The U2 Crisis
I can explain the impact of the U2 crisis on East-West relations.
The U2 Crisis
I can explain the impact of the U2 crisis on East-West relations.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- US and Soviet relations showed signs of improvement at the end of the 1950s.
- The 1960 Paris Summit was scheduled to try and resolve issues such as Berlin, Cuba and nuclear testing.
- In May 1960, a US U2 spy plane was shot down over the USSR.
- The U2 Crisis helped trigger the collapse of the Paris Summit.
- Tensions between the US and USSR increased as a result of the U2 Crisis.
Keywords
Peaceful coexistence - the belief that conflict between the USA and USSR could be avoided
Treaty - a written agreement between two or more countries
Espionage - the act of spying and gaining secret information about another country
Common misconception
The USSR immediately refused to cooperate with the USA after a U2 was show down in May 1960.
The USSR still attended the Paris Summit but walked out when the US refused to apologise for spying on it.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The U2 Crisis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The U2 Crisis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Cold War development: how peaceful was 'peaceful co-existence'? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
US President
U2 pilot
Soviet leader