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Course: World History Project AP® > Unit 8

Lesson 1: 8.0—Setting the Stage
Arts and humanities
World History Project AP®
Cold War and Decolonization
8.0—Setting the Stage
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BEFORE YOU WATCH: Unit 8 Overview - Cold War and Decolonization

Google Classroom
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below.
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
  1. How did the Cold War impact the city of Cuito Cuanavale?
  2. What nations became superpowers after World War II?
  3. Why did many formerly colonized regions demand independence after World War II?
  4. How can the Cold War be described in relation to the themes of governance, economics, cultural developments and interactions, and social interactions and organization?
  5. Why didn’t the US and USSR engage each other in a “hot” war, or direct conflict, during this period?
  6. How did soldiers from Cuba and South Africa end up fighting in the Angolan Civil War?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
  1. In the video, John Arthur states that the “Cold War and decolonization were both continuations of some of the trends you saw at the end of Unit 7”. What continuities from Unit 7 (Global Conflict) can be seen in Unit 8 (Cold War and Decolonization)?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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