a level history coursework cold war

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• Understanding the Cold War: A Comprehensive Study Guide for A Level Students

Find Reliable and Comprehensive Study Notes on the Cold War for Your A Level Exams

Welcome to our comprehensive study guide on the Cold War , a defining era in world history. Whether you're a student preparing for A Level exams or simply interested in learning more about this pivotal time, our guide is here to help. In this article, we will delve into the origins, major events, and lasting impact of the Cold War, providing you with a thorough understanding of this complex period. So grab your notes and get ready to explore one of the most significant chapters in European history .

Let's begin our journey through the Cold War. To fully understand the Cold War, it's essential to start with its origins. The aftermath of World War II saw the rise of two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union , who had fundamentally different ideologies and political systems. This led to a power struggle, with both sides vying for global dominance. As a result, the world was divided into two opposing camps - the capitalist West led by the US and the communist East led by the Soviet Union.

The Impact of the Cold War on Europe

The end of the cold war, the role of propaganda and espionage.

Both the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in propaganda campaigns to promote their respective ideologies and discredit the other side. Propaganda was often disseminated through media outlets, such as radio, television, newspapers, and posters. It aimed to portray one side as morally superior and the other as a threat to global peace. The United States used propaganda to promote capitalism and democracy, while the Soviet Union used it to promote communism and criticize capitalism.

Espionage, on the other hand, involved gathering intelligence and conducting secret operations to gain an advantage over the other side. This included spying on military activities, stealing classified information, and manipulating political events. The effects of propaganda and espionage were far-reaching. They not only influenced public opinion but also played a crucial role in shaping political decisions.

The Key Players in the Cold War

Truman was the President of the United States during most of the Cold War. He took over after the death of President Roosevelt in 1945 and played a crucial role in shaping US foreign policy towards the Soviet Union. Under Truman's leadership, the US became increasingly involved in containing Soviet influence and promoting democracy around the world. Nikita Khrushchev was another important leader during the Cold War. He succeeded Stalin as the leader of the Soviet Union in 1953 and was known for his more moderate policies compared to his predecessor.

However, Khrushchev's decision to install nuclear missiles in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. In addition to understanding the roles of these key players, it is also essential to study significant events that shaped the course of the Cold War. The Berlin Blockade, which occurred from 1948 to 1949, was a major crisis that highlighted the divide between communist and democratic ideologies. The Cuban Missile Crisis, which took place in 1962, was another pivotal moment that almost resulted in a nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union. The arms race, where both sides competed to develop more powerful nuclear weapons, was also a crucial aspect of the Cold War. The Cold War was a defining period in world history, shaping global politics, economics, and culture.

Studying this topic will not only help you ace your A Level exams but also provide valuable insights into current world affairs. By understanding the causes, events, and consequences of the Cold War, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for how it has shaped our world today.

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A Level History Coursework Edexcel – A Guide

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• Post date November 16, 2023
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This guide shows you how to plan, research and write A Level History coursework for Edexcel using ideas, resources, examples and structure. This coursework is weighted towards Assessment Objective Three (AO3) 15% and Assessment Objective One (AO1) 5%. This makes it substantially different from coursework assessed under AQA or OCR. For Edexcel coursework, the focus is on differing interpretations of the past and analysis of them, alongside your own view of the events.

A Level History Coursework Edexcel – Ideas, Examples and Resources

Question Format – The question that you decide to answer for the Edexcel Coursework will always use the following template.

• Historians have disagreed about [ the chosen question, problem or issue ].
• What is your view about [ the chosen question, problem or issue ]?

Thus, we can see that there are two parts to this coursework:

• Part 1 – dealing with the historian’s viewpoints which is (AO3) and worth 15%
• Part 2 – your own viewpoint which is (A01) and worth 5%  

Question Ideas, Example and Selection

There are two key points to consider when selecting a question, problem or issue for your coursework.

• Is there enough debate around this question? – There needs to be a scholarly debate around the question or issue. This means differing views on the question from different historians. This makes it easier to select appropriate works to analyse and compare.
• Can you access the appropriate resources? – You must use a minimum of three different key works as well as two supplementary works. Your three key works should hold opposing views about the question or issue. Let’s look at an example question to make this clear:

Historians have disagreed about the extent to which by 1924 the Russian people had exchanged one authoritarian regime for another. What is your view about the extent to which by 1924 the Russian people had exchanged one authoritarian regime for another?

• View 1 – Tsarist Rule was more authoritarian. (C. Hill argues this)
• View 2 – Bolshevik rule was more authoritarian. (R. Service argues this)
• View 3 – The regimes were equally authoritarian. (R. Pipes argues this)

This is the ideal example of having three viewpoints that would be spread across the historiographical spectrum. This helps us to engage with the historical debate and hit the following criteria for the coursework:

• analyse ways in which interpretations of the question or issue differ.
• explain the differences you have identified.
• evaluate the arguments, indicating which you found most persuasive and why.

You would then add to this a minimum of two supplementary works, (more is better) that would assist in helping you form your view and add weight to your analysis and arguments. Critically, you must be able to access all these resources to use them effectively in completing the coursework.  

Coursework Resources

• Library – school, local, college, university – you should be able to borrow appropriate works.
• Teacher – your teacher should be able to provide you with copies of appropriate resources to use.
• JSTOR – www.jstor.org – contains a large collection of journal articles from historical publications covering numerous topics. These will often engage in the historical debate by replying to opposing views.
• Purchase Books – many second-hand books are available to purchase at very cheap prices through Amazon or similar sites.

A Level History Coursework Edexcel – How to Research and Write

Researching the Coursework – When researching our coursework we use the resource record form, which acts as a bibliography to the books, articles and online resources we are using. As we go through these resources we want to make notes that help us to identify the overall argument of the historian. Key quotes or passages should be noted down, alongside a reference. If we then use this material in our write up, we can add the appropriate footnote.

Writing the Coursework – When writing our coursework we need to be aware of the total word count as well as making sure that we hit all the assessment criteria. This means dividing up the 4000 words (maximum word count) effectively between the assessment criteria. An example structure to implement this is shown in the next section.

A Level History Coursework Edexcel – Structure and Planning

First section – introduction to the overall question and key works (c. 1000 words).

Introduction to the overall topic. You need to put the question into context by providing relevant information regarding what was happening at the time. You then need to define any key terms in the question.

Example from our question above – authoritarian regime would be defined as ‘a regime in which power is highly centralised and maintained regardless of popular support, with the use of repression and violence’.

Finally, you need to set out valid criteria by which the question can be judged.

Example from our question and definition above – we need to compare the Tsarist regime to the Bolshevik regime in terms of:

• Centralisation of power .
• Power maintained despite lacking popular support.
• Power maintained through repression and violence.

You should now have a complete introduction to the topic (1 paragraph)

Introduction to the debate by placing each of the key works in the historiographical debate. You can also place your supplementary works on the historiographical line here. (1 paragraph)

Set out the arguments in extended detail from the three key works. What are the historians’ views on this question? (1 paragraph)

Show how the arguments from each of the key works differ or are like one another. (1 paragraph)

Summary of the views of the key works. (1 paragraph)

Second Section – Explaining why the key works differ from one another (c. 1000 words)

Introduction – You need to set out three valid criteria to explain why the key works differ. Why is it that the historians’ arguments differ? There are several different potential criteria that could be used here: When was the work written? What sources and evidence did they use? Have they defined the key terms of the question differently? Have they defined the criteria to answer the question differently? Do they have different scopes of enquiry? What is the purpose of the work? What is the historians background and view?

Example from our question – The historians have defined the key term to answer the question differently – C. Hill has focused on authoritarian being defined as lacking popular support. R. Service is more focused on authoritarian being defined through repression. R. Pipes is mostly focused on authoritarian being defined as a centralisation of power.  

The historians have defined the key term ‘authoritarian’ differently. (1 paragraph)    

Paragraphs – This is where you use the criteria set out from the introduction to this section. You want one paragraph per item of criteria that we are judging the key works on.

Example from our question – one paragraph regarding how the historians have defined the key term ‘authoritarian’ differently.

Then you need to consider the three works in terms of the criteria set out for that paragraph. Show why there are differences in the key works regarding that criteria and how that leads the historian to arrive at their interpretation. Use evidence to support your points. (3 paragraphs – 1 for each criterion)

Conclusion – Brief conclusion that offers a summary of why the key works are different. (1 paragraph)

Third Section – Your own viewpoint on the question (c. 1000 words)

Brief introduction of your own viewpoint and line of argument that will be taken, remembering to re-instate the criteria by which the question can be judged . (1 paragraph)

Paragraphs that set out your own view on the question. This is where you should be using the criteria set out in your introductions. You want one paragraph per item of criteria.

Example from our question – one paragraph regarding ‘centralisation of power’.

Then you need to bring evidence and analysis to assess the criteria being judged. You can also use the key works and the supplementary works in this section to help you. (3 paragraphs – 1 for each criterion)

Conclusion that reaches a judgement on the question and follows your line of argument that has flowed throughout. (1 paragraph)

Fourth Section – Evaluation and Judgement of the key works and of the question (c. 1000 words)

Go through each of the key works and make a judgement on how convincing and valid the arguments from the historians are compared to the criteria. (3 paragraphs – 1 for each key work)

Form an overall judgement on the question and an overall judgement on which of the key works is most convincing. These should broadly align together. (1 paragraph)   

How To Improve Further at A Level History

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Seminar 5 - Why did the Cold War end?

In your third seminar you will investigate the reasons for the end of the Cold War. You will also evaluate the significance of the role of the economy, leaders and popular protest. The Task document and the interpretations are attached at the bottom of this web page along with some chapter length reading.

Below are some web links to help you complete the tasks. These are IN ADDITION TO research from academic texts and should not be seen as comprehensive

Documents and web sites

Video resources.

Brief Overview of the End of the Cold War

Overview Article  

Timeline 1987-91  

BBC On This Day on SDI 1983  

Details of Pershing Missiles  

Profile of Ronald Reagan  

Obituary/Article on Reagan  

Ron and Mikhail's Excellent Adventure  

Dick & Ronnie & God & Gorby  

INF Treat y

End of the Cold War and the Soviet Union  

Definition of Perestroika  

Timeline of Afghanistan War from the BBC

How Afghanistan became the graveyard of the Russian empire

1989: The Walls Came Tumbling Down

Eyewitness To History: The Fall Of The Berlin Wall

The History of 1989: The Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe

Dossier: The Fall of the Wall – New Perspectives on 1989

In The End, Fall Of Berlin Wall Was Gorbachev's Call

Fall of the Soviet Union

Reform, Coup and Collapse: The End of the Soviet State By Professor Archie Brown

The Soviet Union's Last Stand By Malcolm Brinkworth

Did Reagan's Military Build-Up Really Lead to Victory in the Cold War?

Gorbachev and the End of the Cold War

Bruce Springsteen plays East Berlin 1988  

End of the Cold War- People's Century

The Cold War- Conclusions

Reagan Berlin speech

George HW Bush and the end of the Cold War- Crash Course History

End of the Soviet Union- live ABC news coverage

The Lost World of Communism

Solidarity and Poland 1981

Prof Jennifer Burns podcast on Reagan and the end of the Cold War (2011)

East German Army Officer at the Fall of the Wall

RAF pilot remembers the end of the Cold War- Chasing bears

Interpretations

Additional reading.

Causes of the Collapse of the USSR

Star Wars and STI by P. Kramer

The Afghanistan War and breakdown of the USSR

The final phase 1980-1990

The Collapse of the Soviet Union

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2R The Cold War, c1945–1991

This option provides for the study in depth of the evolving course of international relations during an era of tension between communist and capitalist powers which threatened nuclear Armageddon. It explores concepts such as communism and anti-communism, aggression and détente and also encourages students to reflect on the power of modern military technology, what hastens confrontation and what forces promote peace in the modern world.

Part one: to the brink of Nuclear War: international relations, c1945–1963

The origins of the cold war, c1945–1949.

• US, British and USSR relations in 1945: conflicting ideologies; tensions at Yalta; relations between Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill; the breakdown of the Grand Alliance at Potsdam; relations between Stalin, Truman and Attlee
• Developing tensions: the Soviet Union occupation/control of eastern and southern Europe; Kennan's Long Telegram; the Iron Curtain speech; Cominform; the Greek Civil War and the Truman Doctrine on containment
• The USA’s involvement in Europe: policy towards Britain and Europe; the launch of the Marshall Plan; US attitudes to Germany and Berlin
• Conflict over Germany: developments within the sectors, including Bizonia and currency reform; the Berlin blockade; the creation of East and West Germany; formation of NATO

The Widening of the Cold War, 1949–1955

• US containment in action in Asia: the reconstruction of Japan and US-Japanese relations; support for Jiang Jieshi and policy towards China and Taiwan; the defensive perimeter strategy; support for South Korea; NSC-68
• The Korean War: causes, position and aims of Kim ll Sung and Syngman Rhee; attitudes and actions of the UN, USA, USSR and China; military involvement and settlement
• Increasing Cold War tensions: McCarthyism in the USA and its influence in Britain and Europe; US dominance in the UN and role as 'world policeman'; the isolation of China
• Alliances and shifts: FRG and NATO; the Warsaw Pact; SEATO; Eisenhower, Dulles and 'brinkmanship'; the domino theory; attitude to French struggle in Indo-China; the Geneva Conference

The Global War, 1955–1963

• Khrushchev and East-West relations: impact of risings in Poland and Hungary and Soviet intervention; the degree of 'peaceful coexistence', including exchange of visits and Paris summit
• Cold War rivalries: the extension of the arms race including ICBMs; the space race; sputnik and space flight; the Berlin Crisis and the U2 affair; the significance and impact of the Berlin Wall
• Conflict in Asia: Indo-China under Ho Chi-Minh in the North and Diem in the South; formation of NLF; Kennedy's policies towards Indo-China and Diem's assassination
• Confrontation between the superpowers: US attitudes to Cuba and developments leading to the missile crisis; the 13 days; the significance of the crisis

Part two: from Détente to the end of the Cold War, c1963–1991 (A-level only)

Confrontation and cooperation, c1963–1972 (a-level only).

• Confrontation in the Vietnam War: Johnson's policy in Vietnam; the Gulf of Tonkin resolution; escalation; tactics and relative strengths of the two sides; the Tet Offensive
• Nixon's policies in Vietnam: Vietnamisation; extension into Cambodia and Laos; relations with China; the beginning of the Paris peace talks
• Cooperation: attitudes of Khrushchev and Kennedy; Hot-line; Moscow Test Ban Treaty; nuclear non-proliferation treaty; cut back in materials for nuclear weapons
• Pressures on USSR: the crisis in Czechoslovakia and the Brezhnev doctrine; relations with China

The Brezhnev era, 1972–1985 (A-level only)

• The USA and SE Asia: Paris peace talks; Northern victory; continuing problems in Cambodia; costs of war
• The extent of Détente up to 1979: the SALT talks; Ostpolitik and Helsinki accords; arms race; relations with China
• The Second Cold War: the reasons for renewed hostilities and developments, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; new personalities, including Reagan, Thatcher and Pope John Paul II; the crushing of Solidarity in Poland; the shooting down of KAL 007
• Developments in Africa and the Americas: the impact of Cuban intervention in Angola and Ethiopia; the impact of US intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean including Chile, Grenada and Nicaragua

The ending of the Cold War, 1985–1991 (A-level only)

• Gorbachev and the ending of the Cold War: pressures on and significance of Gorbachev as Soviet leader; new thinking and practicalities: the importance of Soviet economic problems;
• The summits between the USA and the USSR, including Geneva, Reykjavik, Washington and Moscow; Reagan; star wars; Bush and the US response
• The collapse of Communism in the Eastern European soviet satellite states; the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine and significance of events of 1989
• The ending of Cold War tensions in Asia: Afghanistan; the Americas: Cuba, Nicaragua and El Salvador; Africa: Angola and Ethiopia; the end of the Cold War: the Malta summit and its aftermath, including the reunification of Germany; the collapse of the USSR and resignation of Gorbachev