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Thaw - GCSE History Definition

Reviewed by: Zoe Wade

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When something thaws, it becomes unfrozen. In GCSE History, the term thaw often refers to the period during the Cold War when tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union eased. This happened during the mid-1950s to the early 1960s. It was a time when both superpowers started to communicate more and agreed to limit the growth of nuclear weapons. This period also saw fewer direct confrontations, and some diplomatic agreements were made to avoid conflicts. The Thaw is important because it shows how countries can try to solve disputes peacefully even after a lot of tension and rivalry.

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Zoe Wade

Reviewer: Zoe Wade

Expertise: History Content Creator

Zoe has worked in education for 10 years as a teaching assistant and a teacher. This has given her an in-depth perspective on how to support all learners to achieve to the best of their ability. She has been the Lead of Key Stage 4 History, showing her expertise in the Edexcel GCSE syllabus and how best to revise. Ever since she was a child, Zoe has been passionate about history. She believes now, more than ever, the study of history is vital to explaining the ever-changing world around us. Zoe’s focus is to create accessible content that breaks down key historical concepts and themes to achieve GCSE success.

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