07 Jul Cold War
For this assignment you’ll be looking at three different aspects of the Cold War–a video made to train children how to survive a nuclear attack, a look at the consequences of fallout from the Nevada Test Site, and a CIA coup in a country that opposed a US company and raw capitalism.
This is the only assignment based on three different sources and each film has points attached to questions based on that film. Points will be assigned based on the standards from previous assignments regarding content, use of specific material from the videos, and accuracy.
“Duck and Cover”
This is a short video produced by a US government agency to be shown to elementary through high school aged children that minimized the danger of an atomic attack and maximized the chance of survival by ducking under a desk–it’s funny and awful at the same time, and has a song that is a guaranteed ear worm.
1. As you watch the video, what things do you not believe about what the narrator is saying?
2. Why do you think the US government tried to assure children (as well as adults) that a nuclear war was survivable?
10 points possible
“The Dragon that Slew St. George”
This is an older film with poor production qualities, but it tells a story that hasn’t been updated by other video. It’s about the community of St. George, Utah, and how nuclear tests carried out in Nevada have affected resident to this day. For more information about downwinders:
3. What is the one weather-related event that was true for every test at the Nevada Test Site?
4. Before the tests, why were residents of St. George less likely to get cancer than the rest of the country–consider diet and other health-related habits)?
5. Why do some people in the film believe the government thought town residents were unlikely to complain about being downwind of the tests?
6. When Dr. Harold Knapp wanted to publish his findings that said that St. George had a higher dose of radiation deposited on it, why did officials at the AEC want to stop him from publishing?
15 points possible
“Selling the American Way” – The Fifties
This is part of one video that is part of a larger series about the 1950s in America, based on a book by journalist Davide Halberstam–you’ll see him in this section of the film. The videos cover a variety of issues and events from that decade, and are an interesting look at a pivotal decade in history. All of the videos are currently available on YouTube.
7. Who were some of the powerful Americans who wanted to oust President Arbenz, and why did they wanted him removed?
8. How did the CIA intervene to change the government?
9. How did journalists contribute to the lies the U.S. government told about the coup?
10. What happened in Guatemala as a result of the coup?
Video Links: Duck and Cover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWH4tWkZpPU The fifties: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85uQFdq4u-U&list=PL4THY4Tgso-4SBDBJsdSCxwzjBzNmVbL5&index=3
