  3. Analyse - Using your notes from pages 151-157, make brief notes on this timeline worksheet of the major events of the Sino-US relationship between 1949-1969. For each event, decide to what extent it led to greater conflict or cooperation between the two powers.
  4. Discuss - What were the main reasons for Sino-US rivalry after 1949? 

Activity 2 - What caused Sino-US detente?

  1. Investigate - Read pages 158-161 of Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, and answer questions 6-7.
  2. Record - Make a list of the US reasons for detente and China’s reasons for detente. Which side had more to gain from improving relations?’
  3. Review - Examine this article about the Nixon-Mao meeting of 1972. To what extent do you agree that “only Nixon could have gone to China”?

Activity 3 - Who gained from detente?

  1. Investigate - Read pages 161-166 of Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, and answer questions 8-11.
  2. Analyse - Using your notes from pages 158-166, make brief notes on this timeline worksheet of the major events of the Sino-US relationship between 1969-1989. For each event, decide to what extent it led to greater conflict or not.
  3. Discuss - What was the overall impact of Sino-US detente on the Cold War? Did it help reduce tensions?

Further Reading

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. Mamaux, A. (2015). Oxford IBDP Programme - The Cold War, pp. 153-157
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, pp. 151-167
SUPPLEMENTAL READING
  1. “U.S – China Relations since 1949 : An Attempt at Explaining the Current State of Affairs.” geopolitical grapplings. geopolitical grapplings, August 12, 2015.
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