World History- Musykiones

Teacher:

School:

8.01 Cold War Interview

Locate someone to interview. You may choose to interview a relative, a friend of the family, a neighbor, a coach, a teacher, or an administrator at your school. Whomever you choose, be sure that the person is willing to talk to you and was born before 1970. Anyone born later would not remember enough about being personally affected by the Cold War.

During the interview, it is wise to take notes with pen and paper or with your computer. Jot down or type reminders of things your subject says that you consider important, questions you want to ask as follow-up, and notes about how your subject answers a question. Don’t forget to bring your list of interview questions! When the interview is over, thank the subject for their time and for helping you. It might even be a kind gesture to send him or her with a thank you card or thank you e-mail for taking the time to sit down with you and conduct the interview.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

Part A

Start the interview by writing down the following:

· the person's first and last name— check that you spelled it correctly

· his or her date of birth

· the list of places that he or she lived between 1945 and 1989

· the date and time of the interview

Part B

1. What was the first time you remember hearing about the Soviet Union (or the USSR) and its conflict with the United States? Tell me about it.

2. What do you remember seeing or reading in the news about the Cold War?

3. What books did you read or movies did you watch that villainized the Soviet Union or dealt with the Cold War? How did they shape your impressions at that time?

4. What were you taught in school and at home about the Soviet Union? What did your school and family teach about nuclear threats and nuclear war?

5. Were you or any of your family members ever afraid that there would be a hot war or nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union? When did you feel that way? If yes, did you do anything to prepare or get ready for it?

6. What aspects of the Space Race do you remember? Was "Space Race" a phrase that you remember using at the time? What did it mean to you?

7. How was the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union promoted in sports? Can you think of any specific examples?

8. Do you remember the Berlin Wall coming down? How did it make you feel? How have your feelings about that era changed since 1989 and the Berlin Wall coming down?

9. How do you think future generations will remember the Cold War? What lessons should students today take away from the Cold War?

10. How does psychological warfare today compare to psychological warfare during the Cold War?

Part C

Develop 2 questions of your own to ask the interviewee.

Question 1.

Question 2.

Last section is a reflection:

· What from the interview did you find most surprising?

· How might a Russian adult have responded to the interview?