Presidency of Harry Truman Foreign Policy Timeline

The Truman Presidency - Timeline of Foreign Policy

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Activity Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Rubric

Activity Overview

To better understand Truman’s actions and policies, students will construct a timeline of events and policies that attempted to contain the influence of communism and the Soviet Union. Students should include major events such as the statement of the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, Berlin Airlift, the U.S. joining NATO, and the passage of the McCarren-Walter Act.

This timeline will allow students to explain and analyze actions take abroad and domestically in response to the Soviet threat. Furthermore, it will allow students to be able to chronologically list and define the major events and policies that defined Truman’s policy in the early years of the Cold War.

For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options and adjust the instructions accordingly.

Extended Activity

Have students create a timeline for another Cold War president, as well as his policies and actions both abroad and at home. This will allow students to make connections and inferences as to how the Cold War developed and influenced American foreign and domestic policy post-Truman’s presidency.

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Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a timeline outlining events and policies created to contain communism during Truman's presidency.

Click "Start Assignment".
Add additional cells as needed.
Identify important policies and events and type them into the title for each cell.
Write a summary of the event/policy in the description box.
Create an illustration for each cell using appropriate scenes, items, characters, or photos from Photos from Class.
Save and exit when you're done.

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual or Group

Type of Activity: Timelines

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Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Timeline

Create a timeline of important events and people, and explain their significance. Make sure the dates are correct, and the Photos for Class pictures are historically accurate or significant.

	Proficient 33 Points	Emerging 25 Points	Beginning 17 Points
Events and Dates	The events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. The dates provided are correct.	Most of the events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. Most of the dates provided are correct.	Some of the events chosen for the timeline are significant. There may be missing events, or events that are irrelevant. Too many dates may be incorrect.
Explanations/Descriptions	The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are accurate and provide insight into the significance of the events.	The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are mostly accurate and attempt to provide insight into the significance of the events.	There are several glaring inaccuracies in the explanations or descriptions of the events. There may be little or no insight int the significance of the events, or the information provided may be too limited or missing.
English Conventions	There are 0-2 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.	There are 3-4 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.	There are 5 or more mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.

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Activity Overview

To better understand Truman’s actions and policies, students will construct a timeline of events and policies that attempted to contain the influence of communism and the Soviet Union. Students should include major events such as the statement of the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, Berlin Airlift, the U.S. joining NATO, and the passage of the McCarren-Walter Act.

This timeline will allow students to explain and analyze actions take abroad and domestically in response to the Soviet threat. Furthermore, it will allow students to be able to chronologically list and define the major events and policies that defined Truman’s policy in the early years of the Cold War.

For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options and adjust the instructions accordingly.

Extended Activity

Have students create a timeline for another Cold War president, as well as his policies and actions both abroad and at home. This will allow students to make connections and inferences as to how the Cold War developed and influenced American foreign and domestic policy post-Truman’s presidency.

Copy Activity*

Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a timeline outlining events and policies created to contain communism during Truman's presidency.

Click "Start Assignment".
Add additional cells as needed.
Identify important policies and events and type them into the title for each cell.
Write a summary of the event/policy in the description box.
Create an illustration for each cell using appropriate scenes, items, characters, or photos from Photos from Class.
Save and exit when you're done.

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual or Group

Type of Activity: Timelines

Copy Activity*

Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Timeline

Create a timeline of important events and people, and explain their significance. Make sure the dates are correct, and the Photos for Class pictures are historically accurate or significant.

	Proficient 33 Points	Emerging 25 Points	Beginning 17 Points
Events and Dates	The events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. The dates provided are correct.	Most of the events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. Most of the dates provided are correct.	Some of the events chosen for the timeline are significant. There may be missing events, or events that are irrelevant. Too many dates may be incorrect.
Explanations/Descriptions	The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are accurate and provide insight into the significance of the events.	The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are mostly accurate and attempt to provide insight into the significance of the events.	There are several glaring inaccuracies in the explanations or descriptions of the events. There may be little or no insight int the significance of the events, or the information provided may be too limited or missing.
English Conventions	There are 0-2 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.	There are 3-4 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.	There are 5 or more mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics.

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