Activity 1 - Which events should we revise?

  1. Identify - Complete this note-taking template to help you identify and record the key information and events for this unit. Use your notes, text-books and website resources to locate the answers to each of the questions.​​
  2. Mind-Map - Create a concept-map using Padlet, Mindmup or any other similar mind-mapping tool (or create a sketchnote by hand!). In the middle write ‘Who, or what, ended the Cold War?’.
  3. Summarise - Now fill in your mind-map with key historical information and facts about the main events of the unit. Use this timeline, review your notes and summarise.
  4. Revise - Use your mind maps to help you revise the historical content for your upcoming assessment and final exams. Make sure you store a copy with your other revision materials.

Activity 2 - What was our inquiry?

  1. Recall -  Examine the statement of inquiry for this unit again and consider how it applies to what you’ve studied:
    1. “Military confrontations encourage scientific and technical innovation, which can have unintended consequences on states”​
  2. Analyse - With a partner, discuss how this statement of inquiry could be applied to the end of the Cold War. Consider the following questions:
    1. Connect - How is the SOI connected to what you have studied?
    2. Extend - Does the SOI extend your thinking about the end of the Cold War in any way?
    3. Challenge - What is challenging or confusing about the SOI?
    4. Discuss - Does the SOI apply to the end of the Cold War? What other events in history might it also apply to?
  3. Reflect - The key concept of this unit was causality. Examine and reflect upon this presentation to explore the complex nature of the end of the Cold War. Then rank these causes in order of importance:
    1. Soviet economic decline
    2. Role of Ronald Reagan
    3. Role of Mikhail Gorbachev
    4. Nationalist movements within USSR/Europe
    5. The events of 1989
    6. Soviet military failures
    7. The August Coup 1991
  4. Evaluate - Now try to explore the causation of the end of the Cold War more closely. Complete this worksheet to analyse the role and importance of each cause, and to examine how the causes are linked.
  5. Synthesis - Create a diagram, mindmap, flow chart, infographic or any other graphical representation to show how the Cold War ended. It must include all the seven major causes you’ve investigated.

Activity 3 - How might we be assessed?

  1. Essay Plan - Try practicing for your end of unit review by essay planning previous questions on this topic. Use this essay mark-scheme to help:
    1. To what extent was the arms race the most important reason for the end of the Cold War (1980-1991)? - Nov 2020
    2. ​"Economic problems between 1980 and 1991 were the most significant reason for the end of the Cold War." To what extent do you agree with this statement? - May 2018
    3. "Confrontation rather than reconciliation ended the Cold War." Discuss with reference to the period from 1980 to 1991 - Nov 2017
    4. Evaluate the role of Gorbachev in ending the Cold War - Nov 2016
    5. To what extent did internal problems contribute to the break-up of the Soviet Union? - May 2016
    6. To what extent was the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 due to external pressures? - Nov 2015
    7. ​Evaluate the role of internal problems in the break-up of the Soviet Union - May 2014
    8. Examine the role played by economic factors and the arms race in the collapse of the USSR and the end of the Cold War by 1991 - Nov 2013
    9. “The break-up of the Soviet Union was the unintended result of changes introduced by the Soviet leadership from 1985 onwards.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? - Nov 2012

Further Reading for Revision

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. Mamaux, A. (2015). Oxford IBDP Programme - The Cold War, pp. 189-213
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, pp. 215-223
SUPPLEMENTAL READING
  1. Williamson, D.G. (2015). Access to History - The Cold War, pp. 253-288
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