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Process Paper

I initially chose the Berlin Wall as my National History Day topic because 2011 is

the year of Ronald Reagan’s100th birthday celebration, and I wanted to know more

about him and his accomplishments. It wasn’t long before I realized that America’s

diplomacy and the Berlin Wall involved a lot more than Ronald Reagan’s call to “tear

down this wall.” My topic fits this year’s contest theme because it involves forty years of

diplomatic relations between the United States and the Soviet Union.

I began my project in my local library where I accessed both internet and written

sources. I found a lot of newspaper, magazine, and journal articles that were related to

the Berlin Wall. I also discovered a good book titled New York Times Book: When the

Wall Came Down by Serge Schmemann. To further my research I traveled to

Southwestern Oklahoma State University to utilize their library. Here I also found many

articles that covered the full range of my topic.

In my search for primary sources, I contacted a U.S. history teacher at my high

school who was able to provide me with video footage that was valuable to my project.

I also opened a line of communication with a German resident who was once a foreign

exchange student in Oklahoma. In addition, the internet proved valuable in locating

Presidential documents and photographs. Finally, I interviewed members of my

community to gain insight into how Americans felt about the Cold War and the fall of the

Berlin Wall.

Next, I formed my thesis statement which set the direction for my website, and I

drew up a storyboard to help me organize my website’s flow. I decided to use a timeline

design breaking the page tabs into two Presidents each. After much deliberation, I
finally came up with a title that I thought described my topic. Numerous hours were

spent writing text and selecting photographs, video footage, and documents to tell the

story.

When my website was completed, I began asking family, friends, and teachers to

critique my work. With each viewing, I gained ideas for improvement which I utilized.

Finally, I began practicing my presentation technique in front of high school classes.

The Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union began at the end of

World War II. From President Truman’s staunch stand during the Berlin Airlift, to

Ronald Reagan’s call to “tear down that wall,” American Presidents used their

diplomatic powers to stop the spread of communism. When the Berlin Wall was built in

1961, it was seen as a symbol of the Cold War struggle. With each President’s work

against the Cold War, they symbolically chipped away at that wall. While many people

debate the importance of American diplomacy in the Wall’s fall, it is hard to ignore both

the pressures and friendships that developed between the nations’ leaders which

allowed the fall to take place.

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