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