The Cold War was a period of intense political tension, and the Berlin Wall, from its construction in 1961 to its fall in 1989, symbolized not only the physical and ideological division between the United States and the Soviet Union but also the diplomatic struggles of the time.
In the online exhibit The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall, you can hear from U.S. diplomats who were working at the U.S. Embassy in West Germany during this strenuous time. Despite the physical and ideological split in Berlin, diplomacy did not stop. So, how did diplomats navigate the issues that resulted from the tensions and attempt to resolve the problems? What were their ideas and thoughts?
In this activity, students will analyze the oral histories found within the Berlin Wall exhibit to see how the oral histories support, contradict, or add to their current understanding of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War period and how diplomats tried to resolve the issues that resulted from the tension between world powers.
Project slide 5, and give students time to think and answer the grounding questions.
What is oral history?
How can hearing people’s experiences help add to the historical record? Can it detract from the historical record?
Project slide 6. Explain the concept of oral history and describe the process of collecting oral histories. Discuss grounding question 2 now that students know what oral history is.
Tell students that they are going to look at examples of oral histories in order to see how oral histories support, contradict, or add to their understanding of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War period.
Project the Berlin Wall exhibit page for students to see.
Introduce students to how the exhibit is structured online. Point out the oral history interviews.
Pass out the “Oral History Analysis Worksheet.” Walk students through directions, reminding students that they are picking 5 oral histories to analyze. Part 1 has students observe, reflect, and question each one of the interviews.
Once students complete Part 1, have students start on Part 2: Connections.
In part 2, students will take their analysis of the 5 oral histories and explain how the oral histories support, contradict, or add to their understanding of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War period.
Once students complete the worksheet, discuss students’ answers to Part 2.
Great opportunity to have students compare the oral histories with what they have learned prior to this activity.
Standards Alignment
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
SS.H.2.6-8.MC: Analyze how people’s perspectives influenced what information is available in the historical sources they created.
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