Week 3: Impact of the Post–Cold War Era
Week 3: Impact of the Post–Cold War Era
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Europe marching toward war!
The post-Cold War era presented opportunities for developing nations to grow and prosper while offering economic opportunities around the world. The newfound prosperity allowed sociopolitical movements to gain momentum. During this era, the two superpowers continued to struggle as the Soviet Union continued its attempt to influence world leaders to adopt Communism, while the United States fought back by promoting capitalism to these leaders.
Leaders in the Americas faced new gender, ethnic, and other social movements. The struggle for democracy during the post-Cold War inspired many people in the United States to stand up for their individual rights and for equality in the political, social, and economic scenes. The uneven distribution of rewards from the economic rise increased the civil unrest, which also fueled a civil rights revolution in the United States. This quest for equality also echoed throughout the world and caused high levels of rural-urban migration.
This week, you will read about one of the most transformational times in the history of the Americas. You will also review the underlying factors leading to the civil unrest in the Americas, as well as one of the most tense moments in the post-Cold War era as nations fought to find their place in the world.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this week, you should be able to:
- Correlate the importance of postwar industrialization and urbanization with factors in revolutionary and civil rights movements in the United States and Latin America
- Evaluate the changes experienced and witnessed during and after the Cold War
- Identify issues, events, and policies that have been created as a result of the Cold War
Learning Resources
Required Readings
Lukacs, J. (2013). A short history of the twentieth century.
Read Chapters 12, 13 and 15.
Read Chapters 14 and 15.
Gould, J. L. (2009). Solidarity under Siege: The Latin American Left, 1968. American Historical Review, 114(2), 348–375.
Castro Internet Archive. (2000). L’Unita interview with Fidel Castro: The nature of Cuban socialism.
Nimtz, A. H. (2016). Violence and/or nonviolence in the success of the Civil Rights Movement: The Malcolm X-Martin Luther King, Jr. nexus. New Political Science, 38(1), 1-22.
Discussion: Industrialization, Revolution, and Civil Rights
“I look forward confidently to the day when all who work for a living will be one with no thought to their separateness as Negroes, Jews, Italians or any other distinctions. This will be the day when we bring into full realization the American dream — a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream of equality of opportunity, of privilege and property widely distributed; a dream of a land where men will not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few…”
—Dr. Martin Luther King, 1963
During the Cold War era, North and South America underwent significant changes in both the areas of industrialization and urbanization. During this time, nations rode an economic roller coaster leading to the stratification of social and economic inequality. The widening socioeconomic gap between the status of people within these nations then led to civil unrest and the call for civil rights, equality, and respect. The growth in industrialization between these two continents resulted in high levels of great rural and urban sprawl.
As poverty increased in the Americas, groups that had historically been subordinate groups made their voices heard in their cry to escape the thumb hold of dominant groups. This uprising did not resonate well with dominant groups. During this time, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led the civil rights movement and fought for racial equality.
In these troubled times, the people of South America were facing similar struggles. They also witnessed battles between Socialist/Communist leaders, military leaders, and others that wanted to see democracy.
In this Discussion, you will explore the struggles of the people of both North and South America. You will share your thoughts as you discover which of these nations’ struggles were similar and which were different.
To prepare for this Discussion:
- Review the Lukacs, Nimtz, and Gould readings in our Learning Resources.
- Review the L’Unita interview with Fidel Castro and Salvador Allende’s speech from this week’s Learning Resources.
- With this week’s reading in mind, consider the various nationalist struggles for independence that followed in the post – World War II era.
- Recall the challenges that the new leaders faced as civil rights movements increased.
- Reflect upon poverty-stricken nations and what they might have endured in their quest for social change.
- Correlate postwar industrialization, revolutionary, and civil rights movements in both North and South America.
- Consider the struggles faced in North and South America. How were they different? Similar?
With these thoughts in mind:
By Day 3
Post by Day 3 an analysis (3–4 paragraphs) comparing revolutionary and civil rights movements in the United States and Latin America and the extent to which the changes desired by the people were or were not achieved and why.
- Be sure to support your ideas by properly citing at least one of week’s Learning Resources, in APA format, within your initial post. As this is a post-first discussion board, you will not be able to see the work of your peers until you have posted the initial discussion requirement for the
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
By Day 5
Respond to at least one of your colleagues’ postings in one or more of the following ways:
- Ask a probing question.
- Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
- Offer and support an opinion.
- Validate an idea with your own experience.
- Make a suggestion.
- Expand on your colleague’s posting.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.
Submission and Grading Information
Grading Criteria
To access your evaluation criteria:
Discussion Evaluation Criteria
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