Alabama Social Studies SS24.US2.17c
The Standard
- SS24.US2.17
- Analyze the conservative revolution in American politics and how this shaped Ronald Reagan’s domestic and foreign policies.
Trace the series of events during Reagan’s presidency leading to the emergence of the United States as the sole superpower, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Put the major events of the late Cold War in order, from Reagan’s defense buildup and talks with Gorbachev to the Berlin Wall’s opening and the Soviet breakup. Explain how Soviet economic trouble, reforms, and protests in Eastern Europe contributed. Connect the Soviet breakup to the United States becoming the only superpower.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can place the 1987 arms treaty, the 1989 opening of the Berlin Wall, and the 1991 Soviet breakup in order. They can explain why Reagan’s actions were only part of the story and identify which events happened after he left office.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think Reagan was president when the wall opened or when the Soviet Union broke apart. Some credit his Berlin speech alone and leave out Soviet reforms, economic trouble, and protests in Eastern Europe.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Put the 1987 arms treaty, 1989 Berlin Wall opening, and 1991 Soviet breakup in order. Name one Reagan policy and one Soviet or Eastern European development that helped change the balance of power.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs five dated event cards to arrange on a paper timeline, then have them mark which events happened after Reagan left office.
Read short excerpts from Reagan’s 1987 Berlin speech and Gorbachev’s 1988 UN speech, then ask: What change does each leader call for?
Play a matching game with event and consequence cards, then have pairs defend two matches using dates from their timeline.
Compare a 1988 map of Europe with a current map, and mark reunified Germany and three independent former Soviet republics.
Free download
Printable SS24.US2.17c Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to SS24.US2.17c, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
- SS24.WH.15
Trace the progression of the Cold War from the end of World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
- SS24.US2.17b
Analyze how Reaganomics and deregulation affected the American economy and society.
- SS24.US2.9
Outline the foreign policy changes that led the United States into the Cold War and contributed to its emergence as a superpower.
- SS24.WH.15c
Describe the collapse of the Soviet Empire; Russia’s struggle for democracy, free markets, and economic recovery; and the roles of Mikhail Gorbachev, Ronald Rea...
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.
Also for this standard:Make a WorksheetMake a QuizMake a Sub Lesson