Understanding ideologies is important to understanding the reasons a country takes certain actions in the global stage. This is especially important for understanding the Cold War and the development of hostility and culture that still affects modern day events.
After doing some research, students will compare and contrast the ideas and ideologies of democracy and capitalism with communism and command economies. This will allow students to explain, analyze, and synthesize what defined each superpower’s belief system through their society, economics, and government. Students will be able to connect how such differences in societal theory resulted in the Cold War being an ideological battle, defined by propaganda, espionage, and global control.
Extended Activity
Have students define and outline the major ideas of Adam Smith and Karl Marx. Students can compare and contrast both figures using a grid storyboard. This will allow students to identify the founding pioneers of capitalism and communism. It will provide historical context to where both nations looked in history to guide their development before and during WWII.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that compares and contrasts the economic, societal, and government ideologies of Communism and Capitalism.
Organize a structured debate using clear roles for students to represent each ideology. Debates help students actively engage with concepts and practice respectful discourse.
Ask students to represent either capitalism or communism, ensuring balanced teams. This promotes empathy and a deeper understanding of both perspectives.
Distribute articles, charts, and prompts to help students research and prepare arguments. Guiding questions keep the discussion focused and purposeful.
Explain the format, speaking order, and respectful behavior guidelines. Clear rules create a safe, equitable environment for all voices.
Moderate the discussion, ensuring students use evidence and respect differing views. Afterward, lead a reflection on what was learned and how perspectives may have changed.
Capitalism is an economic system where private individuals own and control businesses and resources, focusing on profit and competition. Communism is a system where the government or the community owns all property, aiming for equal distribution of resources and classless society.
In capitalism, governments often support democratic principles with multiple political parties and individual freedoms. Communist systems typically have single-party rule, with the state controlling most aspects of life to achieve collective goals.
The Cold War was driven by deep ideological differences: capitalist countries valued individual freedom and market economies, while communist nations prioritized state control and equality. These opposing values led to mistrust, propaganda, and global rivalry without direct military conflict.
Adam Smith is known as the father of capitalism, advocating for free markets and individual choice. Karl Marx is the founder of communist theory, promoting class struggle and collective ownership. Their philosophies formed the foundation for each system's development.
A simple activity is to create a storyboard chart comparing political, economic, and societal ideologies of both systems. Students label sections, describe each system, and use images to illustrate differences and similarities.