The Question of “What If?” – The U.S. Army During the Cold War

Honest John Rocket (Left) Construction of the Berlin Wall (Center) Davey Crockett Nuclear Missile System (Right). U.S. Army Center of Military History.

How to register:
We offer two field trip scheduling options:

• Select a field trip from the Museum’s public event schedule
• Request to schedule a field trip time that meets your group’s schedule

Audience:
All audiences. Content appropriate for Grades 6-12.

Goal:
Understand the commitment and sacrifices of U.S. Army Soldiers serving during the Cold War to protect the American public.

Program Description:
Join us to learn more about the U.S. Army during the Cold War.

During World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States worked together to fight a common enemy; and after the war that relationship fell apart. Trust between the former allies broke down and fear took hold in its place. This mutual mistrust lead the two countries to confront the looming question of “what if?” That question would color the relationship between the two for the next 50 years. As a result, the Army developed new technology, equipment, and training to better protect Americans from the possibilities and threats posed by the “what if?”

In this virtual field trip, you will learn how Soldiers worked together to keep the “what if?” from becoming a reality during the Cold War.

Objective:
At the end of the lesson, students will be better able to:

• Discuss the fear and anxiety the Cold War produced in American society.
• Identify how United States foreign policy shifted to contain the threat of Communism in Europe.
• Recognize the commitment of Soldiers to defend the United States.

Guiding Question:
How did the tensions between the United States and Soviet Union impact the U.S. Army and its Soldiers?

Curriculum Connections:

• United States History 1865 to Present
  • USII.7 The student will apply history and social science skills to understand the transformation of U.S. foreign policy between the end of World War II and the new millennium by
    • D) examining the role of the United States in fighting communism and defending freedom during the Cold War, including, but not limited to the Berlin Airlift, conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, the roles of John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev during the Cuban missile crisis, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.

• Virginia and United States History
  • VUS.14 The student will apply history and social science skills to analyze the United States’ involvement in World War II by
    • G) explaining American military intelligence and technology, including island hopping, the Manhattan Project, and the bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
  • VUS.15 The student will apply history and social science skills to analyze the United States’ foreign policy during the Cold War era by
    • A) explaining the origins and early development of the Cold War and how it changed American foreign policy, including, but not limited to the Truman Doctrine and the policy of containment.