AP European History Reading and Writing Workshop

AP European History Workshop:  Cold War Politics, European Integration, Decolonization, and Social and Cultural Changes in Modern Europe.

Workshop Overview:
This workshop is designed to deepen students' understanding of key events and movements in post-World War II Europe, including Cold War dynamics, European integration, decolonization, and social and cultural shifts. Students will engage with public domain works, analyze primary and secondary sources, and write analytical responses to demonstrate their knowledge and critical thinking skills.

1. Cold War Politics in Europe
Reading Assignment:
  • "The Cold War" by John Gaddis (excerpts in the public domain)
  • "The Iron Curtain" speech by Winston Churchill (1946): This speech outlines the division between Eastern and Western Europe during the Cold War.
Activities:
  • Class Discussion: What were the main ideological and political divides during the Cold War? How did they affect European countries differently?
  • Primary Source Analysis: Students read Churchill's speech and discuss the concept of the "Iron Curtain" and its implications on Europe.
SAQs:
  1. What were the key elements of Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech, and how did it define the early years of the Cold War in Europe?
  2. In what ways did the Soviet Union's policies after World War II affect Eastern Europe?
LEQ:
  • Evaluate the extent to which the Cold War divided Europe. Discuss the role of the United States and the Soviet Union in shaping European politics from 1945 to 1961.
DBQ:
Prompt: Evaluate the causes and effects of the Cold War on European politics in the late 1940s and 1950s, using the following documents:
  1. Excerpts from Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech (1946).
  2. A letter from George Kennan, the U.S. diplomat (1947), explaining the policy of containment.
  3. A Soviet propaganda poster (1950s).
  4. NATO's founding document (1949).

2. European Integration
Reading Assignment:
  • "The Schuman Declaration" (1950): A key document for European integration.
  • Excerpts from the Treaty of Rome (1957): Establishing the European Economic Community (EEC).
Activities:
  • Group Work: Students will break into groups to analyze the motivations behind European integration after WWII and its impact on political and economic stability in Europe.
  • Debate: Should European integration have been pursued more quickly or slowly after WWII?
SAQs:
  1. What was the purpose of the Schuman Declaration in 1950, and how did it contribute to European integration?
  2. How did the establishment of the EEC in 1957 influence economic cooperation among European nations?
LEQ:
  • Analyze the significance of European integration in the context of post-World War II reconstruction. Did it strengthen or weaken European sovereignty?
DBQ:
Prompt: Analyze the impact of European integration on economic and political cooperation in Western Europe, using the following documents:
  1. Excerpts from the Schuman Declaration (1950).
  2. Excerpts from the Treaty of Rome (1957).
  3. A speech by Jean Monnet on the goals of European integration.
  4. A European Union economic report (1980s).

3. Decolonization
Reading Assignment:
  • "The Wind of Change" speech by Harold Macmillan (1960): Discusses the British approach to decolonization in Africa.
  • Excerpts from Frantz Fanon's "The Wretched of the Earth" (1961): A postcolonial work that examines the psychological and political effects of colonization.
Activities:
  • Document Analysis: Students read Macmillan’s speech and Fanon’s work, discussing how different European powers approached decolonization and the impact of these policies on the global order.
  • Small Group Discussion: How did decolonization affect European societies politically, economically, and socially?
SAQs:
  1. What were the key elements of Harold Macmillan's "Wind of Change" speech, and how did it reflect Britain's attitude toward decolonization?
  2. How did European powers attempt to manage the challenges of decolonization in the postwar era?
LEQ:
  • Analyze the effects of decolonization on European powers. How did the process of decolonization reshape Europe's role in the global order?
DBQ:
Prompt: Evaluate the impact of decolonization on European political and economic structures, using the following documents:
  1. Excerpts from Harold Macmillan’s "Wind of Change" speech.
  2. A letter from Charles de Gaulle on the Algerian independence struggle.
  3. Excerpts from Frantz Fanon’s "The Wretched of the Earth".
  4. A UN resolution on African independence (1960s).

4. Social and Cultural Changes in Modern Europe
​Reading Assignment:
  • Excerpts from Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" (1949): A seminal work on gender roles and women's liberation.
  • "The Beatles" and the cultural revolution of the 1960s (cultural analysis of popular European music in the 1960s).
Activities:
  • Class Discussion: How did social movements such as feminism, youth culture, and civil rights impact European societies? What was the role of popular culture in shaping modern European identities?
  • Primary Source Analysis: Students read excerpts from "The Second Sex" and discuss how the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s contributed to broader cultural and social shifts.
SAQs:
  1. How did Simone de Beauvoir’s "The Second Sex" influence the feminist movement in Europe?
  2. In what ways did popular culture, such as the music of the Beatles, reflect the social changes occurring in Europe during the 1960s?
LEQ:
  • Evaluate the extent to which social and cultural movements in the 1960s changed European societies. Focus on gender roles, youth culture, and the role of art and music in shaping public opinion.
DBQ:
Prompt: Analyze the social and cultural changes that took place in Europe during the postwar period, using the following documents:
  1. Excerpts from Simone de Beauvoir’s "The Second Sex".
  2. A 1960s feminist manifesto.
  3. A 1960s youth protest song.
  4. An analysis of the 1960s cultural revolution in Europe.

Workshop Wrap-Up
  • Peer Review: Students exchange written responses (SAQs, LEQs, and DBQs) and provide feedback on each other’s analyses.
  • Reflection: Have students reflect on how the Cold War, European integration, decolonization, and social changes were interconnected in shaping the Europe we know today.

This structure provides a comprehensive framework for exploring these major topics in Modern European history. It encourages students to engage critically with primary sources and develop their skills in historical analysis.
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